squaring up the rearend

[stafford67]

I am in the process of putting an 8.8 in my 79 Malibu.

I have adjustable lowers and uppers, my question is how do you all square up the rear with the lower bars.

I'll tell the way I did it and tell me what you think.

I first tried to get equal distance by picking 2 different holes in the frame about 18" in front of the axle.
I turned the lower bars until both sides was equal. Now I checked from 2 different frame holes on both sides and I got it to where it was equal.

But then I was reading on line about using the front lower A-arm grease zerts to measure an X pattern from the LF grease zert to the RR lower control arm bolt on the rearend. Now when I do this LF to RR is 118 1/4" and the RF to LR is 118".
So does this mean the rear is 1/4" out of square?

Just trying to figure out the best way to set this WITHOUT going to a 4 wheel alignment shop.

Thanks
Tony

 

[nillabu]

I've learned in the past that the GBody frame was assembled and welded alittle out of square from the factory. I can't verify that but from reading tons of posts, that is what is thought and proves true with mine anyway (1/8"-1/4"). When squaring mine, I used the front LCA ball joint zerk holes and squared the axle. I used a 3" long 1/4" fine thread bolt screwed into the zerk hole so I could string a line or tape without interfering with exhaust, etc. I hung a centered and weighted line off each axle flange and went from there. X'd and front to back. On the alignment rack with 0 toe, was spot on, front bead of front wheel to front bead of rear wheel.

Not sure if that's the correct way but seemed to work for me. Good luck.

Steve