one wheel not centered
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one wheel not centered
the passenger side front wheel is not centered front to back while the driver side looks pretty good. i just changed wheels and tires and don't remember the wheel being that far off before. could the new wheels changed it somehow. 56 w front leafs
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Central Oregon
No, a different set of wheels wouldn't change the way the tires fit in the fenders from each side - they would alter both the same as long as the wheels were the same.
Take some measurements of the axle position from each side. Make sure the u-bolts are centered over the center pin of each leaf pack. If you can't see the center bolt, measure from the front shackle bolt to the front u bolt on each side and see if they are the same. If not, something broke and shifted.
Also make sure you are looking from the same perspective (straight on to the wheels) when viewing each side for comparison.
Take some measurements of the axle position from each side. Make sure the u-bolts are centered over the center pin of each leaf pack. If you can't see the center bolt, measure from the front shackle bolt to the front u bolt on each side and see if they are the same. If not, something broke and shifted.
Also make sure you are looking from the same perspective (straight on to the wheels) when viewing each side for comparison.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Could be the axle shifted on the spring centerbolt. There is a bolt that holds the spring together at the center with a tall rounded head. The head goes into a hole in the center of the spring mount on the axle to keep the axle from moving front to back. Sometimes that bolt head corrodes, the hole in the axle wears and/or the U bolts that hold the axle to the spring loosen allowing the centerbolt to pop out of the axle. Easiest way to tell is to make sure the wheels are pointed straight ahead then with a helper measure from the center of the rear wheel to the center of the front wheel on both sides. If you have a short bed model the measurement should be 110", if you have one with the 8' express bed then the measurement should be 118", but most importantly the measurement should be the same on both sides. if it isn't, you'll need to find out why before driving the truck.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 103
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From: Indianapolis
And compounding the whole thing is the fact that Ford built the '53-'56 F-100s with the front wheel center 1 1/4" behind the center of the wheel arch in the fender.
Could be the axle shifted on the spring centerbolt. There is a bolt that holds the spring together at the center with a tall rounded head. The head goes into a hole in the center of the spring mount on the axle to keep the axle from moving front to back. Sometimes that bolt head corrodes, the hole in the axle wears and/or the U bolts that hold the axle to the spring loosen allowing the centerbolt to pop out of the axle. Easiest way to tell is to make sure the wheels are pointed straight ahead then with a helper measure from the center of the rear wheel to the center of the front wheel on both sides. If you have a short bed model the measurement should be 110", if you have one with the 8' express bed then the measurement should be 118", but most importantly the measurement should be the same on both sides. if it isn't, you'll need to find out why before driving the truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: peyton, colorado
My fenders aren't the same side to side. One side is slightly back in the fender. Drove me nuts measuring wheel base and checking suspension until I figured it out.
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