rear axle....

[mcssmostwanted]

will some one please school my ass about rear ends.... i am completly lost when it coems to stuff like this... i am thinking of up grading and could realyl use some info here.. any comments are welcome...

dan

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

What makes you think you need to upgrade?

If you let us know what your goals are, it'll be easier to answer the question.

[mcssmostwanted]

What makes you think you need to upgrade?

If you let us know what your goals are, it'll be easier to answer the question.

well i got into an accident a while back and it seems as if its bent my axle that is... so thats problem number one..... and i wanna be in the 500- 550 hp range so i figured a nice upgrade of the rear end would complent the hp goals i one day would like to reach...

i just hear/read things like "3 or 4 channel" "10 and 12 bolt" "9inch" and other things i cant remember off the top of my head.... id just like to learn about them so when i do decide to upgrade i have some knowledge....

[DETROITMUSCLE]

4 channel is ABS and traction control. a 10 bolt is what you have now, the stock rear. As for upgrading the general rule of thumb is 12 bolt for auto guys and 9in for manuals.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

If you do upgrade, these are the rears to focus on:

10-bolt - There is a derivation of this currently in your car. Will not take 500 hp on a regular basis without significant upgrades. It can be done, but if you want to be safe for the same $$$, go to one of the options below.

12-bolt - Used in GM vehicles. A standard stock 12-bolt SHOULD be good for 500 hp, but to be safe, you may want to beef it up a bit. The best rear GM ever made. Properly built, these are near bullet-proof.

9-inch - Used in Ford vehicles. Very comparible to a 12-bolt, but may be a bit stouter IMHO. One of the guys here (SS4Matt?) just put one in his SS. Again, near bullet-proof.

Dana - Used in GM, Ford, and Chrysler, although I believe Chrysler was the only one to put them in cars. GM and Ford put them in trucks. Several models are available (Dana 40, Dana 60). Dana is as tough as they come. A stock Dana 60 will easily handle 500 hp.

All the lower three are rock solid...you can't go wrong with any of 'em.

[mcssmostwanted]

whats a yoke? and spline?

[Orange Terror]

whats a yoke? and spline?

The yoke is the piece that the driveshaft attaches too via u-joint, splines are the little teeth on the pinion gear shaft so that the when the yoke slides over them, and it has splines in it too, they mesh together and when you turn it they turn together.

[SS4Matt]

"ahh much to learn young grasshopper"

like jeff said, if you're an Auto car the moser 12 bolt is a great choice. For manual cars, the shock load on the rear end is a bit more harsh, and that is where the 9" is desirable as it is a bit stronger and "beefier" then the 12 bolt.

here is where "some" of the issues play a role in your decision.

3 channel cars (cars with ABS but NO Traction control) are limited (sortof) you can run either a 12 bolt rear end, or the Dana S60 and still have your ABS funtional if you that's a concern to you.

4 channel cars (cars with ABS and TRACTION control) have it made, as all three options, the 12 bolt, 9" and S60 will keep both the ABS and TCS properly working.

now, i have a 3channel car, and i have a 9". so i no longer have working ABS in my car. but since it's a nice weather car only, i wasn't too concerned about it. hell saturday it was raining like crazy and drove aronud and in a safe spot TRIED to get my brakes to lock up, and i couldn't my tires were that good. i was doing 35mph panic stops in a freshly paved parking lot and couldn't get my car to lock up and/or slide. so i have proven to myself anyways that ABS is unnecessary.

another thing to consider is the weight of these rear ends. the 12 bolt is the lightest of the 3 (thus why it's safe to say it's not the strongest of the 3)

the 9" weighs in a bit more then the 12 bolt. i personally experienced an 8hp lose to the wheels when i went from the stock 10 bolt to my 9". (just some food for thought) i don't think it's a big deal again. Also, my 9" was built with a detroit TruTrac differential, which is EXTREMELY well mannered on the streets! the builder of my 9" told me that my setup would be good to go low 10's. anything less then that, and i'm in "danger" zone of breaking the diff....when that time comes, i'll be proud of myself and switch to a spool which is indestructable in a 9".

last of all, the latest for the F-Bodies is the Dana S60 rear end. this is the biggest mama jamma of the 3. also the heaviest. if you can break this rear end, you're making some serious power! it's also the latest trend for people like me with 3 channel manuals because it works with the ABS in keeping it properly working!





wow....that's all i can think of right now...hope it helps!

[CHMLEON]

Thanks Dan for starting this tread and every one else that posted answers.
The info here will help me with my quest to change out my rear axle also.

Thanks again.

[mcssmostwanted]

thanks for the info guys it has really help out a ton...

since my car will be more of a "Fun car" abs doenst really concern me as i will not be driving it in snow or any crazy weather like that...

so i guess a 3 channel 12bolt will work greatly for my application..

is there any crazy modifactions you need to perform in order to install a new axle? to the car or axle it self?

thanks again

dan

[SS4Matt]

as long as you get the axle for a 4th gen F-body.

my 9" went right in. the only thing that needed "modification" was the torque arm mounting bracket on the 9" because it had some sloppy casting....quick zip of the angle grinder fixed that....i also had to make new brake lines, which again was not a very big deal. a good place to find the rear end you need is

www.driveline-solutions.com the guys name is scott and he built mine. forwarning though, if you try to get ahold of scott, just leave him a message and hopefully he'll get back to you within a week he's a hard guy to get ahold of

[WMCCjames]

Good info guys....I might add a little tid bit of info...

The reason the 9" rear is stronger than a 12 bolt is beause of the pinion placement on the ring gear and also the thirdmember constuction. While this makes them stronger than a 12, they are more parasitic....ie, can't get something for nothing.