Half Shaft angle question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 182
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From: Sun Peaks British Columbia
Half Shaft angle question
I've seen several threads where it's been said that proper half shaft angles ought to be level or horizontal.
A drive line specialist told me that whenever you've got universals turning, a constant angle is desirable because the working of the universal is what lubricates the needle bearings.
This made sense to me. If so, level (or horizontal half shafts) is not the best way to go.
Any opinions on this?
YV
A drive line specialist told me that whenever you've got universals turning, a constant angle is desirable because the working of the universal is what lubricates the needle bearings.
This made sense to me. If so, level (or horizontal half shafts) is not the best way to go.
Any opinions on this?
YV
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 182
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From: Sun Peaks British Columbia
Driver, passenger, fuel can effect angle somewhat also, but generally speaking I also prefer a slight downward angle on the shafts, (I think)
YV
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Brown Summit North Carolina
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: AL
one of the few times when the term is actually self explanatory. as the wheel/tire moves vertically (bump), the toe-in (steer) varies; in other words, the wheel turns left or right when you drive over a bump as a result of the suspension geometry. same happens when cornering hard, etc. . . .
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
It also depends on the particular circumstance you are putting the rear-end under. For hard launching (drag racing) you don't want the rear squatting so much that the half-shafts go past zero angle. Because of the geometry and the way the output shafts are held, etc this can cause some bad stresses on the rear end and kaboom. On a hard launch you are trying to get the suspension system so that at maximum launch/travel the half-shafts go level.
Now, for just driving down the road, yes, U-joints need a slight angle in them to keep the needle bearings spinning. But have you ever wathed suspension operating on a typical road? Even on what you consider flat even road the suspension still moves up and down enough to not worry so much about the angle or if you are level when the car is just sitting there. Typically you just don't want the shafts pointing up at rest. If you aren't putting out much power and don't hammer the rear-end you might get away with this situation but it's not desired.
Now, for just driving down the road, yes, U-joints need a slight angle in them to keep the needle bearings spinning. But have you ever wathed suspension operating on a typical road? Even on what you consider flat even road the suspension still moves up and down enough to not worry so much about the angle or if you are level when the car is just sitting there. Typically you just don't want the shafts pointing up at rest. If you aren't putting out much power and don't hammer the rear-end you might get away with this situation but it's not desired.
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