How to install shims (already searched)

[Eagle]

MaX is correct. You are going to waste a lot more $$$ and time fooling with "I guess I'll try ... next" solutions than a decent angle finder will cost. The theory has been explained to you. You know what the solution is, but there's no way to dial it in without measuring the angles.

Without knowing exactly what the angles are, there is simply no way that anyone can possibly advise you (intelligently) what to try next.

 

[Drewlee77]

Ok ok... sorry to waste your time. I assumed that the similarities between similarly equipped XJ's would be sufficient to give someone enough information to help me out intelligently. The shims I got were a spur-of-moment "opportunity" that I based on advice I was given a long time ago.

Isn't the output shaft parallel to the ground? I didn't measure it because I assumed it was always parallel, mine certainly appears to be. It seems like you'd have to try pretty hard to make it not parallel, since it's rigidly attached to the engine, tranny, and t-case... But I suppose I have been assuming too much already (I didn't know you could buy a $10 angle finder. I thought they were expensive!).

I'll pull out of the shims and give up until I can afford to do everything properly. My u-joints have lasted this long without noticeable wear, so perhaps they will last long enough for me to find a real job....thanks for your time.

I promise I'm not generally stupid or impulsive.

 

[Eagle]

I'll pull out of the shims and give up until I can afford to do everything properly. My u-joints have lasted this long without noticeable wear, so perhaps they will last long enough for me to find a real job....thanks for your time.

I doubt very much that you can eye-ball 1 or 2 degrees. I can't.

Didn't you post that after this last adjustment the vibes were better than before you installed the shims? If so, why take 'em out? Leave them there and take your measurements with them in place.

 

[Drewlee77]

Because you said they are an "accident waiting to happen". Can I get away with leaving them in for a week or so with little risk?

 

[Eagle]

They'll last a week. The long-term problem is that aluminum corrodes, and as it does it gradually turns to powder. You won't see it happening, but one day you'll have shims and the next day you won't. But it's not going to happen in a week -- more like a year or two.

The other problem is that under load, aluminum "creeps" (compresses). This is why aluminum electrical wiring is unsafe unless used with special connectors -- when they first started using the stuff in houses, over time the aluminum would compress under the screws, loosen up, then the connections would corrode and build up resistance. That created heat, which set the houses on fire.

Again, this is a long-term situation, not something that's going to be critical in a week. But do retorque the u-bolts after 500 miles.

 

[Drewlee77]

OK, so I finally got an angle finder... for a whopping $9.86... not sure why I thought they were expensive, but I'm glad they aren't.

Anyway, I measured all my angles - and I'm pretty sure I did it correctly... Transfer Case/Output shaft slope = 3.5* down Driveshaft slope = 14.5* Pinion Angle = 5* up (i.e. towards the t-case).

So, in order to have perfect angles I should get a 4* (steel) shim and angle the pinion down to replace the current 2*shim. That would give me 1/2* for the pinion to rise under acceleration. Is that right?