Rearend location issues on 32 Four door

T

trike84

Member
Just installed a columbia rearend in my 32, (stock spring, stock crossmember, 32-33 bells, stock shackles and stock axel's) and the right hub is 7/16 of an inch futher out than the left side. Dropped it out and re-centered it, still off. tow is also off. any IDEAS, centerbolt of the spring is in the center of the crossmember, dead even between the spring hanger's U bolt's.:confused:
 
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Did you do the Columbia conversion? Are you positive the right axle is 32-34? Sounds like a longer axle on the right side...

Neal
 
Johnny Stooksbury assembled it and cut the bell, I sent him a running rear. matched axle's. I did not measure the rear for squareness before I pulled it. I misquoted, the 3/4 was really 7/16. just dropped the rear and adjusted it square, tighten it up and it's still out. set tow even at 18 in, and it moved on the left side, now 18 1/4, the radius rods are still loose on torque tube, should I drop it again and tighten the radius rods then re hang the spring.
 
Something doesn't sound right. Late 32 to 34 bells are unique. In addition a 34 Columbia is a rare bird indeed. Make sure you have a true 34 Columbia bell, anything later would be longer and cause that side to be "wider". Also the spring hangers are different from 35-36 and 37-41 and 46-48. If you have mis-matched bells, it would cause the rear to be coked to one side. Is that what you mean by the "tow is also off"?
 
He cut 32-34 bell and welded it to the columbia section, he has a jig to line it all up. I measured from inside the rear fender to center of the axle to get a constant measurement.
 
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First thing I would do is check back with the gentleman that modified it and see what his input is. He should know more about your specific unit than anyone else would.
 
Try some measurements from different locations; I wouldn't count on the inside of the fender as being a perfectly accurate location. Did you check the actual squareness of the rear end itself, I've seen housings that were warped more than 7/16" that were not evident to the eye, until they were installed.
 
I'm no brain surgeon, but did you yourself measure the right side from the center section to the backing plate and then measure the left side in the same spot? This should tell you if the sides are equal lengths. And going with what Phil said, measure the spring hangers from a center point. If all this is where it should be then I would suspect a shackle problem or a spring problem. If it is bent up on one side it will pull the rear. But start with squaring the rear first. Also, are you off with the spring loaded(wheels on the ground) or jacked up?
 
Trike84, as others have indicated, you are measuring from a moving target. I just measured my 1932 Columbia, the axle housing length from backing plate flange to inside flange is 24 1/4" on the driver side and 24 1/8" on the passenger or Columbia side, plus I have the spacer ring. Sounds like possibly the body is not centred on the chassis?
 
I was going to bring up the spacer ring but its mentioned above. If I remember right it is used when a 32-4 banjo housing is used.
 
Just re measured the bells, driver's side is 23 7/8 and pass side is 23 15/16 not counting the 3/16 spacer. checked the the body line's, straight no gaps. spring is centered in cross member. shackles match,
 
found the lost 1/4 inch, body is canted to the driver's side. going to live with it.. Thank's to everybody for all the input
 
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