Bent rear axle?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 230
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From: Tampa, FL
Bent rear axle?
Ok heres the problem... I've been told a few times that my truck's rear is somewhat sideways when going down the road straight. I haven't personally seen it cuz I've never been behind my truck to while driving. The rear wheels are at noticeable different distances in the wheel wells. Below are pics of each side looking down from the bed. You can see the pass side wheel is straight with the body line, but the drivers side is kicked out some. The axle is locked into the springs and springs into the hangers/shackles. Nothing seems bent. If the axle was straight but cocked a little, I would think both tires would be slightly out of whack. But since one side is straight and the other isn't I'm thinking the driver's side is not where it's supposed to be and that side of the axle is bent. The last pic is the driver's side axle housing where it goes into the pumpkin. It looks like there's more space toward the rear of the housing than the front. I did measure the rear shackle to the axle block plate and there's at least a 1/2inch difference in the two. So, thoughts, opinions, help? Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
It does look like one side is goofy based on the photos. If it were me, I would jack up the rear and remove the wheels. I would then get two long lengths of straight metal (tube, angle, uni-strut etc) and clamp them onto the rotors and see if they are parallel to each other. If the metal lengths are long enough, you will be able to see pretty quickly if anything is wrong.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
Maybe do a Carfax on your truck and see if their was any reportable accidents. From the looks of it, if thats the case, a side impact going towards the rear tire or somebody caught a high curb or something off road got it. Just some senarios for yaa. To check for a bent axle have somebody roll the truck and look at the tire as its rolling, you'll know if its a bent axle, I had one before on a car.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Tampa, FL
I have never wrecked it or hit anything. However a friend of mine did some body work for me and while he was sanding it for repainting found a bunch of bondo on the drivers door. I can't find any evidence of a bent frame but I'm no professional. However I might try the metal bar/pipe method and think I may get a carfax for it as well.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 5
From: West Tx
On the rear part of the tires, measure from outside to outside, then at the front of the rear tires do the same. They should be the same. Another trick is to take baby powder or chalk dust and dust the rear wheels, drive on rotation and look at the pattern. My drivers rear axle tube was bent really bad and still is slightly bent but was straightened ok.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 230
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From: Tampa, FL
On the rear part of the tires, measure from outside to outside, then at the front of the rear tires do the same. They should be the same. Another trick is to take baby powder or chalk dust and dust the rear wheels, drive on rotation and look at the pattern. My drivers rear axle tube was bent really bad and still is slightly bent but was straightened ok.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
I had a housing from my tri-axle dump truck straightened at a spring and axle shop in Ft Meyers,there should be one in Tampa.Use to be a place on 60 but that has been years back
I would pull the axle and see how much spline wear there is.Being that far out of alignment the axle and side gears may have a good bit of wear
I would pull the axle and see how much spline wear there is.Being that far out of alignment the axle and side gears may have a good bit of wear
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 230
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From: Tampa, FL
Frank I would love you forever! lol I would feel a little bad just "taking" something of that caliber tho...
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
My boss is sick of looking at it, I'm tired of tripping over it, I have no use for it. I would feel much better giving it to a fellow FTE brother than getting $30 for scrap.
It has 230k on it, it was just fine when I pulled it, no leaks, noises ect.
It's yours if you want it.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 230
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From: Tampa, FL
Ok, I'll take a case of Yuengling light...
My boss is sick of looking at it, I'm tired of tripping over it, I have no use for it. I would feel much better giving it to a fellow FTE brother than getting $30 for scrap.
It has 230k on it, it was just fine when I pulled it, no leaks, noises ect.
It's yours if you want it.
My boss is sick of looking at it, I'm tired of tripping over it, I have no use for it. I would feel much better giving it to a fellow FTE brother than getting $30 for scrap.
It has 230k on it, it was just fine when I pulled it, no leaks, noises ect.
It's yours if you want it.