Driveline Angles

Driveline Angle Inspection





Special Tool(s)





CAUTION: When carrying out operations which involve the removal and installation of the driveshaft, always check the joint angles and make the necessary adjustments.

NOTE: The following illustration will be referred to throughout the Driveline Angle Inspection procedure.

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface such as an alignment rack or a drive-on hoist.

2. Remove the exhaust heat shield fasteners and slide the exhaust heat shield as far forward as possible to expose the driveshaft-to-axle coupling.
3. Rotate the driveshaft several times by hand to neutralize the center support bearing and flex couplings.





4. Zero the special tool.
1 Place the special tool on the left frame rail with the special tool facing the passenger side.
2 Zero the special tool using the thumbscrew.
3 Mark the location where the special tool was zeroed with a paint pen.





5. NOTE: The special tool contacts the flex coupling bolt sleeve to obtain an accurate reading.

NOTE: The bolt should never be removed, only the nut.

Make preparations to measure the transmission angle (A) with respect to the frame rail.
1 Remove one of the nuts that attaches the flex coupling to the transmission flange.
2 Install the special tool onto the bolt on the rear of the flex coupling and tighten the nut.





6. Place the special tool in the bracket slot with the special tool facing the passenger side and record the reading.
^ Remove the special tools and tighten the fastener to specification.





7. NOTE: The special tool must contact the flex coupling bolt sleeve to obtain an accurate reading.

NOTE: The bolt should never be removed, only the nut.

Make preparations to measure the front driveshaft angle (B) with respect to the frame rail.
1 Remove one of the nuts that attaches the flex coupling to the front driveshaft.
2 Install the special tool onto the bolt on the front of the flex coupling and tighten the nut.





8. Place the special tool in the bracket slot with the special tool facing the passenger side and record the reading.
^ Remove the special tools and tighten the fastener to specification.





9. NOTE: The special tool must contact the flex coupling bolt sleeve to obtain an accurate reading.

NOTE: The bolt should never be removed, only the nut.

Make preparations to measure the rear driveshaft angle (C) with respect to the frame rail.
1 Remove one of the nuts that attaches the flex coupling to the rear driveshaft.
2 Install the special tool onto the bolt on the rear of the flex coupling and tighten the nut.





10. Place the special tool in the bracket slot with the special tool facing the passenger side and record the reading.
^ Remove the special tools and tighten the fastener to specification.





11. NOTE: The special tool must contact the flex coupling bolt sleeve to obtain an accurate reading.

NOTE: The bolt should never be removed, only the nut.

Make preparations to measure the differential pinion angle (D) with respect to the frame rail.
1 Remove one of the nuts that attaches the flex coupling to the pinion flange.
2 Install the special tool onto the front of the flex coupling and tighten the nut.





12. Place the special tool in the bracket slot with the special tool facing the passenger side and record the reading.
^ Remove the special tools and tighten the fastener to specification.
13. Calculate the angles of joints 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
^ A - B = Joint 1
^ B - C = Joint 2
^ C - D = Joint 3





14. NOTE: To adjust the center support bearing adjusting washers, the exhaust heat shield must be removed.

NOTE: Left and right washers should be the same thickness.

NOTE: Two washers should not be assembled together.

Adjust the joint angles if necessary by varying the center support bearing adjusting washers.
15. Install the exhaust heat shield.