[RonC]

After switching to the 23" wheels on the rear of my SSR I noticed that the rear end seems to be a bit off center. Has anyone else noticed this? Might want to go look at yours especially if you have lower profile tires. I measured mine and there is about a 1" side to side difference in the fender wells. I know some cars are built this way, but I just wondered if the SSR is. I know for a fact a lot of the Impala guys had this problem.

Ron

 

[hdflstf]

MY expectation is that the side to side location is somewhat determined by the fifth link (panhard sp? bar). As the suspension goes up and down in travel, the rear axle will have some travel to the left and right. You may be looking at just one point on the travel. But yes something to keel in mind with different wheel/tire combos.

 

[JimGnitecki]

ALL early to mid 80s Suburbans drove down the road "crabbing", right from the factory. Check it out next time you see one of these old timers.

Can't be good for handling, tire wear, or driveline.

Jim G

 

[Calcustom]

Rear end alignment

Ron,
First off I would make absolutly sure the backspacing on your 23" wheels are identical from one to the other. It sounds to me like you possibly have two different offsets on the rims. I seriously doubt the differential is out of position by this amount. The driveshaft would be at a severe angle to one side.

 

[FUZZY]

crabbing

ALL early to mid 80s Suburbans drove down the road "crabbing", right from the factory. Check it out next time you see one of these old timers.

Can't be good for handling, tire wear, or driveline.

Jim G

Jim,

This was designed into the 70's and 80's trucks (4X4's only) for their off road use. The front axel had a wider track pattern than the rear, so that when off road in the mud, the tires were not following in the same track. The front was also offset to the passenger sdie giving it the impression off dog tracking (crabbing) when in fact it was going straight.

I aught to know, after all I own four of them besides my Cobra and SSR.

 

[JimGnitecki]

Wow! There was a REASON for it, huh?

I guess a Suburban can't be expected to "handle" anyway!

Jim G

 

[RonC]

I measured a 1/2" difference on a friends ssr today.... I'm going to take it to an alignment shop to get it looked at closely, and see what they say...

 

[freezer]

At the correct design height, the spacing should be approximately even. The panhard rod will cause the suspension to shift sideways if you have lowered the trim. It does this during normal suspension movement.

 

[tonystoolroom]

Jim,

This was designed into the 70's and 80's trucks (4X4's only) for their off road use. The front axel had a wider track pattern than the rear, so that when off road in the mud, the tires were not following in the same track. The front was also offset to the passenger sdie giving it the impression off dog tracking (crabbing) when in fact it was going straight.

I aught to know, after all I own four of them besides my Cobra and SSR.

I can tell you that I rode in an old Suburban up some mountain trails in Maine, and I was surprised how much heart that truck had. Over bolders, logs, mud holes, and never got stuck. And you dont wanna get stuck deep in the woods up on a mountain trail, its a long walk back!!

 

[FUZZY]

Stuck on the mountain

I can tell you that I rode in an old Suburban up some mountain trails in Maine, and I was surprised how much heart that truck had. Over bolders, logs, mud holes, and never got stuck. And you dont wanna get stuck deep in the woods up on a mountain trail, its a long walk back!!

tony,
I've been an avid off-roader for some twenty years now. And you can get stuck in the most unlikely hard to get to places in the woods. I've had one of my trucks (10" lift, 44" tires, 450 ponies, and a stick shift with a 3200 lb clutch)stuck back in the woods two miles off any fire trail. Luckily I had 10 of my buddies out too, and we had to hook up 6 trucks, all pulling at once to get me out. Dun burried it up to the bumpers that time. Many more tails of that sort, but those are for sitting around a campfire at night with good friends and a few totties (that would be beer, mixed drinks, wine, shots or what ever spirits you would care to injest).