Rear axle not aligned.

[HenryMac]

One of the Lariats I looked at yesterday had an issue with the bed. It was pretty obvious just looking at the gap between the bed and rear window. I then showed the sales guy that I could fit both hands together between the bed and driver's side cab. On the passenger side, I could barely fit one hand. The truck was brand new.

What did the sales guy say? I'm betting he just shrugged his shoulders.

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[MTB-BRUH]

Believing, and facts. 2 useful items, hardly interchangeable.

A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

Why settle for smart, when folks are here to make you wise?

I’m just saying you could’ve phrased your response to him in a much nicer way lol to each their own I suppose

 

[WhyNot21]

What did the sales guy say? I'm betting he just shrugged his shoulders.

He said he'd look into it. Not that I'm going to ever find out if he does, or not. I'm guessing they're just hoping no one else notices.

 

[HenryMac]

I’m just saying you could’ve phrased your response to him in a much nicer way lol to each their own I suppose

Thanks Karen

 

[MTB-BRUH]

Thanks Karen

You bet hun ?

 

[Samsquanch]

HenryMac is feeling sassy this morning. “Uhm, no, not really” why the attitude lol it’s plenty reasonable to believe a new truck wouldn’t be in an accident

Yeah it happens allllll the time. Why it happened to me just 36 years ago see what I mean! ?

 

[THLONE]

The damper installation caused this thread to get off center also?

 

[Rocketeer61]

One of the Lariats I looked at yesterday had an issue with the bed. It was pretty obvious just looking at the gap between the bed and rear window. I then showed the sales guy that I could fit both hands together between the bed and driver's side cab. On the passenger side, I could barely fit one hand. The truck was brand new.

Yep. My 2020 sits weird to the eye because the bed has a gradual tweak from front to back. If you look at it from the side you can see that the tops don't line up and if you look at it from the back the top of the tailgate is closer to the window line on one side than it is on the other. If it's parked on level ground you can see the misalignment from 50 feet away. Quality is Job One, indeed.

 

[jubreunig]

Hi Juergen,

The axle has slots into which the center bolts drop. The key here is that you had a spring replaced and likely someone misaligned the center bolt and it not in the slot in the rear axle spring seat. It is called a spring seat for a reason. You need a shop that can loosen and lift the chassis off the rear axle and recenter both center bolts. Sorry you are having the problem, but the key here is the dealer fixing the lean...they did something wrong. A relative easy fix once the chassis and springs are lifted off the rear axle. Not the first time I have experienced this, but exceeding rare...

Good Luck!

Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engnineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

If I understood you right, you mean there are different slots in the axle. This is a picture from our rear axle (not mine but from a 2019 Ranger).

There is only one center hole.
The last time as I had loosened the leafs from axle, it looks all good, I tried to forced it in the right direction, but as soon as I tight the screws it will move to the old position. If I get the possibility for a hydraulic ramp, I will do some measurements from the axle slot as well, maybe I can figure out what is out of alignment.

 

[jubreunig]

show us some pics of the spring/axle connection point.
perhaps it will be obvious in the picture if some assembly issues are there

Can there be really assembly issues with a one leaf spring and a center bolt?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Can there be really assembly issues with a one leaf spring and a center bolt?

Hi Juergen,

if the axle is not in the correct position, it is possible..not likely but something to check and verify.

 

[Viscerol]

Yep. My 2020 sits weird to the eye because the bed has a gradual tweak from front to back. If you look at it from the side you can see that the tops don't line up and if you look at it from the back the top of the tailgate is closer to the window line on one side than it is on the other. If it's parked on level ground you can see the misalignment from 50 feet away. Quality is Job One, indeed.

My 2020 sits 3/8” low on the left rear and 1/4” low on the left front.
You cannot tell the front, but the rear, if it sitting on any pavement not level, reveals a lean.
There is a 1/4” shim already installed on the left leaf. I’m thinking of either replacing the 1/4” shim with a 1/2” or similar to bring it closer. If this doesn’t work, I may replace with new leafs. This is my daily and honestly I’m not willing to let Ford hold into my truck for weeks on end only to tell me it’s “within margins” because I know it is.

Does anyone know if replacing the leafs will correct this lean? I know there is a long thread about this bit I don’t think it’s ever been resolved. Sorry for the hijack.

 

[jubreunig]

Uhm, no, not really. I ordered a new '85 S-15. When it arrived at the dealership the drivers side of the bed had been repainted. The truck had polishing compound splattered all over the rear of the cab.

Shippers often damage vehicles, fix them, and then deliver them to the dealership.

@THLONE 's idea is a good one. take it to a collision shop and have them check it out.

How are the gaps around the bed where it meets the cab? Consistent, side to side?

Seriously though... variations like this aren't that unusual. Ford was shipping Rangers for months that weren't level, they then installed 1/2" shims in the spring pack on one side to level them out.

The gaps between cab and bed are almost the same, difference is just 2mm. But If I would align the bed, than it would be more worst than it is now.

It seems the leafs are directly under the frame. I measured from the frame down to the leaf spring with a metal ruler. the left side is missing -2mm to get aligned, the right side is +1mm outside of the frame. I think that is a usual manufacturing tolerance

 

[RangerRaptor]

The gaps between cab and bed are almost the same, difference is just 2mm. But If I would align the bed, than it would be more worst than it is now.

It seems the leafs are directly under the frame. I measured from the frame down to the leaf spring with a metal ruler. the left side is missing -2mm to get aligned, the right side is +1mm outside of the frame. I think that is a usual manufacturing tolerance

I‘m no mechanic, but those u-bolts have me worried. I’ve installed some rear suspension upgrades on my Ford Raptor and my new Ford Ranger (bump stops, lift blocks, and leaf springs). I believe those bolts should all show about the same number of threads below the nut. In these pics, both sides are way off with number of exposed threads.

Maybe you were still in the process of trying to move the axle? If not, they definitely need attention.

 

[Gerder]

I have a problem with the center of my rear axle. The right tire sticks way more out than the left one. It's about a 1/2inch difference. I checked the alignment of the bed compared to the cab and the gap between cab and bed and it's almost fine. If i would move the bed to get the same gap, the right rear would stick out much more than now.
I had already loosened the U-bolts and had hope that it was just a tension, but the same.

What can I do to fix this?

there is nothing to do... it isnt a trick, its a feature. An international feature! They are not able to align the rear axle in the middle of the frame. mine is 15 mm off the center. Ford says thats in the tolerances...
i had probs with the german authority because of that and they didnt let me put on 285s without bigger fenders...

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