Is it bent?

[thirsty]

How hard is it to replace axle tubes?  Is it the same for a 10bolt?

Not a do it the driveway job. I would just replace the whole rear end if it is bent.

[VileZambonie]

My best suggestion is if the axle is bent replace it and then have an alignment done. If anything else is bent you'll know at that point for sure.

[team39763]

I was asking about replacing axle tubes because I was needing my assembly narrowed, but nobody in my area does stuff like that.  And I can't seem to get any recommendations in the San Antonio area either.  I just figured I could go to the college automotive shop and help them to do it for me.

[78 Chevyrado]

Man this hasn't been a good week aparrently.   I keep missing stuff.

I got under there today and with the angle locator I found the axle to have 1-2 degrees difference between the axle tubes. 

I also noticed the left spring is actually twisted, So there's at least no question I need a pair of springs.  The direction it twisted is consistent with how the axle looks so maybe thats it. 

I'll get some springs as soon as i can, and then take another look at the axle afterwards.


Any thoughts on who has the best quality stock replacement springs?

I found these
http://thesuspensionking.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_37_47_51_67_71&products_id=91&osCsid=2illc3bvmo01q4hc99bn5ll4n0

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7352

[VileZambonie]

Find a local spring shop and get them from there. They'll have U-bolts and center pins in stock. Then you don't have to pay shipping either.

[78 Chevyrado]

Find a local spring shop and get them from there. They'll have U-bolts and center pins in stock. Then you don't have to pay shipping either.

I can't find any above Atlanta.  You know this irritates me when stuff just isn't around or they don't advertise.  There's nowhere around here that does rear ends either Except for 1 ford specializing place.   Any of you guys know of any places that sell leaf springs between Atlanta and Athens?

[eventhorizon66]

I found these guys with a quick Google search:

Doraville Drive Lines & Springs
6910 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340-1410
(770) 441-2501‎

[78 Chevyrado]

I found these guys with a quick Google search:

Doraville Drive Lines & Springs
6910 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville, GA 30340-1410
(770) 441-2501‎

Ahhh   I think I've heard of them.  What keywords did you use?  If I put in "leaf springs"  I get stuff about yard work and stuff about drop coil springs.

[VileZambonie]

Yellow Pages

Doraville Drive Lines & Springs
Phone: (770) 441-2501

TruckPro
Serving Atlanta, GA
(866) 660-7490

Big Moe Spring & Alignment of Atlanta
7190 Delta Cir
Austell, GA
(770) 948-7443

Mccullough Auto Care & Towing
5810 Roswell Rd NE
Atlanta, GA
(404) 252-3014

Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories
Lowest Prices Guaranteed!
Serving Atlanta, GA
(800) 841-4661

[Josh454]

Oops didn't see page 2...

[eventhorizon66]

What keywords did you use?  If I put in "leaf springs"  I get stuff about yard work and stuff about drop coil springs.

"Spring shops atlanta, GA"

[78 Chevyrado]

Dang...  told ya I been missing stuff this week!   i feel like an idiot.   Oh well now I can get to figuring out how to play it off... 

[HAULIN IT]

 I'm wondering why to rotate the axle shaft 180*  If it is the axle housing tube, what will that do?  Wouldnt that show a bent axle shaft on a semi floater?  

The reason for this is to rule out a bent axleshaft (or wheel) from altering the specs found...It will separate that from the housing being bent. If the housing is bent like it appears to be in the picture, you will have negative camber on the Left (top of the wheel inward). If this is the case & only the housing is bent, the spec will not change regardless of what position the axle flange is in (the wheel bearing holds the axleshaft still, but it is tilted slightly so the spec is allways the same, likely in this case...negative camber).
 Now if the flange on the axleshaft only is bent, depending on how it is positioned the moment the reading are taken...It would change from neg. camber to toe-in, to pos. camber, to toe-out as it was rotated around...less than .010 run-out is preferred, but a LITTLE more won't hurt anything, but this amount will not show up doing an alignment. We're looking for larger amounts here.
 If both the housing & the shaft are bent (depending on the amount of the combination) you could see the shaft "cover up" the bent housing, an example would be: The housing is bent & has a 1/2* of neg. camber, & let's say the axleshaft is also bent about the same...If the "bent-in" spot would be down while the alignment was checked, the Two would negate each other & show ok, but if the axle was rotated 180*, the spec would be near a full degree neg. camber. Understand?
 On a side note, Do you see any oil seepage from the Left tube where it is pressed into the cast center section? Looking at the pic, it seems that it starts right at the cast/tube area. Quite often oil will seep through there when things have moved, especially if it's been driven some since being bent. Hope this helps! Lorne   
     

[78 Chevyrado]

 I'm wondering why to rotate the axle shaft 180*  If it is the axle housing tube, what will that do?  Wouldnt that show a bent axle shaft on a semi floater?  

The reason for this is to rule out a bent axleshaft (or wheel) from altering the specs found...It will separate that from the housing being bent. If the housing is bent like it appears to be in the picture, you will have negative camber on the Left (top of the wheel inward). If this is the case & only the housing is bent, the spec will not change regardless of what position the axle flange is in (the wheel bearing holds the axleshaft still, but it is tilted slightly so the spec is allways the same, likely in this case...negative camber).
 Now if the flange on the axleshaft only is bent, depending on how it is positioned the moment the reading are taken...It would change from neg. camber to toe-in, to pos. camber, to toe-out as it was rotated around...less than .010 run-out is preferred, but a LITTLE more won't hurt anything, but this amount will not show up doing an alignment. We're looking for larger amounts here.
 If both the housing & the shaft are bent (depending on the amount of the combination) you could see the shaft "cover up" the bent housing, an example would be: The housing is bent & has a 1/2* of neg. camber, & let's say the axleshaft is also bent about the same...If the "bent-in" spot would be down while the alignment was checked, the Two would negate each other & show ok, but if the axle was rotated 180*, the spec would be near a full degree neg. camber. Understand?
 On a side note, Do you see any oil seepage from the Left tube where it is pressed into the cast center section? Looking at the pic, it seems that it starts right at the cast/tube area. Quite often oil will seep through there when things have moved, especially if it's been driven some since being bent. Hope this helps! Lorne   
     

That does help, Thank you Lorne!  Bent axles and springs is just something I haven't had to mess with before.  I've had plenty of sagging springs, and stuff broken inside the axle, just not bent up stuff.   


There's no seepage fron where the tube presses in the center section.  But I had noticed, since then that I always have a small leak from the seal on the inner hub that wasn't there before the wreck.  Now It leaks (not enough to trace it, but enough to screw up brake shoes) some gear oil out into the brake shoe area.  It takes about 6 months to be noticable on the brake shoes.  I know it's not brake fluid, it's all dry under the cylinder seals.  I wonder if it could have bent outboard of the spring and tweaked the tube?  I know for a fact where the seal rides is perfect.  no worn spot from the seal and no roughness anywhere on it.   They said they checked the wheels when they put new tires on (I had to leave it there and pick it up later)  but you know how that goes.  I kinda worry about having steel wheels just because I havent had a set of steel wheels yet that were as round and true as machined aluminum wheels.  either that or I bent em taking a curve too fast. lol

My little degree finder said the tubes are different by one degree, inboard and right next to the spring perches .  I think I should try again to measure on the flange the backing plate attaches too also so I can see if it may be bent outboard of the springs.  I may have to wait a bit till I get the springs, cuz now I noticed the twisted spring, it's all I can see now and everything looks all screwy now.