Rear axle thrust angle-55 Ford

[Daves55Sedan]

The main purpose of this is to eliminate front wheel shimmy. The front end alignment cannot be achieved properly due to rear axle thrust angle mis-alignment. Here is a sketch showing diagonal frame measurements (Frame squareness).

 

[Daves55Sedan]

Here is a sketch showing diagonal measurements between rear brakeplates and front of frame. Notice that they have 7/8 inch shim stack on the front driver side upper control arm bar, while on the passenger side they have no shims at all at the front adjustment. Doing this aims both the front spindles toward the left.

 

[Daves55Sedan]

Anybody have any suggestions as to how to adjust the rear axle to reduce the offset ?

 

[L5wolvesf]

This kinda came to mind . . . has the car ever been hit and repaired?
also
Have you tried evening up the number of shims and re-aligning?

 

[KULTULZ]

Anybody have any suggestions as to how to adjust the rear axle to reduce the offset ?

Actually, as long as the front spring eye mount bushings/pins and frame mounting brackets are OK and the leaf spring mountings @ the axle housing are sound, there is no adjustment without modifying or stretching the frame in some manner.

I don't have a 55/56 frame diagram but what you have seems within tolerance(s).

What kind of shimmy are you fighting?

 

[dmsfrr]

Replacing the leaf springs on my '55 is still on the to-do list so I haven't had the pleasure of firsthand experience with this yet, but...

If you loosen the 4 large U-bolts from the axle to under the springs there may be a very slight amount of movement available to hopefully get the rear axle closer to square with the car than it currently is.