Someone please measure stock height driveshaft/pinion angles on 2016+ crew?

I've searched, I can't find it for 3rd gens. I am about to go the dealer and ask them to let me crawl under their truck but I figured I would ask for help here first. We really need stock height driveshaft angle measurements so anyone that lifts the rear knows how to get the driveshaft/pinion angles back to stock angles. This will really help everyone know what angle of shims and carrier bearing drop they need to get rid of vibration after lifting. If you ever lift the back over an inch, you'll probably be dealing with vibrations. There's no sense trying to get the angles right by blindly bolting drops and shims in.

Folks with extra cabs can do the measurement as well, but I'm not sure they have the 2 piece driveshaft which is the source of all of this vibration. I'm pretty sure SR5/TRD OR/TRD Sport crews will all have similar driveshaft angles.

Here's what we need. Someone needs to have the harbor freight angle measurement tool (hopefully)

Then follow these steps from a good Gen 2 thread-

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-vibrations-solved-step-by-step.244535/#post-5856724

1. Buy yourself an angle finder. I got mine at a local Harbor Freight for around $40. You absolutely cannot, ever, figure this stuff out without one.

2. Measure your current driveshaft angles. You’ll use (4) points to measure from, to get (3) measurement numbers.

a. Zero your angle gauge against the back of the transfer case, up to the right (under the truck facing forward) against that nice flat place with the two holes.

b. Measure your first driveshaft angle by placing the gauge underneath the first driveshaft, keeping clear of any mud, stickers, etc. My gauge is magnetic so I flipped it over and hung it upside down. I messed with it a bit to get it perfectly in line with the driveshaft and perfectly underneath (by perfectly I mean I randomly wiggled it around until it came up with the most consistent number). This is your first measurement of three, write it down somewhere, and represents the angle of the first shaft as it comes out of your transfer case.

c. Take your next measurement underneath the rear (second half) of your driveshaft, after the carrier bearing. I took mine next to the rear differential, again keeping clear of stickers, weights, etc, and wiggling it until I had a consistent reading. This is your second of three measurements, write it down, and represents the angle of your rear half driveshaft as it relates again to the transfer case.

d. For the third and final measurement, you’ll need to re-calibrate your angle gauge. On mine, I left the gauge where it was, hanging by its magnets under the rear driveshaft, and pressed and released the Calibrate button a few times until the gauge, when hanging under the rear driveshaft, read zero. Then locate the nice flat area up against your rear axle housing, next to the rear differential case. Make sure it’s fairly free of mud etc. then place your gauge (after zero-ing it out on the rear driveshaft) up against this flat part of your rear axle. I found a nice spot just above the molded line (in red) and next to the diff housing bolts (tip of arrow). This is your third and final measurement, write it down also, and represents the angle at which your rear driveshaft comes out of your rear differential.

Here's an illustration of the steps.



Someone, please help, it will help the community here I think. The more datapoints, the better!

 

Here are my before/after measurements. Unfortunately I don't have stock height measurements. I got the vibes MUCH, MUCH better, but there is still a little bit.

Here in the black, you can see the driveshaft angles after adding 1.5" rear add-a-leafs and 1" blocks, the angles, and results. There were pretty bad vibrations from 20-40MPH; enough to really annoy me. Then, in the blue, you can see the angles after 2.5 deg. shims and 2 carrier bearing drop shims (~6mm). It's much better and livable but there are still some vibes there.



I've seen Gen 2 stock measurements; there's about 2-3 degree angle between shafts, and 2-3 degree angle between the second shaft and diff input. So, mine is pretty close to what the Gen 2 stock angles are at this point. Without knowing what Gen 3s measurments were, that's what I targeted. I am thinking the Gen 3s geometry may be different which is why stock angles will help.

 

I have a magnetic digital and might be able to do this over the weekend... if your timeline allows the delay.

Stock 2018 OR DCSB

 

Also, lifted guys, if you put your measurements here, we'll have one place to start comparing results; we should end up with a pretty good idea of x lift = y adjustment references for everyone.

Here's a template. Basically we need your setup (lift, corrections in place, and level of vibrations/speeds), and angles. Please update and add new posts with new angles as you make changes too and what those results are.

 

On my phone so I can’t input into the template, but my angles before and after:

Stock:
First angle 4.3°
Second angle: 4.7°
Diff input: 3.4°

After with OME medium duty Dakar pack yielding 1.75” (23.75” hub center to fender) of lift:
First angle: 3.4°
Second angel: 2.0°
Diff input: 0.8°

I did not install any shims. I did however install the CB drop. I can confidently say I have had zero vibes at all with these measurements.

 

Thanks! That is different than the second gen. Second gen stock: first angle 5.6° Second angle 3.4° diff input 1.8°. I've been targeting 2nd gen without having a 3rd gen stock reference assuming it would get me close.

Based on what you posted, it looks like the 3rd gen wants the first/second shaft angles closer together. That explains why the CB drop did it for you and why it didn't work for 2nd gens too well. Excellent!

 

I have a manual angle finder ill check my 2016 DCSB TRD OR at some point in the next day or so. would like to record it for myself as well.. you may also want to check that your rear end is in line with the output of the driveshaft (hold a straightedge up to it along the driveshaft.)

compound angles can make vibes in a driveshaft much worse.. I was also of the opinion that because our trucks have no tracbar, or anti wrap bar the pinion angle changes depending on load, speed, and wear and tear on the leafs, and bushings.. just something to think about.

 

Lacking an angle finder, there are free iPhone apps. Just need to measure all 4 and take the primary as a reference and do the math. Easy peasy.

 

I didn’t follow your directions exactly, and only took 2 measurements (fore and aft of the carrier bearing), using the driveway underneath the driveshaft as 0° reference.

Fore angle: 7.45°
Aft angle: 5.90°
Angle difference: 1.55°

 

Used digital angle finder from Lowe’s.
Measurements taking when I was fight to fix my vibration after installing HD Dakar’s.

My 2013 Tacoma when it was stock.
TC- 2.3* down
1st shaft 7.9* down
2nd shaft 5.7* down
Pinion 5.2* up

Drove over to my buddies house who has a 2015 4wd Tacoma sport. Bone stock.
Measured his driveline angles. Almost the same. He says he has not vibes.
TC- 2.5* down
1st shaft 8.0* down
2nd shaft 5.5* down
Pinion 5* up

Drove over to my parents house and measured their 2007 4wd Tacoma bone stock. Again another Tacoma with no vibes.
TC- 2.9* down
1st shaft 8.0* down
2nd shaft 5.5* down
Pinion 5* up

All three trucks with stockrearsuspension. All measurements with a Johnson level magnetic digital angle locator. Took measurements off the flat part of the Tc outputshaft, flat part of the pinion output shaft.

 

Measure both sides of the joint. Add if opposite angles. subtract is similar.

 

I’m gonna try to bring this thread back to life, it could potentially yield some good info

 

I need the info too!!

 

Did you have any luck elsewhere?

 

As far as stock angles? No. But I was able to find great info on how to properly adjust the driveshaft angles in this thread

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...olved-step-by-step.244535/page-2#post-5889063

look at the posts from @badger in particular

 

What good are stock angles to a lifted truck?
The front of the driveshaft goes up and angles increase. Measuring and canceling your lifted working angles is what needs to happen. You'll never achieve stock angles on a lifted truck.

 

My 2013 Tacoma when it was stock.
TC- 2.3* down
1st shaft 7.9* down
2nd shaft 5.7* down
Pinion 5.2* up

Drove over to my buddies house who has a 2015 4wd Tacoma sport. Bone stock.
Measured his driveline angles. Almost the same. He says he has not vibes.
TC- 2.5* down
1st shaft 8.0* down
2nd shaft 5.5* down
Pinion 5* up

Drove over to my parents house and measured their 2007 4wd Tacoma bone stock. Again another Tacoma with no vibes.
TC- 2.9* down
1st shaft 8.0* down
2nd shaft 5.5* down
Pinion 5* up

All three trucks with stock rear suspension. All measurements with a Johnson level magnetic digital angle locator. Took measurements off the flat part of the Tc outputshaft, flat part of the pinion output shaft.

 

What are your actual 'working angles' for each u-joint?

Correct me if I'm wrong; I'm assuming your pinion angle is an 'up' measurement.

So you should have:
A=3.7
B=2.3
C=-8.9

The equation is:
A+B+C=0

You have:
(3.7)+(2.3)+(-8.9)=-2.9

I'd try a 4-5 degree shim.


Couple other things to consider:
-slipjoint extends with lift; less bearing surface in the slip joint can cause vibes
-up/down is only one dimension of the true working angle; left/right is the other.

 

A. 2.6
B. 3.5
C. 1.89

6112 front on 6/5 clips
5160 rear with Dakar mediums and 2.5 degree spacer. No carrier drop and no vibrations.

 

Except A to B angle would be improved by carrier drop and B to C would be improved with shims. Shims won't change much A to B as they rotatetrotate axle not the shaft.