New rearend sticks out to one side!
07-20-2011, 02:09 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 188
New rearend sticks out to one side!
So I got a T-bird turbo rearend with disc brakes and 3.73 gears to replace my stock 2.73 drum setup. I got the old one out, the new one in and bolted up. I am hoping to buy new wheels so I mocked up the old ones to check clearances and I noticed that the rearend sticks out to the passenger side. All the control arms, springs and shocks bolted up without a problem so I do not understand it. I measured and it appears the passenger side from axle tube flange to the base of the lug bolts is about 5/16" longer than the driver, but I don't know if that is just the normal setup for these rearends. Also, I thought maybe when I set the car down and take it out for a spin, it might sort of realign itself a bit. I still have a decent amount of work left to complete the disc swap so it may take a while for me to be able to drive it so I am looking for a little help now. I know people have done this swap and am hoping maybe somebody has had and been able to correct a similar issue. Thanks in advance.
07-20-2011, 03:35 PM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sandusky,OH
Posts: 893
IF it is in fact a true Tbird rearend you could have something going on with the disk brakes,my other thought is that you got an Explorer rearend I think it is,which is longer on one side. Others will chime in.
07-20-2011, 04:01 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 188
I thought the T-bird turbo rearends were the only ones with 4 lug and disc. Plus it has all the same mounting brackets (control arms, quad shocks, etc...). Maybe I'm wrong, I have never done any research on an explorer, so I might have been taken. $#!+ I hope not. Thanks.
07-20-2011, 07:30 PM
#6
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: OH
Posts: 829
yeah a t-bird rear end will bolt right in, an explorer one will NOT (plus the obvious wheel stud count as mentioned, I actually have one of each rear ends lol). First thing I'd check is to see if something may be bent, or may double check the condition of the bushings in case you overlooked them. I just installed one in my stang and each side is equal so no it's not the set up of the rear end just to clear that note.
07-20-2011, 07:46 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 188
cool, its just weird that the stock one was centered and even and the new one is kicked out to the right. I will check all the attachment points and see how the bushings look. I am probably going to upgrade control arms anyhow, so that should take care of that if that is what's wrong.
07-21-2011, 10:54 AM
#9
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,219
My stock rearend sticks about a 1/8-1/4" on one side. I've searched on this problem many times and heard many others saying the exact same thing. I hear that Fords build tolerances were not that strict back then, resulting in this problem. Some also claim that they offset the rearend slightly for the driveshaft.