Front end wider than rear axle 65 f100

[stswartz]

Doing a frame off restrotation on 65 f100 swb step side. I'm hoping this is suppose to be this way. When I put my truck on a trailer this weekend the rear axle is a couple inches narrower than my front end of my truck.

[Lowell]

Im pretty sure that is normal, They call it dog tracking.

[chris401]

Irritating and normal.

[stswartz]

Just found out about wheel spacers, looking at 1.25 "

[foodstick]

True or no .... I thought I heard it makes the truck corner better? Or more stable..

[Toyz]

Steve,
I don't know your choice of wheels, but it might be an option to go with rear wheels with less positive offset or just wider in the back. If you like the look, the wider wheels are probably the best option, as that can maintain the original bearing load. Wheel suppliers can modify the original wheels to widen them while holding the original appearance.
The later model rear is also an option; it will add 2" to each side.
BTW, " dog tracking" commonly refers to a situation where the track of both wheels are offset in the same direction as related to the front.
Paul

[Toyz]

[quote="foodstick"]True or no .... I thought I heard it makes the truck corner better? Or more stable..[/quote
Pretty accurate; wider track helps handling. However wider (matching) track at the rear theoretically also enhances stability.
I suspect it is/was a cost thing. Ford opted to remain with the existing rear assembly while improving the front. This is common on 4x4's particularly due to packaging for front drive/steer.
This partially explains the past popularity of "chrome reverse" wheels; the extra offset allows slightly wider track. The "filled" fender wells also just look better IMO.
Paul

[foodstick]

I am trying to recall if rc race cars and trucks run the same width rear as the front? Maybe that used to be a thing I used to see at the track...

[LM14]

All of my dirt late models and dirt modifieds had a narrower rear track than front track. The narrow track allows the rear to roll quicker and promote side bite when cornering. It would work the same on a truck. If you think about it for a second, a truck has very little rear weight compared to front weight (usually). The narrower track would promote the rear rolling quicker (weight transfer) and make the truck corner more predictably. Saying that, I think Ford was just saving a buck and this happened to be the explanation for it.

SPark

[stswartz]

Thanks for all the information. Mine will be a driver and play toy don't expect to haul much of anything

[64 f100]

When Ford went to the twin I-beam was when this showed up, if I'm not mistaken. I think the solid axle trucks were not wider in the front.

Rich

[ezernut9mm]

ford knew we would want to put wider rear wheels on our trucks after about forty or fifty years, so they gave us narrowed rear ends so that we could!

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

What needs to be done is drive a truck with a later model rear end in and then go back to a truck with a stock rear end and when you see the difference in handling you will be jacking it up and changing it out even with a later model rear end you can still put a 8" wide rim on back with no problems,, the rear end tracking has been touched here several times,, even on the F-250 trucks a later rear end will be a changed especially when you can find a rear with a ratio as 3:54 I believe to get better gas mileage,,, spacers IS NOT THE ANSWER

[Toyz]

X2!
Not sure if (side to side) weight transfer is what I want in a truck! I understand race cars, but I also am very much in favor of a wide track on the street. My '65 LWB has the later rear and 31.50-15's on 8" Bronco wheels; it's tight to the fender lips, but works quite well.
My other big block trucks retain the original width with the solution as per Chris!
Paul

[Toyz]

Paul