What is the ideal pinion angle?
What is the ideal pinion angle?
According to Currie, the average car crafter should strive for between 1 and 3 degrees between the tailshaft of the transmission and driveshaft, and 1 to 3 degrees between the driveshaft and pinion. Furthermore, the two angles should be nearly equal (between 1 and 3 degrees), but always opposite (see crude diagram).
What is the maximum pinion angle?
In order to minimize power loss and vibration in an offset configuration, the pinion centerline and the transmission centerline need to be parallel. In general, the largest angle for racing applications should be 2 degrees and the centerlines should be parallel within a few 1/10 of a degree.
Does tire size change pinion angle?
Tire size does not affect the angles.
Does ride height affect pinion angle?
As the ride height is lowered (suspension is compressed, or in bump, as shock tuners call it), the pinion angle will change. This occurs because the upper arms are shorter.
How is the pinion angle of a driveshaft measured?
For instance, if the driveshaft is 2 degrees up from level and the pinion gear is 3 degrees nose down, then you have 5 degrees of pinion angle. If the rearend is nose up and its angle is less than the angle of the driveshaft, subtract the rearend angle from the driveshaft angle.
What happens if your rear end has a positive pinion angle?
You never want the rearend setup with positive pinion angle. This is when the yoke of the rearend is tilted upward more than the driveshaft. This can lead to binding of the u-joints and will hurt traction and break driveline components. To check the pinion angle, the vehicle needs to be sitting with its weight on the tires, as it would be normally.
Where can I buy a pinion angle finder?
An angle finder can be bought from places such as Sears for about $10. Begin by measuring the angle of the driveshaft and writing it down. Then remove the driveshaft from the yoke (no need to totally remove it and spill tranny fluid everywhere) and place the angle finder on the end of the yoke.
What are the operating angles of an engine and pinion?
Let’s say the engine/trans is angled downward at three degrees and the pinion is angled upward two degrees. If we were to extend the operating angles of the engine/trans and the pinion, you can see that these lines will be within one degree of parallel.
For instance, if the driveshaft is 2 degrees up from level and the pinion gear is 3 degrees nose down, then you have 5 degrees of pinion angle. If the rearend is nose up and its angle is less than the angle of the driveshaft, subtract the rearend angle from the driveshaft angle.
You never want the rearend setup with positive pinion angle. This is when the yoke of the rearend is tilted upward more than the driveshaft. This can lead to binding of the u-joints and will hurt traction and break driveline components. To check the pinion angle, the vehicle needs to be sitting with its weight on the tires, as it would be normally.
Let’s say the engine/trans is angled downward at three degrees and the pinion is angled upward two degrees. If we were to extend the operating angles of the engine/trans and the pinion, you can see that these lines will be within one degree of parallel.
An angle finder can be bought from places such as Sears for about $10. Begin by measuring the angle of the driveshaft and writing it down. Then remove the driveshaft from the yoke (no need to totally remove it and spill tranny fluid everywhere) and place the angle finder on the end of the yoke.
