got my knuckles cut off and tubes shortened on my front D44hd tonight... I'm ready to set caster and pinion angle first thing tomorrow. Before i weld her back together, I was wondering, is there a max limit you shouldn't pass when rotating up a pinion? i'm sure oil reaching the pinion bearings will become a problem sooner or later, so can anyone tell me about how many degrees you shouldn't pass?

I basically have the front shaft that resembles the rear of a lifted wrangler. about 20" in length with some steep angles. I'm wanting to rotate the pinion up about 25* from the horizontal. does that sound okay? Of course, this is a front axle and will only see trail use at low rpms. I'm guessing it will be okay providing I fill up the diff when the pinion is level.

-Rob

btt

25* is a lot, IMO. I was running my AMC 20 rear rotated up 18* though and never had any problems with it, even thogh the local drivetrain shop said that I would. I drove it on long car-trips, all over the streets, for about 2000 miles and nothing ever happened. I don't think I would have turned it up any more than that though.

J. J.

25 will become a problem

even in a front axle that only sees use on the trail? no extreme heat generating highway speeds?
what about 20*, is that within reality?

Thanks
-Rob

My rear 44 has been running at about 24* for a year.

and you can weld good enough to do your own knuckles, you are surely competent enough to weld a new fill plug in the cover. Put a plug higher up on the cover, and make sure your axle seals are in good shape. You will have to refill it now and then cause it will leak, but it will help out your pinion angles.