12 bolt axle tubes slight curve?

[Travis104]

Hello,
I picked up a 12 bolt posi trac for my 68 Camaro. The axle tunes look like they have a slight curve to them. I wasn't sure if this was intended, so the weight of the car would make them straight, or if they have been warped by people welding on different brackets?



Thanks

[F-Body International]

Could be from welding on brackets if that's actually what happened. In order to fix this, you will have to cut the tubes and reweld in a jig so all the bearings line up. Careful though, many axle tubes aren't straight from the factory as well. There is an amount that is considered OK...

[raustinss]

They can be saved if you have the right inserts ,bar and know a little bit about welding and heat ...

[mitch_04]

In a book I once read (Chassis Engineering?) they talked about having adding a slight amount of toe-in to rear axles by heating up the front center of each tube cherry red, then letting it cool. Once it cooled, it would shrink just a bit (1/2 degree toe if I remember). You could apply the same method to trying to straighten your axle tubing.

[garvir]

NASCAR runs a little negitive camber on their rearends, in fact when they do a inspection, they check the angle, i think they are only allowed two degrees. after that they can start having problems with the bearings.