Pinion angle question...

[2old4this]

I'm in the process of doing an Explorer rear swap/drop on my truck. It's a '94 supercab, and I'm putting a '97 Explorer rear in mounted on top of the stock Ranger leafs. I'm assuming that I have to flip the button that locates the axle perch on the springs, and with that the wedge shim that I'm guessing sets the pinion angle. What I need to know is what pinion angle should I be looking to have when I'm done? And also do I need to shin the driveshaft carrier bearing? If so how thick a shim?

Thanks in advance!
Pat

 

[doorgunner]

2old-----now that's somethin else I forgot to check b4 I lowered my project......I'm gonna take an angle-finder with me today & check a couple parkin lot Rangers to get the answers....will try & reply tonight

Edit: that also explains the chatter in the drive shaft when i move the truck.


Edit: afternoon pics/diagram


This is what I got on an '89 Ranger.....hope it helps
just so happens the truck was parked in a spot where the xmsn pan was sitting level!

front piece driveshaft with 5* drop

rear piece driveshaft with 7* drop/pinion tilted up to match

angle-finder sittin on flat side of pinion/u-joint (same pic as above/same angle as rear drive shaft)

high tech drawing of results

Edit: I would think as long as the front piece drive shaft has original drop, the mid-bearing doesn't need adjusting (up or down). Now, the rear piece drive shaft would only bolt to the pinion once the rear end is rotated so that the flat area on the pinion sits at the same angle as the rear piece drive shaft. (huh?) If you're gonna set the Explorer axle on top of the leaf springs, I guess you just rotate the rear end/flat on pinion to match the rear drive shaft once they mate together (but wait til someone else replies who knows what they're talkin about.....)

Edit: I'd think the angle would be less than 7* at the pinion for your set-up

Edit: I went to the paint shop to check the angles on my 2-piece driveshaft....front piece was at 5* drop to hangar bushing and 0* from hangar bushing to pinion(u-joint). The pinion was at Negative 5*---the -5* was causing the drive shaft to chatter. I'll have to shim it to 0* to match the rear piece of driveshaft.