How strong really is the corvette rear end?
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
How strong really is the corvette rear end?
I have read numerous posts on how weak the corvette rear ends are and in particular the axles. I have seen the axles and honestly I don't understand how these things can last at all. They are soooooooooooo thin!
I know lots of guys say to do the hardened output shafts.
My question is, how strong are these rear ends. When I had my C4 I never had to worry about launching the car for fear of breaking a U joint or twisting a half shaft.
Will the C5 snap if you tried to launch the car. Or have people been over exaggerating the truth because of their maybe bad personal experience?
I would love to hear some points of views.
I know lots of guys say to do the hardened output shafts.
My question is, how strong are these rear ends. When I had my C4 I never had to worry about launching the car for fear of breaking a U joint or twisting a half shaft.
Will the C5 snap if you tried to launch the car. Or have people been over exaggerating the truth because of their maybe bad personal experience?
I would love to hear some points of views.
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7
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Snaping the Diff
You guys are scaring me, I launch my 99 at every change the anti slip stops the tires from turning and when I want to turn it will do that too. Unless I put slicks on the back to get enough bit to twist something I can't see how this could happen?? Clue me in on how this could bapen will ya? so I don't bereak something.
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
Likes: 88
From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
anti slip?
You guys are scaring me, I launch my 99 at every change the anti slip stops the tires from turning and when I want to turn it will do that too. Unless I put slicks on the back to get enough bit to twist something I can't see how this could happen?? Clue me in on how this could bapen will ya? so I don't bereak something.
When you truely are launching your car, you defeat or turn this off. Push and hold the traction control button for 5 seconds. The car will go into competitive mode allowing you to disable the portion of the system that prevents the rear wheels from having fuel cutoff. You still get the benefit of having the stability control though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
I haven't heard of anybody breaking C5 axles???
I have heard of C6 Z06 owners breaking axles but the main problems with the C5 are the output shafts in the differential. I do believe some people ""big deal"" them because they know of someone who had a friend that broke one, if you know what I mean.
The stories I have heard and seen on this forum are mainly people who have upped there horsepower and are launching hard (5000 +RPM) with drag radials.
If your drag racing a stock or fairly stock C5 then I wouldn't worry about it but if your going to be replacing or rebuilding a differential, then I would try to get the hardened output shaft installed at that time.
I have heard of C6 Z06 owners breaking axles but the main problems with the C5 are the output shafts in the differential. I do believe some people ""big deal"" them because they know of someone who had a friend that broke one, if you know what I mean.
The stories I have heard and seen on this forum are mainly people who have upped there horsepower and are launching hard (5000 +RPM) with drag radials.
If your drag racing a stock or fairly stock C5 then I wouldn't worry about it but if your going to be replacing or rebuilding a differential, then I would try to get the hardened output shaft installed at that time.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I haven't heard of anybody breaking C5 axles???
I have heard of C6 Z06 owners breaking axles but the main problems with the C5 are the output shafts in the differential. I do believe some people ""big deal"" them because they know of someone who had a friend that broke one, if you know what I mean.
The stories I have heard and seen on this forum are mainly people who have upped there horsepower and are launching hard (5000 +RPM) with drag radials.
If your drag racing a stock or fairly stock C5 then I wouldn't worry about it but if your going to be replacing or rebuilding a differential, then I would try to get the hardened output shaft installed at that time.
I have heard of C6 Z06 owners breaking axles but the main problems with the C5 are the output shafts in the differential. I do believe some people ""big deal"" them because they know of someone who had a friend that broke one, if you know what I mean.
The stories I have heard and seen on this forum are mainly people who have upped there horsepower and are launching hard (5000 +RPM) with drag radials.
If your drag racing a stock or fairly stock C5 then I wouldn't worry about it but if your going to be replacing or rebuilding a differential, then I would try to get the hardened output shaft installed at that time.
The axles are fine on the C5. It tends to be one of the output shafts (forgot which side) that breaks. I had a hardened output shaft installed with my H/C work and haven't had any problems. I think it is also a bigger problem for stick shift more than automatic.
Thread Starter
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
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From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
Ok now confused....
What is the output shaft? I thought it was another name for the axle or CV shaft. Then thought I had mistaken and it is actually the driveshaft from the rear of the differential to the engine. But now, seeing that Chaase said plural (shafts) Iam really confused.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The C5 and C6 differentials have short shafts that go into the side gears and extend out to where the 1/2 shafts or CV joints connect. The C5 1/2 shaft has an inner spline and then the outer part rides on a bearing.
This is different than a lot of fwd cars where the 1/2 shafts have an outer spline and plug right into the side gears of the differential.
The other place where the C5 is weak is the transmission to differential adapter and the output shaft of the transmission. I don't think this will be a problem on a stock car as long as you are not wheel hopping it but I'll let others with more experience comment.
Peter
This is different than a lot of fwd cars where the 1/2 shafts have an outer spline and plug right into the side gears of the differential.
The other place where the C5 is weak is the transmission to differential adapter and the output shaft of the transmission. I don't think this will be a problem on a stock car as long as you are not wheel hopping it but I'll let others with more experience comment.
Peter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
You should use the search function like I did to research this issue.
Inside the differential there are two output shafts. The one on the left tends to break more often because it is longer and hence subject to more stress.
The real problem with these cars is wheel hop which can lead to broken differentials and transmissions since the main shaft of the transmission passes all the way through the differential.
Also, over the years GM has improved the case design. The original case had 1 rib and the most recent cases (2004) have 3 ribs, which results in better structural integrity.
If you want to know how to prevent wheel hop look up a guy named "Ranger".
Hope that helps.
Inside the differential there are two output shafts. The one on the left tends to break more often because it is longer and hence subject to more stress.
The real problem with these cars is wheel hop which can lead to broken differentials and transmissions since the main shaft of the transmission passes all the way through the differential.
Also, over the years GM has improved the case design. The original case had 1 rib and the most recent cases (2004) have 3 ribs, which results in better structural integrity.
If you want to know how to prevent wheel hop look up a guy named "Ranger".
Hope that helps.
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