GM Drivetrain & Suspension Chassis | Transmission| Driveshaft | Gears/Rear End/Differential | Traction Aids

07 NNBS Pinion Angle Issues After Drop

Old May 7, 2013 | 10:21 PM
  #1  
GXPJAY's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, ON Canada
Default 07 NNBS Pinion Angle Issues After Drop

Here's my situation, I have a 2007 Sierra NNBS 4x4 Z71, I lowered it using Belltech kit#647SP using the directions I set it to 3" front and 5" rear, came out to more like 2/4 not sure if it's because mine is a Z71?

Anyways, I was getting the 60-70mph "shudder" on the HWY, read a bunch of threads on drive shaft and pinion angles and decided to check things out tonight. I put the font on jack stands, put jack stands under the rear leafs and tried to get the truck to sit as level as possible.

Below you will see where I started off, basically the rear diff was +10Deg and drive shaft was 0Deg. I tried to install the transfer case spacers as per the kit but it actually didn't make a difference at all, so I removed them.

What I did after was use some pieces of metal to "wedge" the drive shaft to a more downward angle, you will see this in the pics below as well. When I life the rear part of the axle saddle 3/4in (which seems like a lot) I then get a diff angle of -3Deg and drive shaft angle of +2Deg.

One thing to note was that the axle yoke that goes inside the transfer case did not change length at all during any of these modifications, kinda odd.

Pics: (This is what a 2007 looks like when you live in Toronto, nice and rusty :S )

Before and after I did in MS Paint, I suck at that program as you can see.
Name:  619e4b6f-7a02-420e-9ea2-fc424d33ea56.jpg
Views: 15540
Size:  41.6 KB

Here you can see what I used to wedge, of course I am not driving the truck like this, it was just for measurement purposes.
Name:  45278347-767d-46a7-8ee4-4c72a71d34e3.jpg
Views: 4440
Size:  201.7 KB

Name:  0814fa2e-87e2-4a8e-8413-6c468e43e994.jpg
Views: 3158
Size:  171.2 KB

This is what the Rear Diff and Transfer Case look like, kinda of hard to get pics straight on.
Name:  2dd29285-a161-4d64-9847-a5bfb8d62241.jpg
Views: 4650
Size:  167.1 KB

Name:  bdd09265-b978-4cc5-a1bd-2a5a0e9593d5.jpg
Views: 3287
Size:  155.4 KB

Questions I have are:
-Does this look right to you?
-Is needing a 3/4 inch spacer too much? I'm not sure how thick the 6deg spacers are

One thing I thought of doing was just modding the axle saddle, if I were to cut some off the front I could rotate the shaft forward, only thing then is the rear wouldn't sit up against the axle pad anymore, not sure if this would cause problems? I would tighten the front first so the axle pad sits on the axle saddle then tighten the rear.

I know I couldn't just remove 3/4" off the front as the axle would be rotating in the saddle rather than what I did here which is lift the rear but if I took a bit off at a time it might work, thoughts?

Another MS Paint explanation:
Name:  d148db84-d61f-4946-bfea-dd02822fcecf.jpg
Views: 3167
Size:  36.7 KB

Appreciate any suggestion, I called a bunch of local mechanics, axle shops, spring shops and no one does this kind of thing.

Jay
Reply
Old May 7, 2013 | 11:29 PM
  #2  
GXPJAY's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, ON Canada
Default

I did more reading and some articles suggest I should get the transfer case angle and rear diff angle to be opposites and cancel each other out, so my transfer case Is -7 deg the rear end should be +7 deg so if that were the case I would just need a 3deg wedge to get it to +7. what do you guys think about that?

I don't want to do too much since I'm going to put the 4L80E in which will move the tcase rear ward and i can really set the angles right when i get a new drive shaft however we will be putting the turbo on with the stock 4L60E first to see what the numbers are so I would like for it to run as good and safe as possible.
Reply
Old May 8, 2013 | 01:59 PM
  #3  
SLCviaAK's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 1
From: Salt Lake City
Default

If you have a one piece shaft you want the angles to cancel each other. If your above illustrations is a correct "before" representation, you have the t case 7* down. Consider that a fixed point/measurement. Your diff is 10* up, so you need to bring the pinion down 3*. However, under power the pinion will want to climb, so I usually set them down 1-2*. A 4* shim, installed so it pitches the pinion down will set you up correctly. You are gonna want a steel shim, not an aluminum or cast shim. Much stronger and safer. And new center pins.

Something like this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004JARX70
Reply
Old May 8, 2013 | 03:11 PM
  #4  
nonnieselman's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,068
Likes: 2
From: Crystal Springs, MS
Default

Correct, on a single driveshaft you need the opposite numbers on each end.
Reply
Old May 8, 2013 | 07:30 PM
  #5  
GXPJAY's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Claremont, ON Canada
Default

Perfect, ordered 4deg shims, we'll see how that goes.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zblee
GM Engine & Exhaust Performance
63
Jun 10, 2023 01:25 PM
Noah Burns
GMT K2xx Trucks General Discussion
5
Sep 7, 2015 05:50 PM
Dezert1500
GM Parts Classifieds
5
Jul 30, 2015 02:51 PM
121
FORCED INDUCTION
2
Jul 16, 2015 12:18 AM
JordanH
GM Drivetrain & Suspension
3
Jul 14, 2015 03:46 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:38 AM.