How to set pinion angle.
10-11-2004, 09:30 PM
#1
How to set pinion angle. I've done a search and found a bunch of different ways, but the one that seems to come up the most is the Rossler diagram.
http://www.rosslertrans.com/Tips/Pinon.htm
However, I really dont have a clue what Im looking at. Im not sure which particluar diagram applies to our cars. I jacked up the car from the front and the back and put all 4 tires on blocks of wood. So the car is level and the suspension is loaded equally. Anyhow, I put a socket on the slip yolk cap and then an angle finder on the socket to get the angle of the tranny tailshaft and then on the mounting pad of the torque arm for the rear end angle. I did both of these measurements on the driver's side. On the tranny, I got a measurement of -6 which is 6 degrees left of the zero and then on the rear end I got a -1 which is 1 degree left of the zero. So the tranny tailshaft is pointing down and the rear end yolk is pointing up. How do I set it correctly and where does it need to be? Thanks.
http://www.rosslertrans.com/Tips/Pinon.htm
However, I really dont have a clue what Im looking at. Im not sure which particluar diagram applies to our cars. I jacked up the car from the front and the back and put all 4 tires on blocks of wood. So the car is level and the suspension is loaded equally. Anyhow, I put a socket on the slip yolk cap and then an angle finder on the socket to get the angle of the tranny tailshaft and then on the mounting pad of the torque arm for the rear end angle. I did both of these measurements on the driver's side. On the tranny, I got a measurement of -6 which is 6 degrees left of the zero and then on the rear end I got a -1 which is 1 degree left of the zero. So the tranny tailshaft is pointing down and the rear end yolk is pointing up. How do I set it correctly and where does it need to be? Thanks.
10-12-2004, 03:31 PM
#3
Why does the tranny not matter? I'm running a 200-4R with a custom spacer that my tranny builder fabricates for 200-4Rs in F-bodies and an Energy Suspension transmission mount. I could see that the tranny wouldnt matter if it was level at 0º (zero degrees). However, my tranny's tailshaft is pointing down 6 degrees. If the tailshaft is down 6 degrees and the pinion yolk is down 2 to 3 degrees, then that is a lot of angle which is going to cause bind.
10-13-2004, 06:49 AM
#7
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<-- Wishes he could afford to leave his car at madman for a few weeks and get it done by the best.
What roll does the driveline angle play on hooking? Is there an optimum way to set that up?
Thanks,
Josh
What roll does the driveline angle play on hooking? Is there an optimum way to set that up?
Thanks,
Josh
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10-13-2004, 08:00 AM
#8
Yes there is a perfect driveline angle, but it is almost impossible to get. What you want is your crank and trans height to be the same height as the pinion. This should be a flat plane. Then roll 2-3 degrees into the pinion. This would take all the friction from the driveline out.
10-13-2004, 12:16 PM
#9
Well Ive tried 3 different ways or so to get rid of the vibration I have and I have yet to fix it. The faster I go, the worse the vibration gets. I can tolerate some vibration, but its not normal in my car. I also understand the trade-offs, if you want maximum traction at the strip, then you are going to feel a little vibration. I want to be sure that Im doing it right. What would be the best way to get the driveline/pinion where it needs to be for good traction, minimal vibration, and minimal bind? Thanks.
10-13-2004, 02:10 PM
#10
I would go and check tire balance,and driveshaft balance. If you think it is in the ujoints then set the pinion to "0" and drive it. That will tell you if the pinion angle is the vibration. 2-3 degrees isnt going to give you a vibration under load. If all else fails bring me the car and I will set it for you.
10-13-2004, 02:44 PM
#11
I'm a little confused. I have a Spohn adjustable. The instructions and all other info I've seen says:
DS angle
-pinion
-------------
-2 to -3 degrees
So I have:
: DS is +4
- pinion +6.5
---------------
-2.5 with the car level on jackstands.
Have I been doing it wrong for all these years? You just point the pinion down 2-3 degrees and ignore the DS when the car is on jackstands?
DS angle
-pinion
-------------
-2 to -3 degrees
So I have:
: DS is +4
- pinion +6.5
---------------
-2.5 with the car level on jackstands.
Have I been doing it wrong for all these years? You just point the pinion down 2-3 degrees and ignore the DS when the car is on jackstands?
10-13-2004, 04:30 PM
#13
The tires are balanced. I had them checked and then rechecked because I thought it was the tires for a while. I know its not the driveshaft because its brand new and from a reputable driveshaft manufacturer. (Denny's Driveshaft) That is why I conclude that its the drivetrain. When I first installed my Spohn torque arm, I set the pinion angle as the instructions said to. As stated before, my tranny's tailshaft is pointing down around 6 degrees, should I shim/space it so that its level? Will it help any? If the tranny is down, then obviously the motor is as well. Ive read that tubular k-members change the position of the motor/tranny. I just wanna make sure that the motor/tranny is level, but if theres no reason to do so, then I wont bother with it. I already made a 1/4" thick alumium spacer that Im waiting to put in. You were saying that to get the perfect pinion would mean that you would have to get the motor, tranny, and rear end level with each other, but that isnt possible with our cars because the rear end sits lower.
Last edited by BlackBeaSSt; 10-13-2004 at 05:07 PM.
10-17-2004, 12:12 PM
#15
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So the way I'm taking this is, you would want to set the
pinion angle first, for traction / bite, and then adjust the
transmission tail height to get the driveline angles even
to take out U-joint vibe?
Fortunately pinion down = tailshaft up, in terms of making
the pinion-driveshaft and driveshaft-tailshaft angles come
together.
pinion angle first, for traction / bite, and then adjust the
transmission tail height to get the driveline angles even
to take out U-joint vibe?
Fortunately pinion down = tailshaft up, in terms of making
the pinion-driveshaft and driveshaft-tailshaft angles come
together.
10-18-2004, 04:57 PM
#17
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With the car level and the suspension loaded, you want the engine/tranny at 0 degrees (easily measured off of the ASP pulley if you have one) and then set the pinion angle at 2 to 3 degrees down. Shim the tranny if needed.
To find the pinion angle, it absolutely does matter what the tranny angle is - the difference between the tranny angle and pinion angle is what defines pinion angle! You want the pinion angle parallel to the tranny angle under load - so, with the tranny at 0, cars with poly bushings use 2-3 degrees down, while cars with solid rod ends should use 1/2 to 1 degree down.
To find the pinion angle, it absolutely does matter what the tranny angle is - the difference between the tranny angle and pinion angle is what defines pinion angle! You want the pinion angle parallel to the tranny angle under load - so, with the tranny at 0, cars with poly bushings use 2-3 degrees down, while cars with solid rod ends should use 1/2 to 1 degree down.
10-18-2004, 08:31 PM
#19
The tranny's tailshaft is pointing up 5 degrees, so I put a 1/4" spacer below the trans. mount and it hardly moved the angle on it. Is there any other way to change the angle besides spacing the trans. mount? I think it may have moved it 1/2 degree. I would have to put a thick spacer in there to move it even close to where it needs to be. What do you suggest I do?
