What is an acceptable driveline angle?
Driveline angles should be equal to or within 1° of each other. When checking driveshaft angles, be sure all tires are inflated to their normal operating pressure. Park the vehicle on the surface which is as nearly level as possible both from front to back and from side to side.
How do you check a driveshaft pinion angle?
If the rearend is nose up and its angle is less than the angle of the driveshaft, subtract the rearend angle from the driveshaft angle. If the angle of the rearend is steeper than that of the driveshaft, subtract the angle of the driveshaft from that of the rearend to see how much positive pinion angle you have.
How do you know if pinion angle is off?
So what symptoms would lead you to identifying bad pinion angle? Drive train vibration at speed, wheel hop and universal joint fatigue/failure are all good indicators. These things can come out of no where with suspension bushing failures, engine and transmission mount failures or even leaf spring fatigue and wrap.
How do you adjust driveline angles?
Setting Proper Driveshaft Angles
- Place an angle finder on the bearing cap and take note of the reading.
- Rotate the driveshaft 90° and repeat step one.
- Find the difference between the two readings and this will be that u-joint’s working angle.
Should pinion angle be up or down?
Adjust the pinion down to correct acceleration-related vibrations and adjust the angle upward to correct deceleration vibrations. Generally, plus or minus 1 degree is enough to cure the problem. However, before adjusting any angles check the U-bolts holding the driveshaft to the pinion.
What can a bad pinion angle cause?
Pinion angle is one of the most important considerations on a lifted vehicle, but sadly it is often overlooked. The wrong angles can lead to horrible drive line vibrations, as well as premature failure of U-joints, driveshafts, pinion bearings and even transfer case output bearings.
What happens if you have too much pinion angle?
If the angle is too great, you also have to be concerned when driveshaft RPM are high. So, with too little of an angle you’ll wear out your u-joints, but too much of an angle you’ll wear out your u-joints and end up with some nasty vibrations.
How do you fix pinion angle?
It involves using tapered shims to slightly rotate the housing in the desired direction. The same wedge-shaped shim can elevate or lower the front of the pinion by putting the thick part of the wedge to the rear to lower and the thick portion of the wedge to the front to raise the pinion.
How do you measure a drive shaft angle?
Place a spirit level protractor on the driveshaft about halfway between the transmission and the Differential. Read and record the angle shown on the protractor scale and note whether the driveshaft points up or down at the front.
How do you use an angle finder on a car?
With the weight on the wheels, all tires inflated to their normal operating pressure, and with the car parked on a relatively flat surface, place your angle finder on the rear face of the engine block, perpendicular to the driveline. This is your “zero;” you can zero your digital readers if you’re using a digital gauge.
How do you measure the angle of a transmission?
Read and record the angle shown on the protractor scale and note whether the driveshaft points up or down at the front. Record the angle as “3 degrees up” or “2 degrees down,”etc. Next, measure the transmission and differential angles. You must first locate a machined surface on the transmission and differential.
What is a good operating angle for a driveshaft?
Ideally, both driveshaft-operating angles will be 1 to 3 degrees. Anything over 3 degrees at the rear axle will shorten your universal joint’s life and could create vibration. If your angle is larger than 3 degrees, you must make sure not to exceed max driveshaft RPM as shown on this Spicer table. Max. Operating Angle Max. Driveshaft RPM