Hrm... I just buttoned up my front end and it appears my axle is favoring the driver side by about 1". Doesn't seem like much -- but the passenger side spring is nearly riding on the frame.
Passenger Side:
Driver Side:
Assuming the axle isn't bent -- it seems the location of the shock towers and frame mounts should center the axle without anything else. I see jeeper forums suggesting using the trac bar to "center" the axle - but in my case, that would involve a lot of lateral force to "pull" the axle into position while setting the tracbar. I'm not against that solution if that is what is required - but it just doesn't feel right.
This was my procedure...
1) mount the radius arms into the MG kit brackets (loose not torqued)
2) attach springs to axle and frame-- loosely
3) jack up the body so the axle can hang by the springs...
4) put the axle down onto jack stands and torque radius arm bolts and spring bolts everything up
5) install tie rods, drag link and trac-bar based on this alignment.
It seems more correct that the tracbar should be set to return the axle to the loaded resting position of the suspension... which is why I did what I did and "hung" the axle to let it find it's natural orientation.
I'm new to this style of suspension, so I'm curious how to do this. I only realized this after I tried to mount my Sumosprings and there legitimately isn't enough room between the frame/spring to mount it -- I found photos of MGs installed with SumoSprings and my axle is definitely favoring the driver side.
It seems like it could be one of three things causing this:
1 - My frame has some underlying issues and thus MG brackets aren't completely square and the radius arms are slightly angled.
I did have difficulities getting the driver side one up tight against the frame -- but with the help of some clamps and a jack, it went on fine after some persuasion. It was only off like 1/32 anyways -- and once I bolted it up it easily took care of that difference.
Nevertheless, seems important to check. You never know with a 20 year old van!!
2 - The springs aren't mounted evenly on the perches. They aren't completely symmetric currently but they aren't off by much. I'll check tomorrow -- but at most there is like 1/4" (probably even less) of adjustment here given the way the spring retainer grabs the springs -- but I'm a noob here -- so there probably is a bit more than I think.
3 - My axle is bent...
Here's my plan of attack:
1 - check to make sure the axle isn't bent. I checked this when I had it off the vehicle and it was fine -- but I could have missed something. I'll check again but I really think the axle is OK.
2 - Let the axle hang and check for obvious misalignment of the MG brackets to axle -- i.e. does it appear one of the radius arms is not square with the frame and axle.
3- While axle is hanging, remove the trac-bar, loosen the radius arm to MG bracket bolts -- check if axle "aligns" itself.
4 - Loosen the spring retainer bolts and see if I "push" the axle further to the passenger side and rebolt.
Any other things to check or do? Anyone else run into these issues at all? Did I miss something big?
2008 GMC 3500 SMB
Linear Mode
