Rear end offset and front end alignment.

[Ishmael]

This is kind of a follow up thread to one from a few months back. I installed a 73 Nova 8.5" in my 68 Firebird and put some fat tires on it. What I found out is that the rear is offset to one side by about 1/2" or so. I've been gone for a few months and got back to doing some research and found that most Chev rears are offset to the right by about 1/2". Fords are too. The idea being that the driveshaft can't be completely straight or it will vibrate. Sorry for the non-technical explanation. So unless I do something about the axle tubes, I'm stuck with one tire sticking out further than the other. I can throw a wheel spacer in there. Jeeps go more than a 1/2 all the time but that's a different kind of spacer. This in itself isn't the issue. Since the front end is aligned off the rear, how do I go about aligning the front without some massive amount of thrust?

thanks
Scott

[TheJDMan]

Scott,
I think you misunderstand what is involved with rear end offset. The rear end offset has nothing to do with locating one wheel out further on one side than the other. The rear axle tubes are engineered and the spring mounts are installed so the wheels are evenly spaced within the body side to side. The offset only effects the location of the pinion left to right nothing more. You can verify this for yourself by simply measuring from the spring mount center line to the axle flange on each side. They will be the same dimension.

If for some reason your wheels are actually offset side to side relative to the body, you have some other suspension issue going on under your car which needs attention. Issues like bad spring bushings, sheared center bolts and/or damaged leaf springs can all cause the wheels to be off center.

[Ishmael]

Been through all of that. Springs and bushings are new. Plates are good. Pins are in place. Bushings are new. Frame is straight. I've read too many threads about 2nd gens having offset rears in perfect cars and had this rear end out and back in too many times at this point. Regardless of the rear does anyone know how to align the front without a bunch of thrust if the rear is offset?