Rear axle offset...

No, this is not another thread asking if anyone else has noticed the rear axle is offset to the passenger side. I think its pretty well established that its a thing on Tundras, and most other trucks as well.

My question is has anyone ever figured out why this condition exists? I've found nothing definitive while searching this topic on multiple forums across various brands. Everyone agrees that its a thing, but no one has really discovered why, like from an engineering or vehicle dynamics standpoint. I'm not too concerned with it, and I don't stay up at night obsessing about like some do, but I do wonder if I were to measure the difference and then add a spacer to the driver's side rear wheel to even them out, would I be upsetting the design of the truck in some way? I get it that any modifications we do is going against the big brains behind the design of said vehicle, and that's not what I'm getting at here. I'm just wondering if the offset is there by design, and you somehow eliminate that offset, is it going to cause issues with tracking or tire wear or something along those lines?

I just added 1" BORA spacers to the front, and about to order spacers for the rear. If I did a 1" spacer for the passenger side and a 1.25" spacer for the driver's side it would pretty much even it out, at least enough for me.

Anyone see or know of anything wrong with this scenario?

 

I don’t know why it’s that way and didn’t notice mine until I changed to +25 offset wheels. But changing anything alters the way it was designed and potentially the way it drives, even getting spacers. So I’d say you are good by getting different widths to even it out.

 

I just installed a 1" block and 35's and noticed that my rear tire sticks out about 1-1.5" more than my left. I never noticed it before and I'm wondering if I shifted the axle while installing the blocks, or if it was always there and I didn't notice because my tires were a lot narrower. I have 1" spacers and I'm considering removing the passenger side to level it out. Currently searching for solutions....

 

If you measure from the frame to the tire i think you will find out its the bed that sits offset not the axle

 

Post some pics so that we can see it. It shouldn't be that much of a difference. Post pics of your blocks as well. Your leaf springs, axle, and blocks should be aligned by a pin.

 

You sure it's not the box that's out of alignment? Some years of Tundra had the box shifted to the left making it look like the axle was out of alignment. Check the alignment against the cab of the truck.

 

X2

 

I'll snap some photos and post them shortly. Thanks All!

 

It's going to be hard to judge a axle alignment from some photos. Run the truck in a straight line in some soft sand and see if the rear tires are tracking into the front tire tread.

 

Has anyone figured out the issue to this? There is another forum about the same issue. I asked the same question but no response to this issue. I have an 08 tundra that I have recently noticed the shift of the rear axle after having the shocks replaced. I thought it was the bed at first but then I measured the tire from the frame and noticed that it’s off by an inch. Has anyone found a solution to this issue?

 

The leaf springs are responsible for locating the axle in the correct position. Also a bent frame from a previous accident that wasn’t repaired correctly can cause the issue.