Crooked Axle

canis · October 10, 2008

Hey y'all - I've got a '98 Z71 with a 4" Rancho lift and 98k miles. I went for an alignment, and they said my rear axle is crooked. Is that common? I've been told it could either be the center bolts or the holes in the lift blocks may have become elongated. Where would I find new center bolts? Thanks!

jrrod2004 · October 10, 2008

Hey y'all - I've got a '98 Z71 with a 4" Rancho lift and 98k miles. I went for an alignment, and they said my rear axle is crooked. Is that common? I've been told it could either be the center bolts or the holes in the lift blocks may have become elongated. Where would I find new center bolts? Thanks!

no, that is not considered common or normal

georgerosen06 · October 10, 2008

not common or normal but it happened to my 96....bent the rear axle shaft when offroading

svensk · October 10, 2008

Time to upgrade to a 12 bolt

Draenor · October 10, 2008

That why I never suggest lift blocks for lifting a vehicle. Always use longer spings.

Its not only the bolt that needs replacing it is the block too. Most likely it would be the center pin that locates the block to the springs. It been a while since I messed with those..but I think those need to be pressed out.

2000DV4.8 · October 10, 2008

Time to upgrade to a 14 bolt

Fixed.

jrrod2004 · October 10, 2008

might as well put in a dana 90

pm26 · October 10, 2008

Is it the axle housing or individual axle shafts that are bent?

Zembonez · October 10, 2008

It's not "crooked axle", it's "bent axle".

Not always. I have seen several axles that were moved on the leaf spring. The pin in the spring is not a super tight fit. The right impact can slide the axle housing on the spring and create an alignment issue. I've even seen one that sheared off the bolt (or location pin) and moved over an inch. Sure, it could be bent, but it might be just moved.

canis · October 19, 2008

I don't think it's a bent axle shaft, but rather the entire housing that's moved. In other words, the distance from the center of the front tire to the center of the rear tire is different on the right and left sides of the truck. Haven't had a chance to take it a part and figure it out yet.

pm26 · October 19, 2008

I don't think it's a bent axle shaft, but rather the entire housing that's moved. In other words, the distance from the center of the front tire to the center of the rear tire is different on the right and left sides of the truck. Haven't had a chance to take it a part and figure it out yet.

OK, this makes sense. At first I thought that the entire axle housing was bent, which is hard to do because it is a casting and it would most likely break before bending too much. On the other hand, individual axle shaft can actually bend under some conditions. As far as misaligned rear axle housing, that should not be that hard to correct. (unless the truck has been hit and something else is bent to cause the axle to come out of alignment).

StaTTiKK · December 14, 2008

hmmm, I am facing this same issue. I think in my case it is also just a shifted rear axle. I think this because when you look under the truck at the springs, they are not all congruent with each other. almost like I slid sideways the the rear of the truck and hit a rock or something. The springs did like an acordian thing and fanned out. anyways, I will let you all know and take pictures...