how hard are Drag Radials on the Diff / Trans?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
how hard are Drag Radials on the Diff / Trans?
Hi,
I am considering purchasing a Z06 that I know has been drag raced and probably with both F1 SC's and also drag radials, to get the best 60's possible.
I am worried about what those low 60's do to the diff and the trans (this is an '02--alum shift fork also). With my C4 I refused to use DR's for this reason.
How strong are the C5 Diff and Trans? Can they take 100 passes early in life (say at 5k-25k mi) and still get a long life (say 90k mi total), if well maintained (fluid wise) at the time of the drag racing?
Thanks
I am considering purchasing a Z06 that I know has been drag raced and probably with both F1 SC's and also drag radials, to get the best 60's possible.
I am worried about what those low 60's do to the diff and the trans (this is an '02--alum shift fork also). With my C4 I refused to use DR's for this reason.
How strong are the C5 Diff and Trans? Can they take 100 passes early in life (say at 5k-25k mi) and still get a long life (say 90k mi total), if well maintained (fluid wise) at the time of the drag racing?
Thanks
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Vette Diffs
Diff leaks on the drivers side inspection plate are common place. Also, leaks at the axle output shaft seals are common as well. However the units themselves are pretty tough. If its a big concern, you can have a hardened drivers-side output shaft installed (if not already done). I own a 01 Z06 that has been Dragged and Circle tracked. It does have a minor leak, but they are tough to seal. On the positive side the diffs are equally tough to break. Read through the forum and you'll see total failure is rare. If you are looking at an 01 Z06, make sure it has had the oil rings replaced if the vin serial # is less than 30000. Good Luck
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by Silver Z06 Driver
Diff leaks on the drivers side inspection plate are common place. Also, leaks at the axle output shaft seals are common as well. However the units themselves are pretty tough. If its a big concern, you can have a hardened drivers-side output shaft installed (if not already done). I own a 01 Z06 that has been Dragged and Circle tracked. It does have a minor leak, but they are tough to seal. On the positive side the diffs are equally tough to break. Read through the forum and you'll see total failure is rare. If you are looking at an 01 Z06, make sure it has had the oil rings replaced if the vin serial # is less than 30000. Good Luck
How about the trans? Anyone?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
Likes: 1,549
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
Just the feed back I was looking for, Thanks. I am concerned with the strength, whether they can really handle 100-200-300-400 passes at the drag strip and some of those with drag radials. You are loading the metal of the gears, etc, literally.
How about the trans? Anyone?
How about the trans? Anyone?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
My personal opinion, pass on the car. There are too many out there to choose from to take one that has had the living snot beat out of it. I know someone putting up a 02 Z06 that is the opposite, 2,100 pampered miles, never seen rain. Just my opinion though 
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: Placentia CA
IMHO The guy running the throttle and clutch will have much more to do with trans/diff life than what kind of tires are on the car. Like stated above it’s not too hard to find low mileage pampered C5’s so unless you too are going to race this car (and the price is way good) why would you buy it knowing the use it’s had?
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by RonSS
IMHO The guy running the throttle and clutch will have much more to do with trans/diff life than what kind of tires are on the car. Like stated above it’s not too hard to find low mileage pampered C5’s so unless you too are going to race this car (and the price is way good) why would you buy it knowing the use it’s had?
Price is important to me and also how the car was treated and maintained, and the drag raced cars (even with 300+ passes) were maintained and driven by people who knew how (not the young guys for whom it's the first C5).
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
ttt? How tough are the C5 Z06 diffs?
Last edited by dwjz06; Sep 9, 2006 at 09:15 PM.
