Axle off centre - damage to TC if front DS used?

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 06:25 PM

As many of you know, I had a build done fairly recently by a shop. I was told everything was aligned, proper, tight, bullet proof, etc. There was so much new stuff on this build that I never paid attention to the front axle being off centre by about 1 - 1.5"

I drove it lots as a DD, took it wheeling lightly twice and determined that I wanted my Currie A/R on the 2nd to last hole and not the middle. My buddy comes over, we start on the project and see that my front axle is off centre. My build never had an alignment.

Today I got to thinking about the angles of things with the axle off centre when in 4 hi or lo.

My question: Does and/or can an axle being off centre and used in 4 wheel drive cause problems with the front DS, TC, other if it was only off centre by 1 - 1.5"?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 06:38 PM

I actually need an answer really fast, so...BUMP?

(10 minutes or so and I'm already on page 3 of New Posts! Wow JF is popular!)

brunosplace · 04-03-2010, 06:47 PM

No, it wont hurt it, look at the angle of misalignment going down to the pinion from the transfercase, if that wont break it, why would 1 inch right or left? But you should get an adjustable track bar installed to center the axle, and then get it aligned so you don't end up with other issues.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunosplace

No, it wont hurt it, look at the angle of misalignment going down to the pinion from the transfercase, if that wont break it, why would 1 inch right or left? But you should get an adjustable track bar installed to center the axle, and then get it aligned so you don't end up with other issues.

I dunno. But I had to ask. And the Jeep isn't here right now (in the shop AGAIN), so I had to ask. Besides, up and down is a little different than sideways. 90*'s different.

Douglas S. · 04-03-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanBCguy

I dunno. But I had to ask. And the Jeep isn't here right now (in the shop AGAIN), so I had to ask. Besides, up and down is a little different that sideways. 90*'s different.

It isn't about the direction, it's the angle itself.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 07:07 PM

So it sounds like I'm all good. Thanks guys. It was just a quick thought/question to myself today and as usual, JF can provide some pretty darn quick and accurate responses.

DaveinHouston · 04-03-2010, 08:05 PM

Everyone that runs an 8.8 (me included) has a pinion that's an inch or so off center with the TC.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 08:06 PM

Thanks guys. This is why I love JF. You have a question, you get an immediate answer.

Love it!

**mrblaine** · 04-03-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanBCguy

Thanks guys. This is why I love JF. You have a question, you get an immediate answer.

Love it!

It's too bad you didn't get the right one. The answer with a front axle is it depends. If it's offset to the passenger side and you have an auto, you run the risk of smacking the driveshaft into the side of the transmission oil pan and ruining the driveshaft.

If it's offset to the driver's side, no worries. Myself, I destroyed several front driveshafts before I gave up and offset my front axle 1/2" to the driver's side because my pinion was incorrectly located for the amount of travel I have plus it's a HP axle which makes it worse.

Were it me, I'd have the shop flex it out with two forklifts diagonally before I made any determination. They need to lift the Right front and Left rear before you will know.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

It's too bad you didn't get the right one. The answer with a front axle is it depends. If it's offset to the passenger side and you have an auto, you run the risk of smacking the driveshaft into the side of the transmission oil pan and ruining the driveshaft.

If it's offset to the driver's side, no worries. Myself, I destroyed several front driveshafts before I gave up and offset my front axle 1/2" to the driver's side because my pinion was incorrectly located for the amount of travel I have plus it's a HP axle which makes it worse.

Were it me, I'd have the shop flex it out with two forklifts diagonally before I made any determination. They need to lift the Right front and Left rear before you will know.

It's offset to the pass. side by about 1 - 1.5". The heims kept twisting in a clockwise direction (facing forward in the cab). I have a LP D44 with a 5 speed NV3550.

As you can imagine from my discussions with you on the phone, this shop isn't going to be doing any forklifting. They aren't even out boarding the rears shocks as they've promised me they'd do for the past 2 weeks.

Me ='s one VERY unhappy (and broke) customer.

**mrblaine** · 04-03-2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanBCguy

It's offset to the pass. side by about 1 - 1.5". The heims kept twisting in a clockwise direction (facing forward in the cab). I have a LP D44 with a 5 speed NV3550.

As you can imagine from my discussions with you on the phone, this shop isn't going to be doing any forklifting. They aren't even out boarding the rears shocks as they've promised me they'd do for the past 2 weeks.

Me ='s one VERY unhappy (and broke) customer.

I think you're not in immediate danger with the 5 speed. IIRC from the last one we swapped out, there's a ton of room under there for the shaft to swing into.

Also the reason the manuals have a larger driveshaft diameter than the manuals. The 97's came with the same size for both and discovered rather quickly if a customer disconnected the front swaybar, they would swing into the tranny pan and cause a bit of conflict.

VanBCguy · 04-03-2010, 09:14 PM

Thanks Blaine. I appreciate your input. The axle has been aligned. But that was just last week, so I was really asking if anything's potentially been damaged between last week and November '09 when they installed the axle.

Your comments give me peace of mind though. Thank you!