Setting drive angle?

Alright, its getting closer and closer for my time to bag the beast.

I need a little clarification on some things in regards of setting the driveshaft and pinion angles.

In order to "set" the angles for ride height, its just a matter of adjusting the suspension? I don't get how you set the angles... Shims? Does'nt the 4-link have say in adjusting the pinion? What about the driveshaft?

As well, how do I determine when the angles should be subtracted from each other or added?

MUCH HELP APPRECIATED!

I don't know if its because I'm hungry or the lack of sleep... but that really confused me.

The angle of the pinion flange on the rear axel should match the angle of the end of the transmission housing. I used the angle finder in the above link to verify everything was at the correct (matching) angles.

Most of the 4-link bars have one non adjustable end and one adjustable end. Once everything is lined up, install the driveshaft. If it fits to tight (or to far into the transmission) then adjust all 4 of the link bars out until the drive shaft fits correctly.

No shims are needed.

Dont you need to take into account the angles between the first and 2nd driveshafts if you have a 2 piece one? Thats what this says anyway

ELBINE, that is the site I was reading on about the angles and all.

Problem is, he does'nt say anything about how to adjust the angles?

If I'm not mistaken, that site says that the 2 piece driveshafts do need to be accounted for as well!

The 4-link I have, both ends are adjustable. Now as far as finding the angles on the Diff, and tranny, where would I put the angle finder?

I bought an angle finder already so I'm good to go. How would one go about adjusting the angles on the driveshaft as well?

What would happen if the driveshaft is choked up too far into the tranny?

ALSO, when adjusting the bars, should I loctite the nuts so they don't move after its finalized?

As well, when mounting the 4-link how should it be installed? Should the ends just be adjusted halfway out and then mount so you have 1/2 an end both ways to adjust? Make any sense? Lol...

Okay to measure your angles, place the angle finder on top of the housing, or against the drive flange. For the transmission, against the output shaft is the best place. Do not use the housing because it varies too much, and that area may not be parallel with the output shaft. You will have to remove your driveshaft to measure this. But you only have to measure the transmission one time. Another way to do it, is to measure the angle of the main puller on the engine. It is perpendicular to the crankshaft, which will give you an accurate measurement. This is normally what I do unless I have the truck completely torn apart.

For bar adjustment, I thread the studs in half way and install them right there. You should need to ever adjust more than a few thread turns though. Once you have it set in, tighten the jam nuts. Thats why they are there. Do not use loctite on the threads. If you use anything, use anti-seize.

Mine had a 2 piece drive-shaft. To get the angle right between the first driveshaft and second, i had to make a new carrier bearing crossmember. Ended up raising the carrier bearing about 1 1/2". You want more than 1/2 of a degree but no more than 3 degrees between each joint. Thats how i set mine up. By raising my carrier bearing it brought my driveshaft angles in. Took me a couple of days messing with it before i got it right. Heres a pic of the carrier bearing crossmember that i made, sorry about the control arms being in the way.

Seth, you mean I can take the angle finder and measure the tranny angle via the Harmonic balancer pulley?

I will make sure to pick up some anti-seize then. And so basically what I do to the 4-link then, is put the studs in 1/2 way on both sides, and then take that total lengthe and then install the 4-link to the diff housing and use the length to set for the front link ends?

From there, adjustment means that it will kick the pinion angle up or down depending on what my angle is, and then tighten the nuts?

When adjusting the links, should I have the driveshaft on as I do it, or off? How much does that move the driveshaft in correlation to how far it ends up sitting in the tailshaft of the tranny?

And so, correct me if I'm wrong, whatever the trannt's angle is, that is what I need to match the dff. up with? The tranny can't be adjusted and is in a fixed position. Therefore, only the carrier bearing and pinion are adjustable for angle?

Now, when figuring out the angles on them, when do I add the angles and subtract them?

I know its long, sorry!

I think you need to read that article over a few more times. All the answers to your questions are in there.

As far as adjusting the bars, it won't move your driveshaft in or out enough to make a difference. All it really does is roll it up or down. And you should only be adjusting about 1/2 a degree at a time so ti won't be moving anything at all really.

Good artical - cleared up a few questions.