B body rear in 69 Dart

[SRT_DSTRHOLC]

I need help figuring out how to get my b body rear centered in the car. I bolted it in and it's half inch closer to one 1/4 than the other side, looks like the leafs are twisting a little more than i remember then doing on my duster to use a B body rear, any ideas or solutions BESIDES moving the perches in half inch each side, thanks

 

[SRT_DSTRHOLC]

Actually the bushings in front hangers are pretty old and beat, would this cause the rear not to sit right?

 

[hillsidehemi]

Dealing with this myself this week. Recently bought a 72 Duster and when I put wider tires on the rear it was then noticeable that the rear was shifted over more than an inch to the Passenger side. Starting measuring and then figured out I have a B Body rear 8 3/4 also. Spring perches were not moved just the springs spread out. I can see that most of my bushing are shot and it allowed the rear shackles to move enough on both sides to bend toward the pass side pushing the tire past the wheel opening. I can bet that over time yours will do the same and get worse. I'm taking it all out and moving the spring perches and replacing the bushings and shackles.

 

[72bluNblu]

You answered your own question. The only way to do that install properly is to move the perches to the A-body width. And yes, having worn out bushings can add to the problem, since it's unlikely they're worn exactly the same. Of course, if you install new bushings, you'll force the springs to take up more of the difference caused by the incorrect perch location, so, they'll twist more. And you'll wear out the bushings faster.

 

[SRT_DSTRHOLC]

You answered your own question. The only way to do that install properly is to move the perches to the A-body width. And yes, having worn out bushings can add to the problem, since it's unlikely they're worn exactly the same. Of course, if you install new bushings, you'll force the springs to take up more of the difference caused by the incorrect perch location, so, they'll twist more. And you'll wear out the bushings faster.

I had b body in duster and it wasn't this bad, I'll start with new bushings and leafs to see if that helps!

 

[oldkimmer]

Don't forget that the quality control wasn't worth a darn back then. It is not uncommon for the diff to be closer on 1 side than the other. Last car I built it was out about an inch so we welded the spring pads over to the 1 side to vented it. Kim

 

[72bluNblu]

I had b body in duster and it wasn't this bad, I'll start with new bushings and leafs to see if that helps!

You're side loading 40+ year old springs by a 1/2" just to the perches. The results are going to be a crap shoot. I don't understand why people insist on installing the B-body rear axle without moving the perches. You're losing tire clearance to the springs and inducing all kinds of binding in the hangers and shackles. Installing new bushings and leaf springs could just as easily make your problem worse, you'll get more binding because there will be less play.

Moving the perches is easy.

 

[whitepunkonnitro]

Slot the holes in the B Body perches 1/2 inch to the inside on each side and don't look back.
Done it countless times, never had an issue

 

[72bluNblu]

Slot the holes in the B Body perches 1/2 inch to the inside on each side and don't look back.
Done it countless times, never had an issue

You could do it a million times, it would still be a shadetree shortcut and the wrong way to do it. Moving the perches is easy, and shouldn't even be all the expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it. Slotting the perches will leave a portion of the spring unsupported by the perch. Whether you notice it or not, there is an effect. If it didn't matter, the factory would save the metal and make all the perches smaller than the width of the spring.

 

[SRT_DSTRHOLC]

You're side loading 40+ year old springs by a 1/2" just to the perches. The results are going to be a crap shoot. I don't understand why people insist on installing the B-body rear axle without moving the perches. You're losing tire clearance to the springs and inducing all kinds of binding in the hangers and shackles. Installing new bushings and leaf springs could just as easily make your problem worse, you'll get more binding because there will be less play.

Moving the perches is easy.

Ive done it with new springs ans bushings and it was good on a duster but there's more space in there. This is just a temp thing until i can do it right with new perches or 4 link of some sort