Ideally the angles should be parallel, perhaps slightly down at the rear. You can be off as much as 5* and get away with it. Can that 5* also be used for side to side offset?
Ideally the angles should be parallel, perhaps slightly down at the rear. You can be off as much as 5* and get away with it. Can that 5* also be used for side to side offset?
IIRC, the side to side offset is okay, as long as it is parallel. For the up/down, I remember parallel is best, but it also varies based on rear suspension design. I have also heard that newer designs of u joints are less susceptible to problems when they are at/near zero angle.
Edit - regarding the horizontal offset, it's not too uncommon in the V8 S10 world, as a Ford Explorer 8.8 is wider than a stock rear end and has an offset pinion, but not everyone cuts them down to match side by side, because at the wider width, they can be used with wheels with more modern offsets.
Yes. Vertical and horizontal offsets are fine. 5° max operating angle, shoot for 1-3°.
A more compliant suspension (rubber instead of rod ends, or leaf springs instead of ladder bars) may require more "nose down" on the pinion.
Yeah the U-joints don't know which axis is up/down or left/right 
Always parallel but not the same plane.
This video explains why they have to be equal and opposite (parallel). Keeping the U-joint angles between 1-4 degrees adds dynamic tension which quells vibes, kinda like putting your finger on a guitar string.
Wow Curtis, you my have saved me chopping up a rear end!
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