best way to center the rear end

I just put on double adjustable lower control arms and I have adjustable uppers. Im pretty sure the arms are all the same length. What is the best way to check if the rear end is centered? My wheels are not the same in the wheel wells I know thats not a good way to check so im wanting to know if there is somewhere to measure from.

I would suggest pulling a string from the front of the car out past the rear. Measure from the frame rails and get the string centered between them, then measure to each wheel / tire. Its always best to put center punch marks somewhere that you can go back to before moving anything , but it sounds like its too late. :o . Keep in mind the drive shaft maybe off to one side a bit if its not a custom narrowed rear end.

im not worried about side to side im wanting to check front to back. That is what the lower control arms control isnt it?

Oh , ok I assume this is not a tube chassis car. I don't know for sure if there are some points to check at or not. You could pull a cross string and square it with a center string and measure to each axle center from the cross string. A 4 wheel alignment machine would probably be best. I set my 4 link tube chassis car (front to back)with the bottom bars , negative preload on top right bar about 1/2 flatt. I also use the top bars for setting pinion angle.


Might ask the question to kevin on http://bbs.hardcore50.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=9

You need to "baseline" your chassis/driveline

Put the car on four jack stands over a concreate floor. With a "plum bob" drop a line from the center of the crank/balancer and then one from the output shaft of the transmisson. Conect the two lines with a chalk line and extend to the rear of car marking a line on the concreat floor.

1. Drop a line from the center of the pinion and mark it.

2. Drop a line from the center of the axle on both the left/right side and connect the dots and create a line on the floor to make a giant "T"

With the pinion center marked on the floor it will show you any misalignment left to right.

With a Framing square you can square of the verticle line and see any twist/mis alignment in the rear end.

Using the "blum bob" you can make adjustment untill it becomes square.

You need to "baseline" your chassis/driveline

Put the car on four jack stands over a concrete floor. With a "plum bob" drop a line from the center of the crank/balancer and then one from the output shaft of the transmisson. Connect the two lines with a chalk line and extend to the rear of car marking a line on the concrete floor.

1. Drop a line from the center of the pinion and mark it.

2. Drop a line from the center of the axle on both the left/right side and connect the dots and create a line on the floor to make a giant "T"

With the pinion center marked on the floor it will show you any misalignment left to right.

With a Framing square you can square off the verticle line and see any twist/mis alignment in the rear end.

Using the "blum bob" you can make adjustment untill it becomes square.