Differential upgrade
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Differential upgrade
Looking for some opinions on what differential I should buy. I have a completely stock 2001 c5 with the a4 and the 3:15 ratio. The car has 55k on the clock and I am looking to improve acceleration for some SOTP improvement. I do not want to run drag radials just good non run flat street tires. I just got my yank 3200ss stall converter and plan to install it before spring. Since I have everything apart I was going to upgrade the differential to a 3:42 ratio. As I understand it the ZO6 diff has shot peened gears as noted on the tag with (sp) but i don't know if the zo6 always have 3 rib cases. There have been a few on ebay that say they are zo6 but have 2 rib cases in the pics. If i just buy a 3:42 with a 1 rib case non zo6 i can get those for much cheaper then the zo6. So could you guys give me your opinions if the zo6 diff is worth the extra money for my application. In the future i plan to do h/c/i and Long tubes but that's about it. Also could anyone with the 3:42 and ss3200 tell me how there traction is with street tires.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 485
Likes: 90
From: '97 Coupe & '07 Coupe in Allentown, PA
The first mod I did on my stock '97 with A4 was to swap in a Z06 diff and Yank SS3600. Big upgrade in SOTP feel. With sticky NT05 street tires and traction control off, I could break the rear tires loose. Couldn't do that with the 2.73 gears. The SS torque converters are street friendly. Even my SS3600 drives fine around town. With drag radials, I can smash the pedal on take-off. With street tires, it's more of a squeeze on the pedal. The street tires are only limiting if you need a better 60' time. I think your setup will be fine with street tires.
I cannot comment on durability between number of ribs or between shot-peened or not.
I cannot comment on durability between number of ribs or between shot-peened or not.
