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DTE Tranny Brace
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
I lost a Stage 2 DTE rear end with a brace on. There are one or two pictures on here showing the incredible amount of damage that occured to the diff. Zero damage to the transmission. I'd only had the rear on for 3 wks and it busted during a high rpm downshift on street tires so I think it was something in there....and I bought used.....so go figure.
Don't know if my experience speaks well for the brace or not....I mean the transmission didn't get damaged when it probably would have. I put the stock diff back in (with brace) and have been running it as hard as I please.
So I think the brace is worth it overall. However my experience with stock differentials has been better than built ones also. DTE has good customer support. When I called I don't remember if I got put right on the line with someone or if they had to call me back, but I remember speaking to one of the guys there. While they couldn't help me on the used diff, he was at least nice about it.
Don't know if my experience speaks well for the brace or not....I mean the transmission didn't get damaged when it probably would have. I put the stock diff back in (with brace) and have been running it as hard as I please.
So I think the brace is worth it overall. However my experience with stock differentials has been better than built ones also. DTE has good customer support. When I called I don't remember if I got put right on the line with someone or if they had to call me back, but I remember speaking to one of the guys there. While they couldn't help me on the used diff, he was at least nice about it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 250
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
how many $1000s of dollars do we put in our cars ?
I bought a DTE tranny brace and had ECS install it when they change my gears and clutch. I also had Doug add the harden output shaft.
I added the brace and the output shaft just in case I take it to the track. Street tires slip pretty easy and I wasnt to worried about stressing the drivetrain on street tires, and recently ( five years after my heads and cam package) I did my first burnout on the street.
I went with the theory, youve pretty much paid for the labor already, so while its apart, have the right parts installed.
Listen to what ECS tells you. You tell them what your going to do with your car, and they will tell you what they need.
I bought a DTE tranny brace and had ECS install it when they change my gears and clutch. I also had Doug add the harden output shaft.
I added the brace and the output shaft just in case I take it to the track. Street tires slip pretty easy and I wasnt to worried about stressing the drivetrain on street tires, and recently ( five years after my heads and cam package) I did my first burnout on the street.
I went with the theory, youve pretty much paid for the labor already, so while its apart, have the right parts installed.
Listen to what ECS tells you. You tell them what your going to do with your car, and they will tell you what they need.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Nassau NY
Had ECS change my rear gear ratio (3:42 to 3:90), stage 3 clutch, hardened output shaft and Trans brace (ECS makes their own). The peace of mind the brace brings is 10X the cost. Talk to Chris at ECS very knowledgeable and great to talk to. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
With the turn buckles properly tightened, you get the whine.
Try to loosen them up so there is close to ZERO clamping force on the rear/trans. Then see if the noise decreases.
IF,,,,you have been running it with gear whine for a while, the whine will most likely still be there because of abnormal gear wear. If the whine is significantly reduced or eliminated, discuss the problem further with DTE. With the additional info, they may have some more recommendations.
You may have a set up issue with your rearend that will not tolerate the additional preload when the brace is clamped properly.
BC
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 290
Likes: 5
From: St. Petersburg Florida
Anyways, 400 or so is cheap insurance when you look at the cost of things breaking, 1800 diff, 2500 trans, 5000 motor.
To me its simple math
Last edited by wvufan1965; Jan 6, 2010 at 01:02 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Are you still running the stock output shafts? I have some good work done to my car (H/C/I/E) and keep getting invites (in warm weather) up to Bud's Creek, MD just to see what she can run. I am worried that with a good 3000 drop on some DR's will snap my shaft.. What are your thoughts on this? I have a 2000 FRC.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 18,048
Likes: 53
From: long Island NY
The DTE brace will cost about $350.00 plus your labor to install - that is CHEAP insurance IMHO. It could save you a ton of repair bills later, so why take the risk? I put one on way before I modded my engine, just cause I was swapping the rear carrier and T/C - figured since I was in that area, I'd put the brace on, save myself some labor later, and cause I wanted to be able to use my power
To each his own, I think this topic was just debated a week or so ago, but I'd recommend putting it on - what do you have to loose - answer, $350.00 bucks.
To each his own, I think this topic was just debated a week or so ago, but I'd recommend putting it on - what do you have to loose - answer, $350.00 bucks.
350 is a very little bit of money if that shop is wrong,WHICH THEY ARE to take a chance.It is a fact that the union of tranny/diff is a twisting problem and if you look at the design you can see how it could work.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 367
Likes: 3
From: maple grove and North Port fl mn and now florida
Ive had mine since they came out. No whine and NO WHEELHOP. The wheelhop disappearred immediately after it was installed. That alone was worth the money. Put it on, you wont regret it....
