rearend alignment

zach0 · 03-09-2003, 08:14 AM

I have 1 3/4 inches in front of my tire before it touches the body and approx. 4 inches to the rear of the tire. How would I go about centering the axle or can I do that.

429mustang · 03-09-2003, 04:23 PM

You should post some pics of it, maybe have someone lengthen a set of control arms???? I don'r understand how it would get so far off center. Is it jacked up/lowered?

zach0 · 03-09-2003, 08:44 PM

It's on the ground and it drove fine when I was driving it. The space is from the front of tire to the bottom of the well and the rear of the tire to the well. I will attempt to get my camera working to show you.

429mustang · 03-09-2003, 09:49 PM

I know what your saying, the axle on my van seems like its set back slightly.

mustangII460 · 03-09-2003, 09:50 PM

Are your tires larger than the original size?

As long as its the same, or about the same on both sides. I wouldn't worry about it.

The leaf springs have a little nub that rests in the spring perch on the axle housing. If the nub has broke, the axle would move causing the tire to jam into the body.

mustangman65_79 · 03-10-2003, 06:39 AM

Is it possible the someone put the spring on backwards?

Jeff65 · 03-17-2003, 05:10 PM

The spring has a center alignment bolt that passes through the spring. This bolt fits into a hole the Spring & Shock mount plate. There's a very small amount of adjustment range, perhaps 1/16". This does not account for your problem.

My guess is a previous owner has substituted springs from some other car, perhaps a Falcon that has different spring dimensions. The question I would ask is, "What is the distance between the center of the spring at the center bolt and the centerline of the front grommet?"

Once you know the distance for your model car, then measure yours and see if it measures the same. If it does, then the axle is mounted correctly. If not, then you'll need to assess exactly what you've got and how to make it right.

03-09-2003, 08:14 AM	#1
zach0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Hampton, Virginia Posts: 227	rearend alignment I have 1 3/4 inches in front of my tire before it touches the body and approx. 4 inches to the rear of the tire. How would I go about centering the axle or can I do that. __________________ 1980 RX7 with 289 Ford V-8 bored .030 over, Very radical cam, Torker 2 high rise intake, Holley 650 Carb, MSD Nascar 6ALN ignition, MSD coil and distributor, Headers with dual open side exhaust. Over 300 horse. 1966 Mustang still in progress

03-09-2003, 04:23 PM	#2
429mustang Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: westerville, OH USA Posts: 618	You should post some pics of it, maybe have someone lengthen a set of control arms???? I don'r understand how it would get so far off center. Is it jacked up/lowered? __________________ 1990 Notchback: BBK Ceramic Coated Full length headers, Dr. Gas 3"- 2 1/2" x-pipe, Flowmaster 40's/turndowns.

03-09-2003, 08:44 PM	#3
zach0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Hampton, Virginia Posts: 227	It's on the ground and it drove fine when I was driving it. The space is from the front of tire to the bottom of the well and the rear of the tire to the well. I will attempt to get my camera working to show you. __________________ 1980 RX7 with 289 Ford V-8 bored .030 over, Very radical cam, Torker 2 high rise intake, Holley 650 Carb, MSD Nascar 6ALN ignition, MSD coil and distributor, Headers with dual open side exhaust. Over 300 horse. 1966 Mustang still in progress

03-09-2003, 09:49 PM	#4
429mustang Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: westerville, OH USA Posts: 618	I know what your saying, the axle on my van seems like its set back slightly. __________________ 1990 Notchback: BBK Ceramic Coated Full length headers, Dr. Gas 3"- 2 1/2" x-pipe, Flowmaster 40's/turndowns.

03-09-2003, 09:50 PM	#5
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Are your tires larger than the original size? As long as its the same, or about the same on both sides. I wouldn't worry about it. The leaf springs have a little nub that rests in the spring perch on the axle housing. If the nub has broke, the axle would move causing the tire to jam into the body. __________________ Frank

03-10-2003, 06:39 AM	#6
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	Is it possible the someone put the spring on backwards? __________________ '84 mustang GT turbo '85 LTD '89 Camaro Irocz z28 '94 Lightning '96 Trans am

03-17-2003, 05:10 PM	#7
Jeff65 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 208	The spring has a center alignment bolt that passes through the spring. This bolt fits into a hole the Spring & Shock mount plate. There's a very small amount of adjustment range, perhaps 1/16". This does not account for your problem. My guess is a previous owner has substituted springs from some other car, perhaps a Falcon that has different spring dimensions. The question I would ask is, "What is the distance between the center of the spring at the center bolt and the centerline of the front grommet?" Once you know the distance for your model car, then measure yours and see if it measures the same. If it does, then the axle is mounted correctly. If not, then you'll need to assess exactly what you've got and how to make it right.

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