Will 1/16th inch

[noJeepshere]

of a difference in axle location make my truck noticeably dogtrack? I rebuilt my springpacks to install an add-a-leaf and when I put it all back together, my truck seems to dogtrack a bit. I measured from the axle to the spring mount very carefully and found the drivers side to be 1/16th of an inch closer to the front.

Is it worth taking it all apart to realign it or should I just live with it? I don't know how I could, the centering pins look to be perpendicular to the spring packs, and I don't know which one is off.

This is on my 99 Yukon.

 

[Stomis]

No way. Bet theres more than 1/16th of an inch of deviation in the frame from front suspension to rear suspension.

And what are you gonna take apart and align anyway? The center pins go in the pad and thats about all there is too it with leafs other than bushings being that shot.

 

[Blue85]

I would be surprised if you could even measure the axle pad to the frame accurately withing 1/16". Like Stomis is saying, there is probably at least that much tolerance in where the holes are drilled for the spring hangers and other stuff on the frame. Many people look at these trucks and THINK they are dog-tracking when it is just the optical illusion caused by the rear track being narrower than the front. So make sure this isn't what you're seeing. Maybe measure diagonally from FR to RL tires and from FL to RR tires as a sanity check?

 

[Stomis]

I would be surprised if you could even measure the axle pad to the frame accurately withing 1/16". Like Stomis is saying, there is probably at least that much tolerance in where the holes are drilled for the spring hangers and other stuff on the frame. Many people look at these trucks and THINK they are dog-tracking when it is just the optical illusion caused by the rear track being narrower than the front. So make sure this isn't what you're seeing. Maybe measure diagonally from FR to RL tires and from FL to RR tires as a sanity check?

Definitely do this diagonal check. That will tell you whether your axle is square to the frame.

 

[noJeepshere]

I know the rear is narrower than the front, the way I noticed this is of what I'm seeing in my mirrors, something just doesn't look right. I did rotate the tires at the time, so I'll swap the fronts across and see if the steering wheel goes the opposite way.

Maybe I'm just paranoid

 

[Avery4jc]

Take it out and go hit some speed bumps, pull it back in the driveway and measure again and I bet you'll get new results.

 

[JBerno]

Re-adjust the mirrors, problem solved

 

[noJeepshere]

Re-adjust the mirrors, problem solved

 

[Blue85]

I could be something is loose and moves around a bit. The only way to be sure is to jump it. High.

 

[folkenheath]

I'm going to guess she won't notice a difference.

 

[4X4HIGH]

There's the possibility that you installed a spring backwards. Not all springs have the center pin centered in the spring from front to back.

 

[Avery4jc]

There's the possibility that you installed a spring backwards. Not all springs have the center pin centered in the spring from front to back.

But when they're offset it's more than 1/16" like he's claiming. If they were backwards it'd be noticeable.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

You couldn't measure a truck on the road that would be closer than 1/16", and if you could, measure it the next time it's parked and it will be different.

Trucks that "dog track" are off by inches, not 1/16".

 

[Blue85]

I was thinking more of a broken center pin than a backwards spring. Sometimes there is a little slop around the head of the center pin, but that amount of slop shouldn't be a problem. It's also possible to use the wrong eye bushings that would let the spring end up in a different place.

It's time to look at other stuff. Measure from the axles to the frame and to the body. Measure the wheelbase on both sides and stuff like that. It's possible that something is crooked, but has nothing to do with the springs.