Rear Axle Off Centre?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
L

Landyaddict

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Malta
Hello,

I own a Land Rover Defender TD5 manufactured in 2006.
Lately I noticed that my rear axle looks slightly off center with the right tyre sitting further to the driver's side sticking outside wheel arch. It seems that the van is leaning by an inch to the passenger's side. The land rover has not been lifted and has BF Goodrich size 285/75/16 tyres.
Can you please help me identify what the problem could be and what I need to look for please.
 
Landyaddict said:
Hello,

I own a Land Rover Defender TD5 manufactured in 2006.
Lately I noticed that my rear axle looks slightly off center with the right tyre sitting further to the driver's side sticking outside wheel arch. It seems that the van is leaning by an inch to the passenger's side. The land rover has not been lifted and has BF Goodrich size 285/75/16 tyres.
Can you please help me identify what the problem could be and what I need to look for please.
Click to expand...
Could be as simple as slight distortion of the body, or the rubber wheel arches.
If it drives alright, and all the suspension nuts are tight, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8ha
Landyaddict said:
Hello,

I own a Land Rover Defender TD5 manufactured in 2006.
Lately I noticed that my rear axle looks slightly off center with the right tyre sitting further to the driver's side sticking outside wheel arch. It seems that the van is leaning by an inch to the passenger's side. The land rover has not been lifted and has BF Goodrich size 285/75/16 tyres.
Can you please help me identify what the problem could be and what I need to look for please.
Click to expand...
You could check your trailing arm bushes and your A frame condition.
It could be that a rear spring has snapped a coil or there's an issue with the spring seat. This might be causing the lean and the lean could be giving the impression that the axle is out of align.
DEFENDER.jpg
 
I really appreciate your help guys.

Below please find related
20210925_205325.jpg
20210925_205335.jpg
photos for ease of reference.

Photos have been taken from behind car.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the position of the tyres in relation to the plastic mudguard extensions, as these can be a little approximate. The lateral position of the axle is defined by the so called A frame top link. It's attached to a chassis crossmember by rubber or urethane bushes at one and and the axle by a ball joint just to the nearside of the diff. So there isn't any adjustment. It's defined by where the bolt holes have been drilled and where the bracket has been welded on the axle. I think the factory tolerances with Land Rover suspension components are a little relaxed so there would always have been some slight variations. The main thing is to ensure that all the bushes and the ball joint are sound, by giving them a good strong wobble to see if there is any movement. Very occasionally you might find a nut or bolt loose too. But if it's all OK, then the best you can do is stop worrying because short of cutting brackets off and welding them on somewhere else, there isn't any end-user adjustment!
 
Brown said:
I wouldn't worry too much about the position of the tyres in relation to the plastic mudguard extensions, as these can be a little approximate. The lateral position of the axle is defined by the so called A frame top link. It's attached to a chassis crossmember by rubber or urethane bushes at one and and the axle by a ball joint just to the nearside of the diff. So there isn't any adjustment. It's defined by where the bolt holes have been drilled and where the bracket has been welded on the axle. I think the factory tolerances with Land Rover suspension components are a little relaxed so there would always have been some slight variations. The main thing is to ensure that all the bushes and the ball joint are sound, by em a good strong wobble to see if there is any movement. Very occasionally you might find a nut or bolt loose too. But if it's all OK, then the best you can do is stop worrying because short of cutting brackets off and welding them on somewhere else, there isn't any end-user adjustment!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply.

This does not explain the lean however. What is causing the lean?

Rear springs have been changed recently.
 
As Turboman said, the springs are rated differently to compensate for uneven weight distribution across the vehicle eg. from fuel tank etc. The correct springs fitted at each corner help it sit straight.
Have you checked the condition of the trailing arm bushes yet? You could also check the trailing arm brackets on the side of the chassis rail for corrosion and/or being bent. If a bush has perished and collapsed or a bracket bent, this could explain the offset of your axle. Have you been off road in it or might a previous owner? As Brown explained the axle is fixed via the A frame and the two trailing arms, so they need checking out as well as their mounting bracket points (on the axle too). A visual inspection probably won't be enough, you'll need to get a pry bar in and even better if you can get the weight off the wheels while doing it. Safety first though, don't jack it up unless you know what you are doing, especially if it's on the slightest of slopes.
 
Landyaddict said:
Thank you for your reply.

This does not explain the lean however. What is causing the lean?

Rear springs have been changed recently.
Click to expand...

Landyaddict said:
Yes of course, by a professional mechanic. The problem does not concern the springs.
Click to expand...

So what is causing the lean? Surely you must know if you know it’s not the springs as they were fitted by a “professional”?
 
Landyaddict said:
Yes of course, by a professional mechanic. The problem does not concern the springs.
Click to expand...
You've got people on here genuinely trying to help you out. mick 1986's questions about the springs are valid because it is a possible issue. They can be fitted on the wrong sides too. If your professional mechanic is so good, perhaps you should be paying him to resolve the lean and axle mis-alignment.
 
Al2O3 said:
As Turboman said, the springs are rated differently to compensate for uneven weight distribution across the vehicle eg. from fuel tank etc. The correct springs fitted at each corner help it sit straight.
Have you checked the condition of the trailing arm bushes yet? You could also check the trailing arm brackets on the side of the chassis rail for corrosion and/or being bent. If a bush has perished and collapsed or a bracket bent, this could explain the offset of your axle. Have you been off road in it or might a previous owner? As Brown explained the axle is fixed via the A frame and the two trailing arms, so they need checking out as well as their mounting bracket points (on the axle too). A visual inspection probably won't be enough, you'll need to get a pry bar in and even better if you can get the weight off the wheels while doing it. Safety first though, don't jack it up unless you know what you are doing, especially if it's on the slightest of slopes.
Click to expand...
Thank you.

Point taken. I will take your advice.

I will come back to you with feedback
 
Have a very good look down the chassis front to rear and rear to front and check to see if there is a bow in the chassis.
Met a chap with a nice CSW looked very nice, then I noticed something not quite right similar to yours and then the alarm rang when I saw the sticker of the seller [ long gone now ]
You guessed it a bow in the chassis that even pulled the body out/in some. Taken a hit in the side I think. Chap was a policeman and not amused.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Rear Axle Off Centre?
Replies
7
Views
713
Hippo
Hippo
Hammer'n'tongs
Tyres wearing unevenly:- Axle ends out of alignment
Replies
9
Views
1K
Hammer'n'tongs
Hammer'n'tongs
proto57
Freelander 2 (LR2) Baffling (to me!) front Half-shaft/Axle Length Mystery! Too short, twice???
Replies
10
Views
844
Zorro587
Zorro587
ChrisBduck
3.6L Land rover 90
Replies
2
Views
764
ChrisBduck
ChrisBduck
proto57
Freelander 2 (LR2) Trouble Diagnosing Drivetrain Issue
Replies
15
Views
2K
GrumpyGel
GrumpyGel
Back
Top