Rear axle movement
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Rear axle movement
Ok guys. FINALLY getting to do some work on my bronco.
I bought it 6 months ago and it has just been sitting.
It is a 96 302 5speed. 2 owners previous put 6" proComp lift in and 35 dick cepecks.
When I test drove it, the rear end swayed from side to side. The guy i got it from never drove it other than down the back road once or twice and he thought it needed a sway bar. The previous owner to him also said it needed a sway bar as well. But neither of them new too much about trucks.
The rear end will "walk" in 1st gear @ about 2 MPH. It felt like to me the centering pin in the springs or blocks was sheared off and the axle was moving. I might s well also add, the front of the quarter panels are SMASHED from the tires hitting. The axle is too far forward for what ever reason.
Anyway, tonight I decide to tear into it. Take the drivers rear tire off and I see the U bolts are bent right where they come thru the top spring plate. i bus the nuts off and drop the axle. Remove the block and stock wedge. Well i have no sheared off centering pins.
Any ideas?
Side view for the axle being too far forward
I bought it 6 months ago and it has just been sitting.
It is a 96 302 5speed. 2 owners previous put 6" proComp lift in and 35 dick cepecks.
When I test drove it, the rear end swayed from side to side. The guy i got it from never drove it other than down the back road once or twice and he thought it needed a sway bar. The previous owner to him also said it needed a sway bar as well. But neither of them new too much about trucks.
The rear end will "walk" in 1st gear @ about 2 MPH. It felt like to me the centering pin in the springs or blocks was sheared off and the axle was moving. I might s well also add, the front of the quarter panels are SMASHED from the tires hitting. The axle is too far forward for what ever reason.
Anyway, tonight I decide to tear into it. Take the drivers rear tire off and I see the U bolts are bent right where they come thru the top spring plate. i bus the nuts off and drop the axle. Remove the block and stock wedge. Well i have no sheared off centering pins.
Any ideas?
Side view for the axle being too far forward
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 763
Likes: 19
From: MA
I would start with replacing the U-Bolts and the plates that the bolts come through, ifs the pins for the blocks are ok. You may have have to order them cause the ones from a local shop may be to short. Sway bars are easy to look for. They are basically bolts into each steering knuckle with a kind of U-Shaped bar.
The one on this truck is at the top of the image and goes through the red bushings there, and you can see it bends down and connects to the inside of where the tie rods are. Usually people will remove their sway bars while offroading for better flex. I'm wondering if it could also be either shot tie rods/ends or shot ball joints. I know sometimes a vehicle will seem like its swaying at higher speeds if they are shot. But like I said if your U-Bolts are bent get those replaced ASAP before you take it driving or offroading.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7...t-sway-bar.jpg
The one on this truck is at the top of the image and goes through the red bushings there, and you can see it bends down and connects to the inside of where the tie rods are. Usually people will remove their sway bars while offroading for better flex. I'm wondering if it could also be either shot tie rods/ends or shot ball joints. I know sometimes a vehicle will seem like its swaying at higher speeds if they are shot. But like I said if your U-Bolts are bent get those replaced ASAP before you take it driving or offroading.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/7...t-sway-bar.jpg
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
That has all the earmarks of having the rear springs mounted backwards! I know it sounds crazy but, bent u-bolts, axle shifted forward, I bet the reason for the sway/wobble is a rear driveshaft that is so tightly compressed that the geometry is causing u-joint and slip-shaft bind.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Sway bar will not help this movement. there is no body roll, just side to side movement. And it starts at about 5mph
Rear springs are in correctly. You cant put them in backwards. The front eye will Not fit into the shackle
Rear springs are in correctly. You cant put them in backwards. The front eye will Not fit into the shackle
The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 6,902
Likes: 21
From: Caracas, Venezuela
If nothing else, open the rear drums to see if there is something going on there. Then the difrerential.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I picked up some used bronco springs and new shackles. Gonna put them in.
Also got a sway bar. AFTER i see what the springs do i will add the sway bar
Also got a sway bar. AFTER i see what the springs do i will add the sway bar
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
Well I will have to wait till at least monday.
Got new bushings for the springs and having them pressed in.
Question for you with a lift and blocks. Does the factory cast wedge go on top or below the lift block?
Got new bushings for the springs and having them pressed in.
Question for you with a lift and blocks. Does the factory cast wedge go on top or below the lift block?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
How are the spring mounts on the frame? If they are rusted out, they might not be stable. Also do you know if it is only a spring lift or is it a shackle flip style lift? If a shackle flip then the person who did it may not have moved everything the way it needed to be. Just an idea.
Also, do you have any axle wrap going on or is it ONLY side to side movement? Have someone watch from outside and when you hammer the gas from dead stop see if the axle is twisting.
Also, do you have any axle wrap going on or is it ONLY side to side movement? Have someone watch from outside and when you hammer the gas from dead stop see if the axle is twisting.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
How are the spring mounts on the frame? If they are rusted out, they might not be stable. Also do you know if it is only a spring lift or is it a shackle flip style lift? If a shackle flip then the person who did it may not have moved everything the way it needed to be. Just an idea.
Also, do you have any axle wrap going on or is it ONLY side to side movement? Have someone watch from outside and when you hammer the gas from dead stop see if the axle is twisting.
Also, do you have any axle wrap going on or is it ONLY side to side movement? Have someone watch from outside and when you hammer the gas from dead stop see if the axle is twisting.
Stock springs w a lift block
I think It had spring wrap by the fee of it and it moved side to side. kinda like a SUPER excited dog wagging his tail
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
That is axle wrap. I doubt you have that though. Since yours is side to side movement, that would be stabilization. How are your shock mounts? As the others suggested, your rear axle shafts may be loose. Jack up the rear axle and yank on the tires like you are trying to pull them of. See if they move back and forth.
Also, while the truck is on the ground maybe sit under it and have a friend push it side to side to see if you see anything out of the ordinary.
