The setup that I will be going with is most likely all bolt ons, LT's, 1.7RR, tuning, etc., nothing in engine, other than the RR's. I plan on making car setup mostly for autocross, but will occasionally go to local 1/8th mi track for fun, practice. Will I be safe running a beefed up 10 bolt with street tires and launching around 2-2500 feathering clutch (as much as Stage 3 clutch can be) or will I still possibly blow out my rear? Plan on upgrading 3.73, T2R diff, TA girdle w/studs, solid spacers? Just wondering, don't want to have to go with a 12 bolt till get ready to mod engine if I don't have to.

 

Your 10-bolt is fine without the beefier axles. I run drag radials on mine and dumped as high as 4k, never had a problem. But then my friends 02 Z28 snapped an axle with BFG DRs like I have. I think you will be fine though.

 

Its my daily driver so I don't want to break anything for just a few runs at the track, you know especially if I am going to setup the car for autocross.

 

good luck hard launching a 10 bolt rearend. I broke two with both 10-bolts beefed up. One was on drag radials and the other was on ET streets(knew this was gonna break). I say don't waste money beefing up a known problem, get the 12 bolt or 9inch

 

You might be ok for awhile on street tires. 6 speeds + 10-bolts usually =

 

Should be okay if you just use street tires, but if you use drag radials or Et streets, it is going to give up the ghost.

 

I won't be using drag radials or especially ET streets. Like I said it would be on softer launches, around 2.0 60' with street tires and only 2-3 times a year, maybe. I want to put my money on suspension and bolt-ons for now.

 

u will be fine with that rear. i was running a 3.73 gear on my 10 bolt with a M6(before i switched to A4) and i managed to make over 40 passes on ET STREETS with no problems (1.7-1.8 60' times) u dont need a 12 bolt yet. save your money and skip that TA girdle. it is a waste of money. instead, get your axle tubes welded. it is much cheaper and it is much stronger. hope this helps

 

I am pretty sure I will weld the axle tubes. I thought about cambering my rear anyways about 1-2 degrees (for autocross) by cutting and welding the tubes, thanks for all the replies. I was hoping I wouldn't have to make a 12 bolt one of my early upgrades.

 

You could have said that in your opinion a TA girdle is a waste of money.
Because in the opinion of a highly respected driveline company and I quote: "a cover with bearing cap support screws is the single best mod to help strengthen a 10 bolt rear. When you apply power the force tries to push the carrier out the rear cover increasing the space between the ring and pinion and throwing everything out of alignment. The cover support screws greatly help to reduce this." end quote.
In my opinion it surely can't hurt

 

sorry, IMO the TA girdle is the biggest rip off on the market. it is USELESS on a 10 bolt rear!!!!
i have worked on MANY 10 bolts and i have NEVER seen one break where the girdle "adds support". u know why, because it just doesnt really happen. the 10 bolt doesnt put that much pressure on the bearings. the weakness is in the axles in the 10 bolt (and the diff)

the 12 bolts are a little different. it puts more pressure on the caps/bearings than the 10 bolt. so in my experience........the TA girdle is a waste.

do a search on here and see how many people have broken anything other than axles,ring and pinion, or diff on a 10 bolt and see for yourself.