DC vs Stock shaft in the rear

[Seth_O]

I am wrapping up a long-running project and have found that my efforts have pointed my rear pinion up vs the stock config of parallel to the ground.

To be exact, I have 10* of difference between the pinion angle and the output shaft on the t-case.

Can I install a 6* shim to close the gap to 4* and run the stock driveshaft? Or will 4* difference still require a DC shaft to prevent vibration? The shaft ultimately will be ~20" long.

On the front of the vehicle I have 3* of different b/n the pinion and the t-case output shaft without any trouble, but that d-shaft isn't generally doing 2500 RPM's

Appreciate any thoughts/experience with this one.

 

[Degnol]

I think the range is 0-3*
Have you read this.....? Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Driveline 101

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You kind of have to choose-parallel or pointing directly at the t-case. Just a random upward tilt of the pinion is likely to leave you with vibs.

A D/C shaft is actually less tolerant of mis-alignment, and the u-joint angle at the pinion needs to be zero.

I'd use angle shims to get the pinion pointing directly at the t-case and then use a D/C shaft. That gives better clearance and should result in a quiet driveline.