What can cause a front axle to go "off-center"???

[Can Can]

It appears that my front axle is off-center by about 1/2". However, I am using the body lines/fender wells as a reference point. FWIW, the u-bolts are tight and don't appear to have walked one way or another down the axle. Everything else seems to be fine, too.

What else should I look at? Does anyone else's axle not look centered when lined up with the fenders? Like I said, I'm talking 1/2" out......

 

[SCOOBYDANNN]

bushings would be my first guess--after that mabye body lines aren't right--I'd go off the frame.

 

[cegusman]

bushings would be my first guess--after that mabye body lines aren't right--I'd go off the frame.

x2 Maybe different offset wheels

 

[gmc4cw]

the body could be off center.

 

[Can Can]

x2 Maybe different offset wheels

The front wheels are identical.

the body could be off center.

Is this something that happens over time? Does anyone else have an axle that simply "looks" off-center, with no obvious signs of looseness underneath the truck?

From what I can tell, this isn't affecting the way the truck drives at all. I'm just so friggin' anal that when my truck isn't perfect, it bugs me.

 

[75k10chevy]

Frame could be bent. My axle used to stick out 2" farther on the passenger side becuase my frame rail was twisted.

 

[Can Can]

Geez. I don't know how the frame could be bent. The truck only has 58K miles on it, all of it highway........

 

[dyeager535]

I tried measuring off body lines and what not to try and figure out if my frame was tweaked, and found that it was near impossible. Nothing on the truck was even close to being identical side to side. There are far too many variables on these things to get completely accurate measurements yourself.

Just recently crawling under my truck I noticed that the upper bushing in the rear shackle for the front axle was not even...the shackle was almost touching the mount on one side, and sticking out quite a bit on the other. I suspect if I checked the other side, it would look the same.

LONG straightedge from both rear wheels forward is how I'd check it out. But you'd have to take the tires off (tire inconsistencies) then worry about all the rear suspension components that probably aren't perfectly straight either.

Sucks being anal, but if the truck drives straight, doesn't pull, and you don't have weird tire wear issues, it's not serious. Could be a bushing issue, but that's pretty easy to see. Other than that, only people that could probably get accurate enough measurements would be a frame shop, last I checked that was serious $$ just to look at it.

 

[Can Can]

Sucks being anal, but if the truck drives straight, doesn't pull, and you don't have weird tire wear issues, it's not serious.

Like I said, the rig drives perfectly, Always has. I just don't like it when things aren't just "so".

When we're talking bushings, are we referring to front spring bushings? I may have just anwered my own question........

 

[dyeager535]

I am...the bushings both in the spring eyes and the ones in the upper part of the shackle. My uppers (at least on one side) are obviously offset at least a 1/4".

 

[sweetk30]

my answer is on the phone as we talk now.

 

[gmc4cw]

The front wheels are identical.



Is this something that happens over time? Does anyone else have an axle that simply "looks" off-center, with no obvious signs of looseness underneath the truck?

I don't know about it happening over time but there is more then a 1/2" of adjustment when it comes to aligning the body. when it rolled down the assembly line they make the body panels line up with each other. if it bolts to the frame then its good enough. putting bigger tires on makes it easier to see the misalignment.

 

[sope]

Bent shackles? Unlikely if it's not a wheeler but worth a look.

 

[sweetk30]

na can can has ord beefy shackles in it. him and i talked on the phone and we seem to think its body shiffted on the frame or a possible wrong wheel / backspace, as it has custom wheels.