Magnetic angle finder
 

Hi guys, I'm going to be changing out my driveshaft in a few days and after scaling the threads, i haven't been able to find a good visual reference on how to use a magnetic angle finder to measure the pinion angle. Tacobill's write-up is awesome, but if I get one of those cheap angle finders from Sears, where do put it to measure the angle?

Also, Can i rent one of these or find a cheap digital one anywhere?

Darth

I looked for a digital one with luck. Probably expensive.

I got a digital one with a magnet on it at Home Depot , I don't remember exactly but I think it was around $50 ...

Do you have an adjustable UCA or LCAs?

When I set my pinion angle I got a dial type angle finder (magnetic base) from Harbor Freight for just a few bucks. I was installing BMR adjustable UCAs and LCAs, it worked great.

so where should he put the angle finder on his driveshaft to check the angles?

If you're installing a one piece unit, you dont even need to put the angle finder on the driveshaft necessarily. You need to put it on the trans flange and on the differential. Look here:


http://www.cherod.com/mustang/HowTo/LCA%20_adj.htm

I picked up a craftsman digital level for $20. Works great

I will be getting an adjustable UCA only. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll look at the craftsman digital level if I can find one. I looked at the cheap $4.00 ones but they look a bit hard to read. One thing I could not understand, the -2.0 we are trying to achieve, is that the difference betweeen the angle at the front and rear of the drive shaft?

You read the angle of the differential housing at the pinion, then you read the angle of the drive shaft and the difference is your pinion angle. Your rear axle needs to be laoded when you do this but the car does not need to be absolutly level itself BTW.

That link Tom posted is prety good check it out

That was the best link I could find last year at explaining what needed to be done with a one piece shaft. I tried other methods and couldn't get it right, then I found that link and did as it said and was good after that. :nice:

Okay, I'll try that link at home, can't get it here, **** gov't filters. Thanks guys!