pinion angle advice

[dvw]

The calculator you listed really doesn’t help with car drive shafts. The angles I listed are real world numbers that work. You are correct the load tapers off at speed. But that doesn’t mean that the angles at front and rear being slightly different will cause noticeable vibration or wear. At load and cruise they will be smooth. Been building hot rods and race cars over 40 years. Almost every one has had the housing welded on to correct angle with leaf springs or to install ladder bars. Currently we have leaf spring, leaf spring with Caltracs, and ladder bars. Drag cars and street cars. All are smooth without vibration. Haven’t broken a U joint in anything since I can remember.
Doug

 

[steve340]

I agree in the real world it is almost impossible to get the numbers bang on. There has to be some tolerance that the universals operate in that does not cause any trouble given the rear axle is bouncing all over the place as you drive down the road.
Some chassis designs seem to be far more prone to vibration than others I have noticed.