Chevy & GMC Vans

anyone know how to backyard adjust rear axle pinion angle?

Being a stock axle in a stock application, there should be no need to adjust it. Make sure the rubber cushions are in correctly or just remove them like I always did. Other than that, locate some pinion shims locally or online and do it that way. The only other way is to cut the spring perches off and re-weld them.

ok thank you

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Being a stock axle in a stock application, there should be no need to adjust it. Make sure the rubber cushions are in correctly or just remove them like I always did. Other than that, locate some pinion shims locally or online and do it that way. The only other way is to cut the spring perches off and re-weld them.

I don't remember the range of degrees to set the rear end with shims.Could you post it please.

Mark once you know that,it is just a matter of using a magnetic angle finder.

The thing that I don't understand is as long as you put back what was there,the angle should not have changed.My question would be is did you lose any of the needle bearings from the rear u-joint cap??.Honestly Mark,it's not that hard to do that and I would think all of us has done that by mistake a time or two. #-o

The angle of the pinion has to be within 0.5 degrees of the transmission output or you will get vibrations. I agree with Gary (is that bad? ) that you may have a u-joint issues and not a pinion angle issue. Many of us here have swapped axles between vans and no one has ever had pinion angle issues from this.

Some good reading here.

Ok well since I do not own an angle finder nor do I know anyone that does. I guess since I never had this noise before I swapped the rear ends I will just have to do the trial and error thing. But thanks for the help either way.

Mark,

How many miles are on the U Joints?

Thanks, Jim

I have no idea on that but I do have a spare driveshaft I can swap into it.