C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

sheared rear spindle.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 08:42 AM
  #1  
WESCH's Avatar
WESCH
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Default sheared rear spindle.

Hi

A friends 79 lost it's thrust at a 1/4 mile racing beginning.
He launched and the Vette didn't moove, this was a non professional race on a old US airport in Germany ( Bitburg ) where this event is done once a month and everybody can join.
His 79 Vette is has a 350 GOODWRENCH engine with the original auto tranny. I think a 3.08 rear.
Well, not a lot of power to get this:



Is this a normal weak point ? Shouldn't the shaft U-joint straps give first ?

I think he was lucky this didn't happen on the highway with 80 MPH or more.

Günther

Last edited by WESCH; Jun 5, 2005 at 10:32 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 09:04 AM
  #2  
Gordonm's Avatar
Gordonm
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Default

Not a normal weak point but plenty have broken at this joint. I have always worried about his myself when drag racing.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 09:06 AM
  #3  
an81shark's Avatar
an81shark
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,889
Likes: 0
From: I've got wood IL
Default

Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 09:48 AM
  #4  
007-8's Avatar
007-8
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey FL.
Default

A little bubble gum and duct tape no problem, also might want to grease that wheel bearing.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 09:52 AM
  #5  
rihwoods's Avatar
rihwoods
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Default

What if ?? The bearing bound up ???
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 10:07 AM
  #6  
007-8's Avatar
007-8
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey FL.
Default

My buddies 69 comaro's wheel bearing siezed. I don't think it would of done that. Bearings have a series of events they usually follow.

1st: they howl.
2nd: they smoke.
3rd: they melt.

That's just my expierence with them.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 10:20 AM
  #7  
rihwoods's Avatar
rihwoods
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by 007-8
My buddies 69 comaro's wheel bearing siezed. I don't think it would of done that. Bearings have a series of events they usually follow.

1st: they howl.
2nd: they smoke.
3rd: they melt.

That's just my expierence with them.
True enough....This is why I never have dragged raced my Vette.Don't trust the stock rear....just autocrossed...
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 10:27 AM
  #8  
007-8's Avatar
007-8
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey FL.
Default

Originally Posted by rihwoods
True enough....This is why I never have dragged raced my Vette.Don't trust the stock rear....just autocrossed...
Vet's have to race, it's their nature.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 10:30 AM
  #9  
WESCH's Avatar
WESCH
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Default

Hi

Originally Posted by 007-8
A little bubble gum and duct tape no problem, also might want to grease that wheel bearing.
The bearing does not need any grease anymore as it will be of course replaced, together with the spindle. But your right, it looks pretty dry.

The bearings are not seized, nor did they have any play. Possibly been redone not too long ago. The Vette is only for 1 Year in my friends posession, so we don't know.

I guess, once the spindle breaks, only the pressed in bearings keep the wheel ( a while ) in situe, but who knows for how long while making a nice 180 on a highway at elevated speeds.

Günther
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 10:55 AM
  #10  
LiveandLetDrive's Avatar
LiveandLetDrive
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Default

Slicks, I'm guessing?

-Chris
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 11:01 AM
  #11  
Eddie 70's Avatar
Eddie 70
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

That may have had previous damage to it and it just took the drag launch to finish it off. Good thing it did not happen on the Autobahn. That could have been really disastrous.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2005 | 04:34 PM
  #12  
redvetracr's Avatar
redvetracr
Race Director
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Default

Gunther, I have a couple of brand new "NOS GM" rear spindles if your friend is interested. BUT e-mail DIRECT!! redvetracr@msn.com
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To sheared rear spindle.





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:44 AM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE