how to set pinion angle?

Hey guys, I know this has been talked about a lot in these forums, but noone has answed my question.I'm getting ready to bag the truck but I am not shure how to set up the angle of the axle to the drive shaft. I understand that universal joints work best when there straight in line. So how would I set this? I want to do a 4 link with it so I was thinking about just leaving the leafs on and puting a notch in with blocks. Then weling all the links on so that it stays pretty stock as far as the angles concerend. Someone please enlighten me.

This is what I did. I set the ride height where I would be driving it at most of the time and tilted the axle so the drive shaft looked straight. My upper bars are adjustable so if it is off a little I can fix it.

i tacked my axle in the stock position and welded up my fourlink before i cut the tacks off....

Mazdizzle that sounds like what I am going to do, but dragorbust what did you tak the axal 2? And did you tak it with the leaf springs on? I'm not really shure what u taked it to.

Another question I have is, for some of yall that know me I had a 91 b2200, but it got junked, now I'm in a 86 b2000. Can anyone tell me if there is any diffrence between the 2

Mazdizzle that sounds like what I am going to do, but dragorbust what did you tak the axal 2? And did you tak it with the leaf springs on? I'm not really shure what u taked it to.

Another question I have is, for some of yall that know me I had a 91 b2200, but it got junked, now I'm in a 86 b2000. Can anyone tell me if there is any diffrence between the 2

I may be wrong, And I don't build custom rear end set up.... But I thought that It was ideal to have a very slight pinion angle. more on this in general please?

With a 1 piece driveshaft, you have the truck at ride height, measure the angle of the transmission output, and set the pinion to the Equal/Opposite angle and go from there. Example: Transmission Output points DOWN 2 degrees, you'd set the pinion UP 2 degrees.

The truck doesn't have to be on a level surface, since the angles are still the same. What this does is puts both outputs on a parallel plane.. if you continue a line from each, theyd never cross.. just be parallel.

Tacking stuff with leafs/blocks/stock ride height MIGHT work but you have to remember, leafs flex so the pinion your truck is at stock might be off when parked since it matters when driving where the leafs would be flexed a little. I remember reading that stock pinion might be off a few degrees to compensate for acceleration. I'd do it with an angle finder and get it exact anyway..

[quote="LowNFToy"]With a 1 piece driveshaft, you have the truck at ride height, measure the angle of the transmission output, and set the pinion to the Equal/Opposite angle and go from there. Example: Transmission Output points DOWN 2 degrees, you'd set the pinion UP 2 degrees.

The truck doesn't have to be on a level surface, since the angles are still the same. What this does is puts both outputs on a parallel plane.. if you continue a line from each, theyd never cross.. just be parallel.

Tacking stuff with leafs/blocks/stock ride height MIGHT work but you have to remember, leafs flex so the pinion your truck is at stock might be off when parked since it matters when driving where the leafs would be flexed a little. I remember reading that stock pinion might be off a few degrees to compensate for acceleration. I'd do it with an angle finder and get it exact anyway..[/quote




I'll take that for what it's worth!

is that good or bad? lol

Good info man.