Originally Posted by jrdamien
Originally Posted by 46gmcpu
You won't be able to set the final pinion angle until the body is on the truck with the bed wood in, fuel in the tank, etc. You can just roughly set it at much less without the weight on it, but your best bet is to do the final setting when everything is together.

Check out ithis article. The comments from Currie are what I agree with most, 1-3 degrees, and more than that is unnecessary and could result in other issues. If you're planning on carrying weight most of the time then that will help you decide on what your angle should be, but I would stay close to that 1-3 degrees. Keep in mind your differential and transmission centerlines smhould be parallel ideally, for the least vibration.

How do you mean "your differential and transmission centerlines should be parallel?" Could you elaborate/explain more?

I read the article. Currie is speaking specifically about street cars (and street cars with leaf springs), but I wonder if those comments go for trucks that will be carrying a load. Anyone else want to chime in?

Bickels comments are: "a leaf-spring suspension requires up to 6 to 7 degrees."

The comments apply to trucks too. You want 1-3 during the majority of your driving. Plan accordingly.

I honestly can't make the centerline comment much clearer. If you draw a line through the middle of the output shaft on your transmission and another through the middle of the input on your differential, those lines should be as close to parallel as possible. Hope that helps.

1946 GMC Pickup - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400, original patina.

My 46 GMC on Photobucket