Adjusting Trackbar to Center Rear Axle

[Aberk]

I have a 3.5" Clayton Overland Plus lift and when I lifted the truck 40k miles ago the rear axle was centered. I can't be sure when it became uncentered, but my theory is when I slid into a rut at Windrock hard enough to break my tail light off on the passenger side. Nothing underneath appears to be bent and the adjustable track bar doesn't appear to have slipped any threads (jam nut is still tight). I attached 2 pics, the ~0.5" is the passenger side and the ~1.5" is the driver side. My question is how far should I shorten the track bar to bring the axle over 0.5" to the passenger side?

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[WILDHOBO]

Start with a 1/4” and remeasure. Edit. Sorry. Is the axle too far to one side by one full inch? If so, adjust the track bar by 1/2” and remeasure. It’s not an exact calculation, because of the angle on the track bar. Just start there.

 

[Vtur]

Measure from the frame to outer edge of tires. Sometime the bed aren't center, so measure from the flares can be off.

Also, springs do settled over times as well. The rear will shift to driver side.

 

[Sweetums]

Use a laser level and line it up dead center between the frame rails, then remeasure using fixed points on the axle to find the center.

Inspect your track bar brackets, they are known to bend in a hard hit. You might need to do more than adjust the trackbar if you bent one.
Artec makes a heavy duty replacement: https://artecindustries.com/products/jk-heavy-duty-stock-trackbar-bracket

 

[RK Racing]

I used a plum Bob. You can also put it on jack stands and take your tires off and measure the face of your hub to your frame or to the plum Bob.

 

[SoK66]

Don't measure from points on the body, measure from points on the frame. Th body nac be off quite a bit side to side. It's the axles' alignment side to side under the frame that matters. Make sure not to measure lettering, etc. on the tires one side vs the other. Using the mold line on the tires is a way to ensure you have a true to center control point. Also bear in mind that the factory staggers the axle centering a tiny bit to account for payloads. I once measured a series of JKs sitting on the local dealers lot. Fronts were set about 3/16's to driver side, rears 3/16's to passenger. Makes sense when you add driver's weight and a full load of fuel.

 

[Hootbro]

I always thought rear wheel differential/axle assemblies had a drivers side outward bias poke and were not meant to be perfectly centered. Had something to do with driveline torque load and to avoid the rear from crabbing down the road.

 

[Billkowski]

Sometimes I hate this forum, this is not something I would have thought of or ever noticed...until now. Thanks.

 

[XraytecH]

Probably mentioned here but measure from the frame to the tire sidewall.

Also just get it close cuz it will vary because of what is loaded in the bed, if the gas tank is full or almost empty, if you are driving solo or max occupancy.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

if it was centered and an impact made it no longer centered……

id start with looking at your track bar mounts…. Something bent. You can recenter with the adjustable track bar-sure…. But whatever you bent is now weak and should be reinforced…. Or cut off and replaced.

 

[willys 41]

I have a 3.5" Clayton Overland Plus lift and when I lifted the truck 40k miles ago the rear axle was centered. I can't be sure when it became uncentered, but my theory is when I slid into a rut at Windrock hard enough to break my tail light off on the passenger side. Nothing underneath appears to be bent and the adjustable track bar doesn't appear to have slipped any threads (jam nut is still tight). I attached 2 pics, the ~0.5" is the passenger side and the ~1.5" is the driver side. My question is how far should I shorten the track bar to bring the axle over 0.5" to the passenger side?

I remove the wheels. Put the axle on jack stands. Install the alignment tool strait up and measure to the frame.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I remove the wheels. Put the axle on jack stands. Install the alignment tool strait up and measure to the frame.

How was your toe? When I bought mine and measured, my toe was 3/8” in! I was not pleased with the only shop to have ever aligned it. They clearly didn’t care. My gas mileage got better when I adjusted it to around 3/32”.

 

[willys 41]

How was your toe? When I bought mine and measured, my toe was 3/8” in! I was not pleased with the only shop to have ever aligned it. They clearly didn’t care. My gas mileage got better when I adjusted it to around 3/32”.

I am 3/32
My local 4x4 shop sets it at 0 toe. I have not tried that yet.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I am 3/32
My local 4x4 shop sets it at 0 toe. I have not tried that yet.

I heard it’s supposed to be in just a hair. But I’m not an alignment shop.

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