Help with pinion angles and castor? Newb!
12-05-2013, 12:39 PM
#11
JK Super Freak
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for your time
12-05-2013, 03:02 PM
#12
JK Junkie
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Stock is around 2* at the pinion which puts caster around 4*
Measure of your pinion flange. Not the lower C like some will do.
1* at the pinion flange = 5* caster
0* (90) = 6* caster
And so on ....
Measure of your pinion flange. Not the lower C like some will do.
1* at the pinion flange = 5* caster
0* (90) = 6* caster
And so on ....
12-05-2013, 06:29 PM
#13
So all you are trying to do is change the pinion angle because it LOOKS bad? Your not worried about caster?
How does the Jeep drive? Any flighty steering feeling? What is your caster now?
If you lower your pinion much at all, my guess is you are going to throw your caster so far out of a decent degree that you in turn will get very flighty steering.
How does the Jeep drive? Any flighty steering feeling? What is your caster now?
If you lower your pinion much at all, my guess is you are going to throw your caster so far out of a decent degree that you in turn will get very flighty steering.
12-05-2013, 08:18 PM
#14
JK Junkie
I have a 4" lift and 35s (actually 315/70R17) too. My lift manufacturer recommends 4.6 degrees caster +/- 1.0. Although I don't have adjustable control arms, I do have Rancho control arm correction brackets. My caster is about 5 degrees and the steering and handling are great. 
You can't adjust both pinion angle and caster without modifying the axle tube (rotating "C"s). To me, correct caster is more important than pinion angle. Caster affects steering while pinion angle is not as critical IMNHO because as a rule, we don't drive over 45 mph in 4WD. The front drive shaft has no load on it at higher speed so it won't wear prematurely even with a 10 degree (pinion shaft to drive shaft) angle.
Going with an after-market drive shaft is supposed to help. I've looked at the design of the dual-Cardan CV and frankly I'm not impressed. Why doesn't someone just make a front axle with 2 true CV joints like the stock rear drive shaft has but able to operate at an even higher angle? That would be the bomb.
BTW - The pictures below are at maximum travel, full extension. The only time this should happen on the road is if I'm pretending to be General Lee instead of Sahara Lee. On my 2010 Sahara Unlimited with automatic the front drive shaft doesn't rub and in spite of what the last picture looks like, the CV at the TC still rotates freely without damaging the boot.
BBTW - The XClinometer app for Androids (also available for iPhones) is excellent for checking angles.
XClinometer (+bubble-level) - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com
You can't adjust both pinion angle and caster without modifying the axle tube (rotating "C"s). To me, correct caster is more important than pinion angle. Caster affects steering while pinion angle is not as critical IMNHO because as a rule, we don't drive over 45 mph in 4WD. The front drive shaft has no load on it at higher speed so it won't wear prematurely even with a 10 degree (pinion shaft to drive shaft) angle.
Going with an after-market drive shaft is supposed to help. I've looked at the design of the dual-Cardan CV and frankly I'm not impressed. Why doesn't someone just make a front axle with 2 true CV joints like the stock rear drive shaft has but able to operate at an even higher angle? That would be the bomb.
BTW - The pictures below are at maximum travel, full extension. The only time this should happen on the road is if I'm pretending to be General Lee instead of Sahara Lee. On my 2010 Sahara Unlimited with automatic the front drive shaft doesn't rub and in spite of what the last picture looks like, the CV at the TC still rotates freely without damaging the boot.
BBTW - The XClinometer app for Androids (also available for iPhones) is excellent for checking angles.
XClinometer (+bubble-level) - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com
12-05-2013, 09:52 PM
#15
JK Super Freak
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No I'm not trying to change pinion angle because it looks bad. My pinion angle along with my driveshaft angle is what sparked my interest. After getting a angle finder I realized that my pinion angle is about 88 deg. Reading from the circles on the front of the axle. The castor seemed to be about 7 degrees. With corrections on this I should be able to dial it in and possibly get a lighter feeling in the steering and stop the flighty feeling. It's not terrible but it's there.
12-05-2013, 11:53 PM
#16
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No I'm not trying to change pinion angle because it looks bad. My pinion angle along with my driveshaft angle is what sparked my interest. After getting a angle finder I realized that my pinion angle is about 88 deg. Reading from the circles on the front of the axle. The castor seemed to be about 7 degrees. With corrections on this I should be able to dial it in and possibly get a lighter feeling in the steering and stop the flighty feeling. It's not terrible but it's there.
12-06-2013, 04:23 AM
#17
JK Junkie
Pull your driveshaft and measure off the pinion directly. You are going to want to just barely eliminate any driveshaft vibes and that will be your optimum castor angle.
12-09-2013, 11:04 AM
#19
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So my 13/16" drill bit was supposed to come Friday for my draglink flip and got delayed. So it arrives today and I realized I don't have a drill that accepts a 1/2" bit. Finally found one and was pressed for time. Stopped by a local shop to get them to install it and what did I forget??? The bag full of all the bolts nuts an washers to get the job done. Day was full of fail! So, I'm gonna sleep it off tonight and I'm going to do it myself tomorrow!