Rear end centered?

[timo pajala]

This might be stupid question but anyhow, is the pinion centered In 1957 bel air? Im ordering New rear and want To know before buying anything si i dont have trouble with wheel fitment.

[BamaNomad]

No question that you don't have the answer to is ever a 'stupid question'... :)

I happened to have a complete '57 rear end lying on my shop floor, so I went out and used my tape measure to confirm the following:

"As close as I can determine with a tape measure ... it IS centered, or very close to being centered! There's probably information somewhere that will tell you exactly, but from my measurement you could consider it so for practical purposes!

[markm]

Regardless of whether the pinion is centered the housing must be centered.

[Old Buzzard]

Order the new rear end with the pinion centered.....

[markm]

Order the new rear end with the pinion centered.....

Good plan, get a Strange 60 or Moser 12 bolt 60 wide, if stock width is desired.

[bigblock]

I like the strange s60 FWIW.

[Dave the Wave]

i remember in my `55, i had more room on one side for tire clearance, than the other!,,,,,,,,,,,,,factory.

[BamaNomad]

i remember in my `55, i had more room on one side for tire clearance, than the other!,,,,,,,,,,,,,factory.

That is not the *design*... but there are 'tolerances in everything, and since there's no 'positive location' of the rear (just leaf springs and bushings wtih wear they can begin to move a little... :)

note: factory parts wear out too... :) How NEW was your car when you noted that discrepancy?

[jims56]

Remember these cars were not perfect coming off the assembly line, so yes there could differences from side to side tire clearance. And if the body has been removed and replaced by someone else, that could make a difference also depending how ell they centered the body on the frame.

[Dave the Wave]

well, i first noticed this when i bought my `55 in `96. so, i wanted a 12 bolt for it. i go to a rear end guy told him what i wanted. told him i have measurments for him. he went on and told me he had them. then telling me, asking me if i actually wanted factory specs. told him yes. he then told me all were off center. so, since `96, i have been putting my fingers under the wheel wells of `55s. and all are off center. meaning more space on one side than the other.

[BamaNomad]

In 1996, our Trifive cars were 40 yrs old...

If you're talking about +/- 0.25", then you'd probably be within factory spec. Significantly more than that and you're talking about bad/wornout bushings in the springs or improper installation/modification.

[Rick_L]

he then told me all were off center. so, since `96, i have been putting my fingers under the wheel wells of `55s. and all are off center.

This is simply not true. There is something wrong with the frame, body, axle, or suspension if it's not centered. Both 55s I've owned had the axle centered in the frame/body with equal tire to fender clearances on both sides.

[Dave the Wave]

no problem gentlemen, just passing on what was told to me.