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Driveshaft and pinion angles

Swapping out the E4OD and transfer case for a simple 2wd ZF in
my '91 Bronco left the driveshaft angles not-quite-right. LOL :)

It's all good until I get going ~85mph then it's "whir...whir...whir".
Supposed to be the classic sound of bad driveshaft angles

No theory here just facts...
http://www.markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx
...but theory is interesting as anything tho! :)

The trick is to get both-ends of the driveshaft going at the same
speed at the same time! LOL :) Each end increases and decreases
in speed -twice- each revolution. So you want 'em to match as
close as you can.

The picture on that website "explains" how-to without a word. ;)

Bought a "magnetic angle finder" and going to figure out what the
angles are and go from there. I'm figuring it ain't out much since it
doesn't whir...whir...whir at-all at lower than say 80mph.

It's mostly just guys that build hot rods, race cars or raise or slam
vehicles that have to mess with this. But those doing transmission
model swaps should at least measure their angles IMO.

Who all has messed with this before?
Got any tips? :)

Alvin in AZ
 
It's pretty close to good if you want a "banana" configuration. :)

Read where they work good but are not as forgiving as the "Z"
configuration and so not the best way to go for lifted 4x4's etc.
Land Rover and some tandem-axled trucks use it tho.

Switching it over a "Z" configuration is going to take about 6
degrees to move it past-straight to a 4 degree match with the
transmission end. So in that-sense it's "out" quite a bit. :) The
plan is to take the factory wedges out and measure 'em and go
from there because they are -adding- tilt to the pinion angle
in the -wrong- direction. :)

Not that any of these details count because I'm the only nut
case that'll turn his Bronco into 2wd without lowering it too. :)

But anyway, I thought it was interesting and wanted to post a
thread titled "somebody say something, danggit" figured it was
bothering -me- so -I- should do it myself. LOL :)

Alvin in AZ
 
Last edited:

O'Rattlecan

Redneck Prognosticator
26,687
797
Belton, MO
Thanks for making the posts. I don't know the first thing about the subject. Interesting.

Ryan
 
Dana/Spicer (basically the inventor of U-joints) sez not to use 'em past 3*
for longevity and my setup will be 4* so I'll have to figure out what to do
to fix that later.

Thinking about a lower rear transmission mount to start with. :)

Alvin in AZ
 
What I've learned so far...

American-made angle finders are crap! LOL :)
The Starrett was made crooked so I drove into town and returned it.
Got a DascoPro today and it sez my counter top is off 1*. :)
Flip it around and it sez my counter top is off 1* the -other- direction. :/
Made by 'mer-cans.

Alvin in AZ
 

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