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myoung
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2006
16:46:23
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 Subject: All gen III owners look here
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I have this in another forum as well. I need help figuring out a problem I have. My truck is a 2000 4.7 5spd with 9.25" rear end. my rear differential is offcentered to the right of the truck by about 1", it bugs the hell out of me so i would like to find the problem. I measured from the frame rail to my tire on both sides, picking a groove on my tire as a reference point. What I am asking is if everyone can take a tape measure and measure from the frame rail to the tire on both sides and see if your diff is also off center, or if it is just me. I think it might be related to manual trucks or 4.7L but not too sure on that. Im sure that everyone here wouldnt mine know if your diff centered up. Everyone's help would be greatly appreciated to help me pinpoint this problem.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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3/12/2006
18:06:54
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Not saying this is right to be this way and know way I can say my answer will be the correct one but.... Your problem really is not that uncommon although 1 inch on a pickup is at the outside limites.This is a lot more common on trucks one ton and bigger. In the old days you seen this a lot but it's fairly rare now.You said your using the frame to measure from so this eliminates the box being misaligned. Bent frame would move everything so that's not the answer.One unlikely answer is both center spring bolts are sheared allowing the axle housing to shift to one side. Check the mounting possition of the springs on the mountaing plates. Both sides will need to be sheared to do as your saying.Nothing else is coming to mind. Got a feeling this will not be fixable without either a new rear end housing or removing the spring suports on the axles and welding new ones on in proper position. This is assuming the spring hangers are not positioned incorrect. In that case, it's the spring hangers you need to move. Hope there's an easy fix I missed but I doubt it.
So many problems .... So little time
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Spacinjason
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
09:26:59
|  RE: All gen III owners look here
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Seems like I remember some old posts that a lot of guys were complaining (and rightfully so) that the rear axle was off center on their Gen III Daks. Another DC quality control issue? I have 'eyeballed' the alignment of my rear axle on my '01 QC 4x4 and it appears to be centered. Does anyone know if there was ever a TSB regarding this subject?
Good luck to you myoung, I hope you can find a solution! Stuff like that drives me crazy!
Spacinjason
'01 QC Sport 4x4
4.7L, 5sp., 3.55 LSD
Magnaflow exhaust
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myoung
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
14:44:05
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Thank you both for your help. While searching on hee I found a few old posts about this same thing, and I dont think there is a solution to it. It should be clearly visible even by eyeballing if you have a wider tire (255 here), I never noticed it when I bought the truck b/c it had some little bitty tires one it. I wish I wasnt so anal about stuff like this, but it bugs the hell out me. Thanks again
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
15:46:54
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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As I stated,this can be fixed. Just all depends on just how important it is to you to do so. As it is nothing is being effected by it other then personal ego.All makers pop one of these through the mill once in a while.
So many problems .... So little time
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Kowalski
GenIII
3/13/2006
16:19:57
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Actually, there may not be anything that needs to be fixed here. The diff is supposed to be slightly off center - the rear is not symetrical. As long as the wheels are an equal distance from the body, you can stop worrying. Those with 4x4 will notice the front pumpkin is even more off center; that's just how they're designed.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Spacinjason
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
16:53:00
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Good point Kowalski. You are probably correct about the 'pumpkin' being offcentered a little on the rear axle. I seem to remember guys stating that their rear axle (not just the 'pumpkin') was off centered enough that their rear wheels were actually offcentered in the wheel wells? Like if you are looking at your truck from the rear, one wheel sticks out more then the other. I could be wrong though!
Myoung- it would bug the heck out of me if I noticed something like that on my truck, so don't feel bad. I remember reading about this same problem a few years ago, and immedietly running outside to see if my axle/wheels were centered properly. I was relieved to see that everything seemed to be centered well (at least to the naked eye). I feel your pain!
Good luck!
Spacinjason
'01 QC Sport 4x4
4.7L, 5sp., 3.55 LSD
Magnaflow exhaust
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boydzz
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
17:06:07
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure the engine is not symmetrical in the engine bay. It's offset the same distance as the rear diff. In other words the engine and rear diff are in-line, just not in-line with the centerline of the vehicle.
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off center
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
21:06:49
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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And the steering wheel is not centered either. It's way over on the left side of the truck.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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3/13/2006
21:25:45
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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I'm under the understanding the original post was stating the intire rear end was off to one side measuring frame to tire. You guys seem to be talking about the mechanics themselfs being built off center and your correct on a lot of autos through the years if this is your intentions. Correct me if I'm misunderstanding the question asked here.
So many problems .... So little time
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myoung
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
04:03:20
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Yes, OBIO, I am talking about the entire rear differential being 1" to the right in reference to the frame. I would not doubt that the entire driveline os shifted over, which I can understand, and I can also understand the pumpkin being offcenter, but the tires should stick out evenly on each side. Hope it can be fixed without having to reweld my spring perches. I may consider buying an r/t rear end with posi from a junkyard, but that will be a while, spent too much on other goodies.
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Kowalski
GenIII
3/14/2006
16:36:37
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Ah, you're talking about the whole rear end; the diff is actually the same as the pumpkin - just the section with the gears. Are you sure it is the rear that is mis-aligned, and not the bed ?
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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myoung
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2006
17:05:33
| RE: All gen III owners look here
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Yes it is the entire rear end, and I am positive that it is offcenter, not the bed. I measured from the frame to the tire on both sides.
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