Rear axle off center

HPCOBRA · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-2015, 08:05 PM

I have been nursing my build along for several years. Due to family illness and the loss of my dad and mom the last year has seen no Cobra work. I am about to get back to it. The kit was originally assembled back in 1995 and after 75 miles and a minor accident it was put in storage. I acquired it about 4 years ago and basically disassembled it and almost started at scratch. Things were just not done right with the original build. I recently realized that the rear axle pumpkin is off center about 1 inch. The axle tubes were cut to put the wheels in line but as mentioned the pumpkin is off center which puts a little angle to the drive shaft. Has anybody experienced the same issue? Will the universals operate okay with no vibration? Should I use constant velocity joints instead?
Thanks for any help

Wisconsin_Snake · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2015, 08:22 PM

I am guessing that you have a ford 8.8 rear end.
If so, I am pretty sure that is normal.

HPCOBRA · #3 (**permalink**) 03-29-2015, 09:57 PM

Yes it is. The person that did the first build passed away so I have minimal history on the car. If it is normal, why would you want the u joint work on a compound angle? thanks again

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2015, 02:57 AM

I am not sure that is normal. I had an 8.8 in mine and it wasn't off center at all. And I never had any vibration or U-Joint wear and the car was ran hard.

Ron

CHANMADD · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2015, 08:48 AM

It's normal ...the centerline of the pumpkin and the tranny need to be parrallel, Don't over think it........

mickmate · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2015, 05:50 PM

The pinion goes in on the side of the crown wheel so the diff input is usually off center. That can be a bit disconcerting in a Cobra because the driveshaft is so short but as mentioned already the drive train should be moved over a tad to align it when viewed from above.

Barnsnake · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2015, 08:43 PM

As long as the transmission tailshaft and the pinion are parallel, the direction of the offset is immaterial. Up, down, sideways, or diagonal is all the same. It does not "compound". The only "no-no's" are extreme angles, or no angle.
Off-center pinions are VERY common.

HPCOBRA · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2015, 08:54 PM

Thank so much.. I can rest a little easier now.

Double Venom · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2015, 02:59 PM

Ron,
Total NORMAL for an 8.8 and a 9" in a CR's.
DV