Pinion Angle

[Captainfab]

You know what Zack, I need to appologize. I gave you some bogus info in your other thread regarding the pinion angle. I said that the pinion was 14 degrees up from the trailing arm mounts. Well, that was actually 4 degrees up from the trailing arm mounts. Only explanation is apparently I had my head somewhere it didn't belong at the time......

[skysoldier173rd]

I heard the same as GENIII above in his post, that the pinion angles offset with equal angle, only one up and one down about the same amount (3 to 5 degrees). I have seen shims used also to obtain the proper angle on trans mounts if the crossmember comes out too low to bring it up.

[CVA59]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

You know what Zack, I need to appologize. I gave you some bogus info in your other thread regarding the pinion angle. I said that the pinion was 14 degrees up from the trailing arm mounts. Well, that was actually 4 degrees up from the trailing arm mounts. Only explanation is apparently I had my head somewhere it didn't belong at the time......

LOL, np Fab. I haven't set the angle yet so it's all good. I guess the best way to do this is, level the perches and set the angle from that point???

['63GENIII]

I guess the best way to do this is, level the perches and set the angle from that point???[/QUOTE]

Yes. I personally have shims and spacers all over my driveline and although it works great (no vibrations), to me it's kinda jalopy style and I wish that my perches had been welded in the right place from the start.

[Captainfab]

That's what I did with the original rear end I checked. I leveled the trailing arm mounts and measured the angle on the pinion yoke which was 86.4* Allowing for a little error, I would figure 86*......or up 4* from level.

Originally Posted by CVA59

LOL, np Fab. I haven't set the angle yet so it's all good. I guess the best way to do this is, level the perches and set the angle from that point???

['63GENIII]

Having the pinion and trans parallel made a pretty bad vibration that I had go away. Definitely a better way of putting it!

[CVA59]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

That's what I did with the original rear end I checked. I leveled the trailing arm mounts and measured the angle on the pinion yoke which was 86.4* Allowing for a little error, I would figure 86*......or up 4* from level.

Thanks again Fab. I will level the trailing arm mounting area and set it as you say at 4* up from level. That should put me within spec as you have described.

Next question: The rear i am using is out of a 86 donor truck. I do not have the drive shaft from that truck. I only have my original driveshaft. My OE shaft u-joint cups are a good bit smaller than that of the 86. What is the solution to this?

Thanks,

[raycow]

Originally Posted by CVA59

My OE shaft u-joint cups are a good bit smaller than that of the 86. What is the solution to this?

You need a "transition" U-joint, which has two different sizes of cups. Measure for the cup diameter and span on the rear end yoke. You already know what size the shaft takes.

Now take the dimension info to your friendly local parts store and hope for the best. When you get that "deer in the headlights" look, head for a driveshaft shop. The driveshaft shop will charge you more, but at least will know what you are talking about.

Ray