To set my rear pinion angle..

[koda6966]

Is this good enough to set my pinion angle when I weld on my spring pads for my 8.8?

It's something I'll almost never use again, so I don't really want to break the bank. This one is the cheapest decent looking one I could find.

http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Level-36-Magnetic-Protractor/dp/B00004YYG4/?tag=959media-20

 

[SAY789]

Yes i use them all the time for stuff. Just go to Home Depot to buy it so you dont have to wait.

 

[Snoranger]

Go to sears and buy this one for $10. Ive used this one to set up dozens of racecar rears.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00939840000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[koda6966]

I walked around my sears for 30 minutes looking for one haha. They don't have it there.

But for the price I'd rather order online from there, I'm a big supporter/collector of craftsman tools.

And about the wait, I have to wait on my spring pads and shock tabs anyway. A few more days won't kill me.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Same one I use.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I used a HF one, it was probably like $5.

 

[88_Eddie]

i bought one at home depot for $8, i use it on all sorts of stuff. it's with all the rulers/squares/levels/etc.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I got mine at Home Depot for about $10, I have seen them at True Value too. I got it to set the pinion angle for my 8.8, I have used for a lot more than that, everything from leveling rifle scopes to V8 to a magnetic ruler. They are a very handy thing to have.

I don't have much of a pic selection of it, here it is in action measuring the levelness of my 302 and hood clearance at the same time:

 

[88_Eddie]

i got a pic on mine.....the first time i set the pinion angle.

the good thing about 8.8's is they have a tab to the right of the pinion that is perfect to hold the angle finder. (other axles might have them, but i dont know)

 

[brinker88]

I bought an extremely nice one for $15 from Advance Auto. Part # CEN6494

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i got a pic on mine.....the first time i set the pinion angle.

the good thing about 8.8's is they have a tab to the right of the pinion that is perfect to hold the angle finder. (other axles might have them, but i dont know)

That is the same as mine, I just stuck it on the pinion flange and went 6 degrees off 90 when I did mine.

 

[88_Eddie]

i originally burnt my perches on at 6.5, but it was too low, now it's closer to 12.....it's a b2 though

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i originally burnt my perches on at 6.5, but it was too low, now it's closer to 12.....it's a b2 though

According the article Jim called Ford Motorsports and that is what they gave for a std cab longbox Ranger... same as mine. If it ain't right I will be the first to know.

 

[SeanWilson]

hey guys i know this form is older, but y’all got me to thinkking... ive got my 63 chevy’s in the rear, i am using a autozone version of the beltech shackle and then my thought was to take my rear hangers and ditch them (there bent and frankly weak) i have a hook up to a steel yard, get a good 1/4’’ thick and 5’’ tall angle iron. bolt that to my frame using stock hole locations, then using 3 1/2'' by 3 1/2” 1/4” square tube ( i.d. of 3”) drill my holes use them has hangers giving me 4 inches of rear lift, ditching the blocks on my axle.
( THIS also by making the driver side longer then the passenger fix my lean)

so the question is, with my new basically 6 inches of suspension lift should i cut the perches off and fix my pinion angle? OR get a set of shims that would address the angle?

and what angle should i run? its a 98 extended cab

 

[doorgunner]

Sean........you really need to set the pinion angle with the weight of the truck on the springs so they will be "settled". With the u-bolts snugged just enough to allow the rear end to be rotated on the UNWELDED perches with a BIG pipe wrench..... rotate the differential with the angle-finder in place....the pinion angle needs to correspond with the angle of the transmission output shaft to prevent vibration. I'm not an expert at this....but here's an example....just think if the transmission output shaft "pointed down" 3 degrees---you wouldn't want the pinion shaft "pointing up" at 6 degrees (or visa/versa). There are some good articles about estimating the proper angle of the pinion shaft.

After making sure of all of the above is done--tighten the u-bolts down & weld the perches in place....

The pinion angle can always be "tweaked" by using pinion angle shims between the spring-pack and the welded perches to get any vibration out of the driveshaft...

other members feel free to include any steps that I forgot..............