axle length ?

[rsh4364]

May be a silly ?,but why did chevy put such a narrow rear in M1009s? Shouldnt it match front end..And is this why some guys add spacers? Just curious..

 

[doghead]

They did not match the rear width on many trucks. Not a big deal.

 

[Barrman]

I don't know the reason for sure. However, my M715 is about the same ratio thinner on the rear. All of the older baby jeeps are thinner in the rear as well.

My guess is for tracking in turns reasons. I just know the 1009 is so easy to drive around obstacles on the trail. Basically, once your shoulder is past something you can turn anyway you want and forget about it. I like that

 

[FMJ]

It wasn't just the 1009's, most of the solid front axle chevys I've seen have a wider front than rear. They added the spacers so the rear tires would stick out the same distance as the fronts.

 

[DieselBob]

Years ago one of the 4X4 magazines interviewed a GM light truck engineer that said they used the narrower rear axle housing to offset the bigger turning radius of the 4X4 trucks. One thing you can do is use a 14 bolt from a 1 ton GM van. They have the wider track so they don't need the spacers. Also I believe they have the spring perch in the correct location for the 1/2 ton application.