How do you know if your 10 bolt is broken? Last week I went to the drag strip and on my 4th run shifting into 3rd something broke. Don't recall the initial noise but immediately after slamming the shifter into 3rd all I heard was clank...clank...clank...clank...clank, as I went down the strip (thinking I snapped my driveshaft). I proceeded to shift into neutral and coast down the track. Next a loud bang and my car came to a violent stop as if I had slammed on the brakes. I was like WTF . I sat for a minute, put the car back in gear and tried to exit off the track. But again within a few feet the car let out another loud bang and and stopped me dead in my tracks. I swear I heard and felt the break coming from the tranny.

After a long minute I finally was able to get the car off the track. Took a look under the bird to check the driveshaft and it was fine. Sat back in the car, went through all the gears to check the tranny. Sure enough shifter went into all gears, which left me puzzled. So let me know if I blew the rear or what you all think I did to my baby.

 

Well how did you get your car home?! Towed, I'm assuming??

Jack up the back end, get underneath and disconnect the driveshaft from the pinion (just those four 7/16" bolts holding the "straps" on the U-joint), slide the driveshaft forward out of the way (it'll shove further into the tranny) and then try to turn the diff by hand ... either by the pinion, or even just with the wheels. If it turns easy, and doesn't make noise, then you could start to consider the transmission. Chances are though, you blew the gears and/or the carrier . For what it takes, pop the cover off the diff (make sure you've got a drain pan under it) and just check it out inside. Damage inside a diff is never very hard to see/find.

If that doesn't turn up the problem, then you may need to tear into the tranny .

 

Sounds like you broke some ring/pinion gear teeth that are getting jammed up in the rear. A good reason why it would feel like the tension would coming from the tranny is because it would be, if the rear gets locked up the tranny is still trying to create motion and putting that stress on the front driveshaft yoke.

 

Exactly my thoughts. Just wanted to see if anyone had something to say that I may have not been considering. Thx though.

 

Popped off the diff cover today and saw 6 ring gear teeth completely sheared off. So question answered there. Man I still can't see how that much damamged occured. Oh well, time to fix what's broken.

 

You're slamming gears on a T56... the destroyer of 10 bolts. That's how that much damage occured.

 

True but when I had the stock clutch things were fine. Wasn't until I put the Mcleod twin disc clutch kit in that I started breaking things. This clutch is nasty, ripps 1st-4th hard. I love it! Time to slap in an aftermarket rearend.

 

Don't worry, even with the stock, you'd still wind up shattering the 10 bolt. Friend of mine had a '99 SS and decimated his twice before he sold the car.