How's much wider axle

pelky350 · Jun 12, 2017

How much wider is front axle than rear axle in my 88 f350? I was considering a small wheel spacer in rear to make back even with front or is this a bad idea? I've been told when being followed from behind they say my truck looks like it's tracking off but i know it's because the rear axle is not as wide at the front

79jasper · Jun 12, 2017

You're wrong on about every account.
Side tracking like that has nothing to do with the rear axle being narrower.
Go get a proper four wheel alignment. With 99% certainty, I can guarantee something is tweaked.

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franklin2 · Jun 12, 2017

I have seen some chevies like that with wider fronts, but never noticed it on a Ford. I would get the measuring tape out. Measure from tire to tire. If you find they are very close to the same, possibly your frame has been tweaked at some previous time to you owning it?

pelky350 · Jun 12, 2017

Oh, I just noticed the front tires are outside the wheel well more than the backs are? Not by very much, maybe they are the same I also have a 86 and below bed and the cab and front are 87+ brick nose model Maybe it's just the different fender sides messing with me? It is possible it's out of alighnment some I have had both axles off the truck before. I do have a tape measure I can look and see probably won't be very accurate but if it's like way off I may notice. I thought I heard from somewhere the d60 up front is a little wider than the rear by like a 1/2 inch

Double-S-Diesel · Jun 12, 2017

d-60 is 3" wider than the rear, at least on my 96 that is what it was

pelky350 · Jun 13, 2017

I'm gonna measure it tomorrow morning and see it looks wider though

A48WillyzGuy · Jun 13, 2017

Yep, Dana 60 fronts are actually about 3.5" wider than the pickup Sterling rears. I've got 2" spacers in the back and it seems that only I can tell that it's ever so slightly wider than the front now. Nobody else has mentioned it anyway. Lol

pelky350 · Jun 13, 2017

I'm not sure I have a sterling rear axle? It's a 88 I think it's just a Dana 70? But I'm not crazy it is wider?? Lol are like 1 inch spacers a bad idea? Best kinds to get or avoid? Any ill effects of spacers? I don't neeed to do it as it's just a looks thing but if no Ill effects come from it

Dieselcrawler · Jun 13, 2017

88 should have sterling

A48WillyzGuy · Jun 13, 2017

Good quality, properly maintained spacers should have no negatives. Steel spacers are the better ones, but aluminum ones are cheaper and much more common.
I have read that the OE's make the front track wider than the rear to help with stability when hauling a heavy trailer. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this statement.

catbird7 · Jun 13, 2017

A48WillyzGuy said:
Yep, Dana 60 fronts are actually about 3.5" wider than the pickup Sterling rears. I've got 2" spacers in the back and it seems that only I can tell that it's ever so slightly wider than the front now. Nobody else has mentioned it anyway. Lol

Agree, I have the same thing on my rear axle. 2" spacers make it look much better

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IDIBRONCO · Jun 13, 2017

i was told that on four wheel drives they do this so that the rear tires don't follow exactly in the ruts of the front tires.

A48WillyzGuy · Jun 13, 2017

IDIBRONCO said:
i was told that on four wheel drives they do this so that the rear tires don't follow exactly in the ruts of the front tires.

My Dad has always said that as well. I cannot say for sure either way, but I find it pretty hard to believe that the OE's care that much about how well your 4x does in deep mud/snow/sand. Lol

79jasper · Jun 14, 2017

Doubt that.
Not gonna be enough to make a difference. Lol

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snicklas · Jun 14, 2017

I've read more than one post on here saying it's to help with the turning radius. Not sure if that's the case, but I have seen it mentioned more than once.

I guess one verification of this, does a dually have a wider turn radius than a SRW truck? For example, a regular cab 2wd dually vs a regular cab 2wd SRW.....

How's much wider axle

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