wheel not center to the wheel well

I purchased my CJ5 with a 4 inch leaf spring lift. I noticed that the rear wheels are not center to their wheel well. They are off center to the front of the jeep a couple inches. Any speculation as to how they could get that way? I didn't think there was any adjustment on placement of the axle and leafs, that they can bolt in only one way. Regards, Maverick

 

IDK ,when the PO installed the lift they could have missed the hole to locate the axle and it could be in the web of the axle perch?

 

They could be that way by design... When the spring compresses, it moves the axle and the shackle toward the rear of the CJ. I know the Holbrook long leaf kits are setup to move the static wheel forward in the opening, giving it somewhere to go as the spring flattens, and pushes the shackle and the axle rearward.

 

springs installed backwards?
don't recall if the center pins are "centered" in the leaves

 

If you take a step back.......... then a step forward.......... Look your doing the "Hokie Pokie"!!
Ok serious...........
If you look how BOTH leaf springs work.
As the wheel hits, the springs flex. If it weren't for the shackles the wheels would hop all @, (don't ask me how I know this
The front one flexes UP and moves to the FRONT
and the rear one Up, to the REAR
that's what the shackles are for, a pivot.
So, if you have a say 4" shackle on the rear of your springs the wheel, (provided it's all put togehter correct) should be say 2" er so forward, so when you hit a tree, the wheel moves UP and rearward.
If it were centered, it'd possible hit the rear of the innerfender.
See? those guys that designed these jeeps really knew what they were doing!
Joe
My jeep gives back each day! I get oils from the ground, I pour it in my jeep, and it leaks back into the ground!

 

Is the back panel of the body lined up with the end of the frame?

 

Spinning off what joe said, could the springs be too short which may make the pin for the axle perch more forward. You read a
lot of posts about people receiving springs with lift kits that are too short or long. If they are short the shackles will be laid up against the frame.
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I would also be concerned about the drive shaft being jammed forward and pressure on the yokes?

 

My CJ has stock shackles, riding on 33's and 4 inch lift springs. I have added 1" drop on the tranny crossmember. I'll toss a couple photos on photo bucket for you to look at.

 

Per the Holbrook install manual, note this is a 3" lift.


STEP 6

Install the tires and carefully lower the entire weight of the vehicle onto

the springs. Bounce on the front and rear bumpers. Now take a look at the
shackles. They should be vertical or leaning toward the springs slightly. Front
tire clearance is usually not a problem due to the rather large fender opening,
but due to the small stock rear fender opening, it is critical that the rear solid
mount hanger be positioned properly!
The rear tire should be well forward in the fender opening not centered. The
reason for this is that as the rear leaf spring collapses, the axle and tire will
move up and rearward. Narrow tires that move inside the fender well will have
no problem but wide tires that protrude through the fender opening can easily​

come in contact with the body due to the extreme flexibility of these springs.

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