K5 Stock Driveshaft Angle

[PaulZ]

Hi, first post. Says I have insufficient privilege to post in the K5 tech section.

I bought my '83 K5 about six months ago for $650 from some hack, towed it home, got it running and have been slowly sorting it out. This forum has been a fantastic source of information. It had a 4 inch lift which I have removed (I am old and just needed the 4x4 to get up my cabin road).

To the point, I have a drive train vibration above 45 mph. The U-joint angles don't seem right to me (see photos), the rear end and drive shaft are almost parallel while the trans is appx. 10 degrees different. All my experience tells me the rear and trans should be close to parallel with each other. I removed some spacers from the trans mount when I removed the rear blocks and it should be as stock now. However it is possible the axles have been changed, speedo is way off. Truck was originally a diesel (now gas) and I believe still has the original 700R4.

Please ignore the missing header bolts and temporary exhaust, and all the oil everywhere. This thing was a total mess.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Paul

 

[skunked]

if it's a standard driveshaft with a single u-joint at each end then they should be parallel as you thought.

 

[PaulZ]

Thanks, yes, singe U-joints. I have seen photos of K5s with CV joints, could my axle possible be out of one of those?

 

[skunked]

pictures are always helpful

 

[PaulZ]

There should be three photos with my first post. Would a picture of the rear axle help? It's a standard 10 bolt.

 

[skunked]

Thanks, yes, singe U-joints. I have seen photos of K5s with CV joints, could my axle possible be out of one of those?

The axle isn't any different for a CV setup however the position of the axle pinion would different (rotated up) if you had a CV.

Have you replaced the u-joints? Did it vibrate before you pulled the lift out?

a picture of the whole driveshaft including the slip yoke portion would be helpful

 

[PaulZ]

Ah, so maybe I have an axle out of a CV Blazer?

Have not replaced U-joints yet. Never had it up to 45mph before I pulled the lift out. Had a terrible front end wobble.

Here is a photo I took earlier with the others. Can't really see the angle at the front U-joint, but it's there.

Thanks again for your help. PicknPull is half price this weekend, maybe I'll go hunting. Will the CV shaft go right in?

 

[skunked]

I don't think you need a CV shaft and I don't think a CV ever came in a K5. Most of us run CV's because we've lifted the trucks more than what a traditional two joint shaft can handle.

by the last photo it looks like your rear pinion is pointing up toward the t-case?

Your t-case and driveshaft yokes should be parallel however your rear yoke can be point up 1-2 degrees to compensate for axle wrap.

 

[blazinzuk]

CV driveshaft did not come stock in the rear in any Blazer

 

[blazinzuk]

Also ignore the angle of the driveshaft. It's the angles of the transfer case output and the pinion yoke on the rear axle.

 

[PaulZ]

Yes the rear pinion is pointing upwards, about parallel to the drive shaft. In my first post the top photo show the drive shaft angle, about 10 degrees. Second photo is on one of the ribs of the rear axle, also about 10 degrees. Last is on the trans pan, 0 degrees. Give or take a couple of degrees, still seem like too much difference between axle and trans.

I suppose I can fix it with some axle shims, just odd that it's this way.

 

[skunked]

I suppose I can fix it with some axle shims, just odd that it's this way.

measure both yokes and buy the correct STEEL shim so they're parallel (or axle yoke 1-2 degrees up as mentioned before). DIY4X sells the shims in different degree's http://diy4x.com/product.php?productid=17720

also inspect the u-joints and replace them if necessary.

 

[PaulZ]

Sounds good, thanks. I imagine K10 axles interchange, is it possible my axle is out of one, with a different angle on the spring pads?

 

[skunked]

Sounds good, thanks. I imagine K10 axles interchange, is it possible my axle is out of one, with a different angle on the spring pads?

who knows.....someone could have clocked the spring pads and welded them where they are now.

Hard tellin not knowin.