Deuce leaning noticably to right without spare?

[1 Patriot-of-many]

You guys are a riot!

So, you mentioned that you measured fender clearance, but now are talking about the dual setup in the rear. Are you wondering about the rear or the front? My pass side spring pack sags more than the driver. Pretty easy to measure that between the bump stop and the frame.

Are you worried about the front or rear?

They both were were off when i got done changing all dogbones. The whole right side was about a inch and a half lower than the left side.

I noticed after driving it (there were suggestions that driving it after suspension work would straighten the issue out) there is an issue with my middle axle now.

After driving it the middle axle is not parallel with the rear axle, is that normal for it to be noticeable? I know there's lots of room for pivoting and flexing but it doesn't look right to me. How straight should the axles be in a line? Is it normal to notice one axle out of line? I can post a pic if that would help.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Two things will effect the rear axles. The rubber bushings in the dog bones will let them flex, and the trunnion(the center pivot for the axles) can work the nuts that hold it in place loose.

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Did you measure it before the recent work? Are you sure this is a new issue?

I would have installed and tightened the tapered dog bone ends, with the truck on the ground and level to eliminate any chance of unneeded strain on the new rubber ends.

No but I'm guessing I would've noticed it leaning. I don't see it in any of the pics I took before either. Don't think I put much strain on the rubber, I used ratchet straps to get the mounts close enough to get the bones in, kinda hard to do on the ground with the ubolts out of the leaf spring isn't it? How do you do that on the ground and get the nuts out of the top torque rods on the drivers side without removing the leaf spring saddle? I read the Tm's , it told me to remove the saddle after jacking up the truck.

 

[doghead]

I meant, with the axle jacked up as little as possible, thats all.

I know what you meanabout thinking you would have noticed it before. I hate it when something like this happens and makes you wonder what it is.

Not sure, I'm just thinking "out loud'.

Have you driven it some and parked it again to see if it still looks uneven?

 

[KsM715]

When you say they are not parallel, which way do you mean? If you look at the truck from the rear is the middle axle slid to the left/right of the rear axle? Or if you look at it from either side you can notice the gap between the middle tires and the rear tires is narrower on one side verses the other side? If it it the first option, different when looking at it from the rear, that is normal. when you make tight turns with it those axles move from side to side independently of each other.

My sugestion, loosen the dog bone nuts, loosen the bolts and nuts holding the plates on the top and bottom of the axles, basically every nut and bolt suspension wise that you messed with when replacing the dog bones, (loosen, dont take them all the way out), raise the truck by the frame and let the suspension hang down loose. Now with everything still loose drop the truck back down on to the ground and let the suspension settle into place, I know on a deuce you cant affect mush but with it still loose try to hop up and down on the rear of the truck to get everything to settle into place then torque everything back to specs. Drive the truck, re-torque everything again then check to see if its level.

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Two things will effect the rear axles. The rubber bushings in the dog bones will let them flex, and the trunnion(the center pivot for the axles) can work the nuts that hold it in place loose.

The trunion bolts are not loose( the face of the axle where the shaft goes in, correct?), just checked, haven't heard that word since I built Ak's.

Here's a shot of the middle axle pointing off to the left, and a shot of the upper torque rod obviously deflecting pretty good. Is this normal?

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

I meant, with the axle jacked up as little as possible, thats all.

I know what you meanabout thinking you would have noticed it before. I hate it when something like this happens and makes you wonder what it is.

Not sure, I'm just thinking "out loud'.

Have you driven it some and parked it again to see if it still looks uneven?

Yeah someone suggested after suspension work to drive it then it will adjust which makes sense, you're moving the axles around putting tension in the system when you put the dogbones on. I haven't put it back in the garage to see if the leaning is solved yet, just noticed this new issue. I just posted pics, I'm just wondering how much the axles should move out of line, seems excessive to me here.

 

[doghead]

In the first pic, it looks like the front wheel is turned. If you stopped mid turn, I would expect the axles to look like they do in that pic. Some trucks, it's not as noticeable, others, more so.

I dont see what your referring to in the second pic(sorry).

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

In the first pic, it looks like the front wheel is turned. If you stopped mid turn, I would expect the axles to look like they do in that pic. Some trucks, it's not as noticeable, others, more so.

I dont see what your referring to in the second pic(sorry).

Thanks. The rubber in the second is flexing a lot toward the back. I shoulda got a better pic.

I'm sorry if this is trivial to the astute, I'm a newbie. After having a dogbone fail, cut my brake line and have to replace all them over a month of my short time off, I just want to be sure this is normal deflection.

EDIT: So if I go in a straight line down the driveway the axles should be pretty straight right?

 

[doghead]

OK, I understand what you mean about the rubber now.

I say drive it 20' in a straight line, then stop and look again. I bet all will be normal.

Even if one axle is off to one side a bit(1-2"), that's common. A few times I have looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the off side tracking of an axle. the only thing that keeps it in position is the spring saddle and they have extra space and wear off to one side sometimes. I'd say that is common and not a problem.

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Thank you sir, and I will update on what happens tomorrow.

 

[swbradley1]

Here's a shot of the middle axle pointing off to the left, and a shot of the upper torque rod obviously deflecting pretty good. Is this normal?

DH is right, I wouldn't worry about the wheels looking like that. I just parked my tandem axle camping trailer in the barn and the front axle is twisted like that because of the way I had to back it in today.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Pat, I am talking about the nuts under the cap. The trunnion that the axles pivot on is held in place by axle nut sized nuts. The statement you made about them being tight made me think you checked the bolts holding the cover on, not the correct nuts..

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Pat, I am talking about the nuts under the cap. The trunnion that the axles pivot on is held in place by axle nut sized nuts. The statement you made about them being tight made me think you checked the bolts holding the cover on, not the correct nuts..

Indeed that's what I thought I will recheck tomorrow the correct nuts. Thanks.

 

[sierra117]

If you need an A3 for a comparison I would be willing to bring mine over. I am not far from zimmerman mn. pm me if your interested

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

Thanks for the offer! All's good. After driving it the leaning is minimal now, and I was getting bent out of shape over nothing. When I back up straight or forward the axles are in line. Just didn't realize how much they twist around when turning.
After losing that dogbone, I'm looking at everything with a super critical eye!

Thank you everyone for the input.