Ok...Just wondering...Every one is saying the stock rearend is weak...but what makes it weak? What actually breaks when it gives out? Is it the differential or the axles?

Thanks
James

 

Neither, typically it is the gears. The ring gear is only 7.5" in diameter and the teeth are small especially when compared to a 9" or 12 bolt (9" diameter/8.875" diameter ring gears respectively). When you make some seriouls HP and/or have good traction the small teeth get a lot of stress in them and crack, break off, or shatter completely.

That is what normally goes wrong; I've heard of axle shafts snapping, but most often it's the gears that can't handle the power.

 

Awesome...thanks...do you think 400hp is enough to do the job?

Nice sig by the way...Im an engineer too...so I feel ya

 

400hp is enough to break them if you're launching hard on slicks with a well-prepped track. That's right on the edge of what the stock gears can typically handle.

That said, some people pull 1.5-1.6 60' times on stock rear ends, and others break them with stock LS1s on street tires. YMMV, BOCTAOE.

 

I broke mine with only very-mild bolt-ons... like headers and intake and Drag-radials... I mean I broke mine 3 times before I said F-it and went with a Strange 12-bolt.

 

I've broken mine twice with a fairly mild bolt on LT1 on street tires. It's luck of the draw. It tends to be more prone on the T56 cars since the auto's load the gears.