Shifted front axle?

[FordGirl514]

I noticed the front end in my truck feeling strange after 4-wheeling (suprise!) lol... I bottomed out my front diff hard enough so that it leaks fluid slowly from the bottom. I had just put a 4" lift in the front so I thought maybe things loosened up a bit. Brought it back to my friend's shop and he checked everything, re-adjusted everything and everything looked fine. However, he measured the wheels front to back on both sides and noticed that one side measured 142" and the other 141 1/2". Seems like my whole axle shifted back? How could this be fixed, or could it be something else? It's not the lift.... I feel soo helpless since we can't figure this out - i just hope it isn't the frame

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by FordGirl514

I noticed the front end in my truck feeling strange after 4-wheeling (suprise!) lol... I bottomed out my front diff hard enough so that it leaks fluid slowly from the bottom. I had just put a 4" lift in the front so I thought maybe things loosened up a bit. Brought it back to my friend's shop and he checked everything, re-adjusted everything and everything looked fine. However, he measured the wheels front to back on both sides and noticed that one side measured 142" and the other 141 1/2". Seems like my whole axle shifted back? How could this be fixed, or could it be something else? It's not the lift.... I feel soo helpless since we can't figure this out - i just hope it isn't the frame

I would measure the front axle from the front of the truck to center of the axle. Measure each side. Most likely your axle slid back 1/2 inch on one side. Or one side of your axle slid 1/2 inch forward. Either way your front axle is not square to the truck. What could have happened when you bottomed out your truck, being you just installed the 4inch lift kit. The u-bolts could have been slightly loose and allowed the axle to move. This is one reason why in the instructions of the lift it says to drive like 500 miles and retorque all the bolts and nuts. As they can become loose. It also says in the instructions to retorque the bolts again 6 months later.

It is possible that fram is bent but I highly doubt it is. Unless you did more then bottom your truck out.

[cchase]

I agree^^^ when you install a lift its easy to let the axle fall backwards alittle. and with going off road soon after the install, it would be real easy for the ubolts to shift.

[FordGirl514]

pheww okay... doesn't sound like a huge problem. I was just worried b/c the mechanic did in fact loosen the lift kit and re-adjust everything and it's still off. Hopefully I can get it fixed this weekend - thanks for your replies

[owtcast]

What year is the truck? The reason I ask is if it's pre-05, you might have tweeked one of the leaf spring perches.

[FordGirl514]

it's an 04

[owtcast]

I'm hoping it was just a shift of the axle on the spings but, you might have to pull the u-bolts back off to inspect. Look closely at the springs themselves before dis-assembling anything. If the axle didn't slide, there is a chance you tweeked the actual spring. Look at the spring from the side view for any abnormal bends in it or any cracked leafs. If they both look perfectly the same then you probably need to pull the u-bolts and check to make sure the alignment pin hasn't broken off or bent and allowed the spring to move backward. If it's not either, all you have left is to take it to a frame shop where they can check it for alignment. BTW, what type of lift kit did you install? Full springs, add-a-leaf, shackle relocation,???

[owtcast]

This is one way a bent spring will look. Another way to tell is there will be some uneven space in between the leaves up near the axle.

[FordGirl514]

it's a full leaf lift. springs look totally fine and there's no shift marks or anything

[FordGirl514]

i'll definitely inspect again. thanks so much