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Usually a broken spring can be seen by examining the pack without dissasembly. Sounds like a broken pin. I would remove the u bolts and seperate the pack to be sure the diagnosis is correct. Not really that hard of a job with jack stands and jack to lift the frame from the axle.
 
Have someone push up and down on the affected corner, and watch the spring, shackle movement for anything amiss. Try jacking the frame up until the tire is off of the ground, give everything a good shake and wack the parts with a mallet look and listen for any wierdness.
One of the shackles didn't invert did it?
 
Broken leaf?
I'd be tempted to take both spring packs off and examine them.
You would have to trust that the issue would be revealed when you were dis-assembling.
Probably not what you want to hear, but when I can't make a diagnosis, I start taking things apart.
Probably good that I am not a surgeon...
 
This may sound a bit stupid but how old are the bushings in the springs? Even if they have been replaced, perhaps one split. The hole in the spring is huge and if the bushing is not holding it center, that could account for a lot of movement. Like I said, this might be a bit off the mark put I thought I would throw it out there.

Before you get too crazy, take the shackles apart and have a look at things.
 
option 2 could be possible here....take them off and to a spring shop and have them check the spring rates.....
 
LilJohn, dont drive it. I still suspect your center-pin. Have you dropped the axle on the D/S to see if its broken? I noticed in the picture with the Jackstand under the leaf spring it looks like your U-bolts are tilted forward. I also noticed that the U-bolts dont look like they go through the u bolt nuts are they too short?

Thanks Bob.
 
Lil'John said:
does anyone feel there is a risk in driving it?
Click to expand...

If both axles are suddenly no longer pointing forward for some unknown, unexplained reason, I would not feel comfortable driving it.
I might drive it to an alignment shop where they can identify exactly what is pointing where, and perhaps help you zoom in on a cause. Have you considered an alignment shop?
This is the rear axle that has shifted, right? Then you would need 4 wheel alignment capability.
I see what Bob mentions about your u-bolts. Could this be torque induced?
 
bobm said:
LilJohn, dont drive it. I still suspect your center-pin. Have you dropped the axle on the D/S to see if its broken? I noticed in the picture with the Jackstand under the leaf spring it looks like your U-bolts are tilted forward. I also noticed that the U-bolts dont look like they go through the u bolt nuts are they too short?

Thanks Bob.
Click to expand...

good catch. Also looks like you're missing a u-bolt nut???

:eek:

Edit: read you response
 
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If your spring hanger IS seperating, then you've got something serious going on. They are rivetted on. If you stretched a rivet, I don't know how that could have happened.

Put the back end up on 12 ton stands and pull everything apart. That's what I would do
 
LilJohn, one more thought and one more question. With the weight off the rear end and the leaf hanging down with no pressure on either rear leaf. Try putting you breaker bar between the rear shackle and see if you can move it forward be CAREFUL. And 2 are the bushings Rubber or Poly.

Thanks Bob.
 
Why are you hitting spring pack with hammer? To prove the pin is not broken? Just doesn't sound like the best idea to me.

I agree, your first set of pictures doesn't tell a story of why the axle has shifted ~1".

Are you still going to be carrying that extra tranny around with you? If yes, I would probably move it to the passenger side. I usually drive around by myself, so any time I put extra weight in the rear (toolbox, etc.) I put it on the pass side.

Which side do you believe has shifted? DS or PS? I have been thinking about this alot. I was wondering if you are still running Cruiser axles w/ the passenger side offset, or if you are now running a Dana that is centered? My thinking was that having a short and a long side apply torque differently, along with the rotational torque from the driveshaft (which, if I remember correctly, will plant one side and want to lift the other side), and axle wrap. I saw you had an anti-wrap device installed.

I think I would pull both rear spring packs and compare them. do they look the same? Is one flatter than the other? Is the spring pin in the same place? I would be tempted to switch sides with the rear springs and see what happens. I know you said you need your jack-stands to do so.

I would also be tempted to find an alignment shop that specializes in collision repair, or high-perf set-ups, or both. Have them put their laser pointers on all 4 wheels and talk to the guy at lenght about what could be going on.

Good luck!
 
Are those your original U-bolt plates? Surely you have used new U-bolts?
I found that when really getting the torque on my U-bolts, that stock U-bolt plate deformed a bit, bending down at the corners. I got a set of the Ruff-Stuff plates & U-bolts...like them much better.
 
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