Wider front end on Silverado?

marlyn · October 13, 2003

I purchased an 03 2500 duramax, I was following behind in another car, looking at the tires and noticed the tires line up on the passengers side but stick out on the drivers side about 2 1/2" to 2 3/4".

I went to see my dealer and the service manager says its normal to see the front end wider. He didn't beleave me when I said it's all on one side.

Has anyone else noticed this on thier trucks?

2001 HD · October 13, 2003

Yep, The front wheelbase is about 2" wider on the front of the HD trucks. Don't know why they did that, but it doesn't bother me. Some guys have installed wheel spacers, but I don't think I will go that route. They are pricey at $350.00.

robsawatsky · October 14, 2003

Front track is wider but it should be tracking straight on a FLAT road. If the road has a significant crown to it, you can't use visual front/rear alignment to check the alignment. Only way to really tell is on a 4 wheel alignment rig.

MrQuadrasteer · October 14, 2003

A majority of vehicles have wider front tracks than rear tracks...Never understood why ...

Colorado Kid · October 16, 2003

Wider front track gives more room for all the equipment while still allowing big steering angles. Wider rear track just makes for a more expensive and heavier rear axle.

marlyn · October 19, 2003

Yes, I understand these trucks have wider front ends, but all to one side???

Please answer this one.

HendyPhoto · October 19, 2003

Try getting a 4-wheel alignment. The front end is wider because of the independant front suspension. But that isnt the reason it's all on one side. Hopefully the vehicle wasnt wrecked before!!! How many miles were on it when you bought it? And just for kicks, make sure all your tires are the same width!!!!

High Mileage · October 20, 2003

I hear what you are asking. It is about the vehicle not tracking centered front to rear. I know alot of vehicles display this characteristic. Don't mess with the Dealer. Take it to a good frame and front end shop. Sure it may cost you $80+/- but it will be well worth your peace of mind.

A good frame shop will pull measurments on the frame, rear springs and rear axel position. They first need to verify the rear axel is truely perpendicular with a true frame. Sometimes the rear springs can either be incorrectly installed or manufactured. There is a perch stud on the spring set that the rear axel perch is centered on prior to the U clamps. With out that stud the clamps would not be able to keep the axel from sliding back and forth on the springs during accelleration and braking.

Anyhow this stud is usually not centered along the length of the spring and sometimes the difference is so slight the spring can be installed backwards and not be noticed. You can take a tape measure from the front shakel bolt to the front of the axel perch on each side of the vehicle. If the dimensions are the same ther is a chance that the frame is racked.

NOTE; If the frame shop determines that the frame is racked (they have diagonal measuring points on the frame) Do not allow them to straighten it out! It may mess up all kinds of body panel and bed/cab alignments. Have them document their findings and submit that to your Dealer to see what they propose.

Hope it was helpful. I've also heard before that this is an intentional design to reduce the occurance of rollovers when the outside right tire catches the shoulder.

Though I've never heard it from anyone I know to believe.

odoh · November 12, 2003

A majority of vehicles have wider front tracks than rear tracks...Never understood why ...

The rear axle follows the front. Accordingly, the gauge is narrower for the rear to track thru turns better. At least thats what they said in HS AutoShop I in 1960.

And no, it shouldn't be dogtracking. I do recall a friend commenting on his that something wasn't centered ~ it was a 3500 and not noticable but he was installing something and noted the frame wasn't streight ~ thot it was engineered that way. I never bothered to chk mine. Perhaps I shud.

Wingnut · November 12, 2003

You can take a tape measure from the front shakel bolt to the front of the axel perch on each side of the vehicle. If the dimensions are the same ther is a chance that the frame is racked.

I didn't think that you could "rack" the frames anymore.

That was supposed to be related to the old frames that were basically just two I-beams (A true ladder-frame).

But I may be making that up.

Anyone know fer shure?

odoh · November 12, 2003

I purchased an 03 2500 duramax, I was following behind in another car, looking at the tires and noticed the tires line up on the passengers side but stick out on the drivers side about 2 1/2" to 2 3/4".

From your description/observation ~ you must have been on the passengers side of the following car, right?

As with your post, I initially thot 'wow it must be really bad' because in my mind, you were driving the following car (my assumption/my bad) ~ its a mental issue as well as an optical illusion/parrellax issue.

From personal experience, I've unconsiously lined up the two wheels as mentally I expected them to be on the same plane and in so doing ~ the vehicle ahead just 'looked' like it was dogtracking/had an alignment problem.

To test it out ~ drive behind it again and look down one side of the vehicle and glance at the opposite side as you did previously ~ then drift your vehicle so that you can look down the other side. It will then look like its dogtracking just switched opposite. This can be demonstrated by following any vehicle but w/trucks it more noticeable.

I'll chance to say notihing is wrong w/your truck that a couple of aspirins can't fix .

Chevyfreek · November 12, 2003

Yeah if you noticed that is was off to one side than have it checked at a frame shop like states above. I put a set of rear wheel spacers on my truck cause I was not wild about the front being so much wider than the rear. I am glad I did. I like the look and the stance my truck has now. Good luck......

NoWake200 · November 12, 2003

ChevyFreak, how wide of a wheel spacer did you install and were did you find them? Nice looking truck, but you have to get ride of those Steeltechs...they almost killed my wife....great tread wair but not worth the $ in the rain

Talk to you later....

Chevyfreek · November 12, 2003

I would have to look up the information when I get home, but I think the size I ordered was an 1-5/8" deep spacer with the 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern. The center bore was 4.5" or 4-7/8"I think. That allows for the spacer to clear the axle hub. Here is the link to where I ordered my wheel spacers from:

Wheel Adapter.com

The gentlemans name is Fred Goeske. He makes all of his wheel adapters custom and the price at the time was around $250 I think. They are all made from billet aluminum and are light yet very strong. I have had then on my truck for around 40,000mi and have had no problems. I think the pair of them were less than 10lbs. To install them all I did was use an air cutting tool to trim the extra material off of the rear wheel studs above the thread that way you don't have to buy shorter wheel studs for the rear. The spacer will come with new studs with the correct bolt pattern and nuts to bolt them down to the factory wheel studs. The total install took less than a couple hours. You just want to take your time when you trim the wheel studs so that you do not damage the thread. If you choose to install them that way. I wil try and double check the numbers if I can find them again. I will post them if I do. One of these days I will have to get some pics of them installed on my truck. Hope this helps....

P.S. I will be getting rid of the Firestones in the spring. One way or the other. I have almost 48,000mi on them so they are about do. The tread and ware are good since I rotate them every 6000mi. You are right, they are not the best tires. Thanks for the complement on my truck as well. I try to keep looking and running as good as possible. I drive it a bunch so I want it to last.

NoWake200 · November 14, 2003

ChevyFreek,

thank you for the info I will give the link a look. This site is very bad..."a little knowledge is dangerous". I read these posts about add ons, wider fronts, after market shocks, and now I noticed the wider front on truck that was in front of me yesturday!!! I also noticed the bad ride from my factory shocks. I guess what I am trying to get at is "ignorance it bliss" or in my case ignorance is cheaper!!