Howdy, have a question that I'm hoping someone has seen before:

For the last couple years, I've had this resto that's almost drivable, but the front drivers side front tire rubs on the rear of the fender. The drivers side tire was an 8x20, and the passenger side was a 7x20, so I figured it was just a larger tire rubbing on the back of the fender. I got a new matching tire mounted last week, and the problem still occurs. When I looked closer, it looks like the front driver's tire is closer to the back of the fender cut out, and the passenger tire is closer to the front of the fender cut out. I thought maybe the frame was maybe out of square, but when I measured the front axle to the bumper, there is about 2" difference right to left.
The next idea was that the axle actually shifted forward on the leaf spring where it's u bolted on. I figured I could just jack the thing up loosen the u bolts, and drift the axle forward on the leaf spring and be done with it. That seemed likely but as I look at the schematics, it appears there is a center pin in the front leaf springs, and I thought this center pin may or may not be keyed onto the axle in some way. If the axle is keyed onto the center pin on the leaf spring, I figure it's not just going to move when I start pounding.
So here's the question: Have any of y'all seen this, and what's the solution? Is there anyone familiar with the anatomy who can tell me if the axle is referenced fore/aft to the center pin in the leaf spring, or otherwise the best way to deal with this. This thing is really road ready other than the fact that I can't make a very tight turn without the tire grabbing onto the fender, so I'd love to get it fixed.

thanks all!

Ian

 

Sheared or bent spring center bolts are very common with results similar to yours. With wheels straight ahead, measure center hub of the front to rear axle center hub. Is the cab and are the fenders mounted correctly? A bumper is not a good reference point to measure. BTW, I found four broken or bent spring center bolt on my F4.

 

What Ray said. All four of the spring center bolts were broken or rusted in two on my F4 also. Mine were broken in the center of the spring, so the head was still holding the axle in the right place. But, the heads can shear or rust off, allowing the axle to shift fore or aft on the springs.
Mark