Suspension Help

[Scarface]

I just got my new tires for my Budniks I put the wheels and tires on the car (67 Chevelle) and the Pass side fit just fine without a problem but the driver side has no room at all from the quarter but allot of room to the inner fender. I have a Currie bolt in 9 inch with all hotchkis arms and springs. My question is did I install the rear-end wrong meaning the adj top arms? Or is the rear-end in most cars not centered


Thanks Again

[baz67]

This may sound stupid, but did Budnik send you rims with different BS on them by accident?

[Scarface]

We measured them and the offset seems to be correct. any other ideas?

Thanks

[Norm Peterson]

Either the wheel/axle/wheel length is too long or the width between the wheelwell centers is too short. Any combination of the following could cause this:

OE Body/frame build tolerances that are all or mostly in the "narrow" direction

Crash repair

Axle not centered (by coincidence, this condition could allow only one side to fit fine with wrong-offset wheels)

Wheel offset is the same for both rear wheels but wrong for the axle length (is the 9" slightly longer than the OE axle, and what were the wheels ordered to?).


Norm

[Scarface]

Either the wheel/axle/wheel length is too long or the width between the wheelwell centers is too short. Any combination of the following could cause this:

OE Body/frame build tolerances that are all or mostly in the "narrow" direction

Crash repair

Axle not centered (by coincidence, this condition could allow only one side to fit fine with wrong-offset wheels)

Wheel offset is the same for both rear wheels but wrong for the axle length (is the 9" slightly longer than the OE axle, and what were the wheels ordered to?).


Norm

The 9 inch was the same length as my 12 bolt that I pulled out of the car. I did some measuring before I ordered the wheels and everything looked good then (Maybe I messed up)

One other thing I just remembered is my dad pulled the axle from that side of the car because the seal was leaking could he had done something wrong when he put it back together that would make it be a 1/4 inch out?


Thanks

[astroracer]

It sounds to me like you need to loosen up all of your suspension bolts, center the housing under the car and then retighten. If you have to adjust the upper arms to maintain center that is what you'll have to do. You may even end up slotting some of the holes to get the rear end where it needs to be.
Mark

[Scarface]

It sounds to me like you need to loosen up all of your suspension bolts, center the housing under the car and then retighten. If you have to adjust the upper arms to maintain center that is what you'll have to do. You may even end up slotting some of the holes to get the rear end where it needs to be.
Mark

What is the best way to measure everything to makesure it is in the center? I new to this so I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas?

[astroracer]

Put the car on jack stands and level it front/back and side to side.
With the rear wheels removed drop a plumb bob (big nut on a string) from the middle of the wheel well, past the axle centerline, and measure the distance from the string to the wheel mounting face. Both measurements should be pretty close. Also measure the wheel base on both sides. Any difference here will cause problems with tracking and tire wear.
One thing I always do when removing a rear end, whether to replace or just doing suspension work, is to drop a plumb to the floor and mark where the axle centerline and wheel mounting faces are. Saves time when putting things back together. Just rehang the plumb bob and line up the marks...
Mark

[Norm Peterson]

I think there should be some reference holes in the frame that you can work from as well.


Norm

[Scarface]

Thanks guys I am going to try and get this centered up this weekend. I am looking at lowering my car 2 inches in the back and I can't seem to find to many people making a 2 inch spring for the back of a chevelle. So I am thinking about the QA1 coil overs I just have a question about them. Do they install where the shocks are and if so do you just remove your coil springs completely or do you have to do some fab work to install them? (Same question for the front as well)

Thanks

[USAZR1]

What width wheel and backspacing? What tire size?

[Scarface]

The rear end in my car is for a 72 chevelle so it is an inch wider than a stock 67 rear-end. The 12 bolt I had in the car was the same one from a 72 chevelle. The back rims are 18x10 with a 6 inch back space. We have the rear-end almost centered and we trimmed the quarter lips out about an 1/8th of an inch now the tire has a little over a 1/4 of an inch clearance on each side. If I need to I could maybe backspace the wheel another 1/4 inch to get more clearance. Going to try it this away and see what happens (The rim clears just fine it is the 295/35 18 tire that is having a problem fitting)

[Scarface]

I have tried getting this rear-end centered but I have been unsuccessful so far. Can I take this to someone who does chassis work and have them get it centered without having to spend a fortune on a whole new setup?

The other thing is it ok to keep the rear-end where it is and just have the drivers side wheel re-rimmed with a little more back spacing?

Thanks
Brent

[MonzaRacer]

Why would you use he 72 width diff if you got a different one made? The first gen A body had a narrow axle for a reason. anny way if you are game try adding some Air Ride Technologies CoolRide to the rear. with those you womt believe how good it can handle and still ride nice and if you have extra weight in the car then you add some air to bring it back up.
I had my ART rear cool ride in my 71 Monte and ran single lines to the back bumper and never had a compressor in the car and I put them in then drove from Indiana to Mooresville NC for the East Coast Power Tour and back and the ride was awesome and we were packed to the gills with supplies!.
Good Luck
Lee