How to measure 'UJ' Angles....

[Summit033]

Does anyone have any clever methods for measuring top and bottom Universal Joint angles? For example of the rear drive-shaft. Looking at getting adjustable top arms for the SWB Safari to try and get rid of at least some of the vibration, so will need to have a good method for measuring the UJ angles to get the adjustment correct.

Thanks.

[mudlva]

just an idea what about using a digital level.

on the diff put it onto the flange and do the math to work out how far off from horizontal then put it on the drive shaft the do the same again

just an idea

[Summit033]

Not a bad idea. All that I had come up with was making something out of wood, with one piece to go against the gearbox out shaft, and the other to go against the driveshaft, all held together with bolts to be able to give you the 'moveability', then once you had the angle set, you just sit it on the top side of the diff end and see if they match, adjust until they do.....

I think the difficulty will be having enough of a horizontal plane out of the gearbox and diff to get a good reference point from - as the driveshaft plane will be easy to get a tool(?) up against.......

Hmmmmmm

[GQTROL]

Does anyone have any clever methods for measuring top and bottom Universal Joint angles? For example of the rear drive-shaft. Looking at getting adjustable top arms for the SWB Safari to try and get rid of at least some of the vibration, so will need to have a good method for measuring the UJ angles to get the adjustment correct.

Thanks.

Its not necessarily the UJ angle that you need to be measuring. You need to get the angle of the output flange from the t-case as close to parallel to the angle of the flange of the pinion of the diff.

[mudlva]

theres two main issues to look at here
one that the uj's are orking correctly ie that the flanges either end of the driveshaft are on a pararel face and that the driveshaft does not fowl the uj's whilst traveling throu the articulation range

Heres a site well worth looking at

http://www.highangledriveline.com

Jesse explains it better


cheers

[DaveM]

Or you could just make small adjustments until the noise goes.

[GQTROL]

Or you could just make small adjustments until the noise goes.

Bingo. Make the adjustable arms with enough adjustment so you can have a play and keep altering it until its correct.

[muddy]

Use the "TLAR" system - the cheapest and most flexible measuring tool in the workshop.

"That Looks About Right"