79 CJ7 Rear Axel Question

[WMarshburn]

I hope to have some pics up in the next day or two to show what is going on but my rear axel site noticeably further back on the driver side at least 2 inches almost into the rear of the wheel well and about centered on the passenger side. The jeep still drives, accelerates and goes straight, well as straight as an old leaf spring will go, however i am extremely concerned about the axle.

It is sitting on everything stock except 31x10.5x 15 tires. Could the be related to heavier sagging springs on the driver side, maybe improperly positioned leafs on the axle, or a larger problem. I am having some frame work done in 2 weeks to her to repair rear shackle mounts and am replacing the mounting brackets and shackle's while she is in the air.

When I start removing the old leaf springs is there anything i need to keep an eye out for that would make a considerable difference in the axle alignment. Any help would be appreciated and i will do my best to get the pics on asap.

Thanks,

Wes

 

[WMarshburn]

Here are some shots i found on the computer, i will get some more side shots in the morning, weather permitting of course, live in VA and had a little snow dusting last nights and in the forecast again in the morning.

Thanks Again

 

[CJim7]

Can you get some pictures of the springs where they attach to the axle? Also, if you would....measure the distance from the end of the frame (where the bumper begins) to the edge of the shackle hanger, both sides. I cant really tell, but it looks like someone did some patchwork on the passengerside, shackle hanger area.

This may take a bunch of measuring to figure out (barring the obvious discovery). Measuring spring hanger locations in relation to each side, axle distance from hanger (front and rear mounts), total measurement hanger to hanger. Distances from front axle spring hangers to rear axle spring hangers...

Definitely some sagging springs, but it looks like the sag is pretty even. Im concerned that the axle has shifted front to back on one of the springpacks.

 

[IOPort51]

check the bolt that goes through the springs at the axle. it sets in a hole in the perch. If your jeep has experienced a good hit it may have sheared this bolt and allowed the axle perch to slide back on the spring. measure from the front spring mount to the axle on both sides.
You see this on occasion when you see a car that looks like it is going down the road at an angle, from behind you can see one of the front wheels.

 

[dalefan88]

looks like a bad hole in the frame to in the third pic.

 

[IOPort51]

one more question, was it always like this??

 

[WMarshburn]

Well, as advised by eeryone here i started taking some measurements and almost everything was square, or at least not more than a quarter inch or so off, which was probable human error but when looking at the obvious problems in the frame i saw the driver side front frame mount was becoming twisted due to the frame rot. Here are some of the pics. I have the new c-channel frames for the rear of it from autorust technicians ready to go on, now just have to order the front ones, wasnt looking forward to doing the front ones since i have to remove the body mounts then weld them back on, probably just get a pro to do this one. Well here ya are, wanted to say thanks to everyone and will upload some pics of the completed install of frames, o and ill attach the new frame channel on this in case anyone wants to see em.

Thanks again

 

[CJKrawler]

Are they the original springs? It almost looks like someone put the wrong springs on there. Just a thought.

 

[WireEd]

I hope to have some pics up in the next day or two to show what is going on but my rear axel site noticeably further back on the driver side at least 2 inches almost into the rear of the wheel well and about centered on the passenger side. The jeep still drives, accelerates and goes straight, well as straight as an old leaf spring will go, however i am extremely concerned about the axle.

It is sitting on everything stock except 31x10.5x 15 tires. Could the be related to heavier sagging springs on the driver side, maybe improperly positioned leafs on the axle, or a larger problem. I am having some frame work done in 2 weeks to her to repair rear shackle mounts and am replacing the mounting brackets and shackle's while she is in the air.

When I start removing the old leaf springs is there anything i need to keep an eye out for that would make a considerable difference in the axle alignment. Any help would be appreciated and i will do my best to get the pics on asap.

Thanks,

Wes

I had the problem of a tweaked frame on my 79 CJ5 . The rear left had been hit. When I installed my tub it made the jeep look like it was going sideways down the road. What I did was remove the body, measure diagonally front to back on the frame rail corners (it was 3 inches off, one to the other!). I used a chain binder (diagonally on the rails) and pulled it back to shape, then welded in a few gussets to keep it from springing back. What I found was two things: how easy it is to tweak, and how easy it is to move back!! The gussets stiffened it up really good (small triangular 1/4 inch thick cold rolled steal welded in the frame rail to crossmember corners). One last thing, with how easy it was to move the frame, a come-along would work just as well as the chain binder.

Ed