Can the Guts of one C5 Rear Differential be Transferred to Another Case?
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2017
Location: Aiken South Carolina
Posts: 52
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can the Guts of one C5 Rear Differential be Transferred to Another Case?
Does anyone know if I can directly swap the guts from a 3.42 manual one-rib differential into a three-rib case whether it's a 2.73 or 3.15 without having to worry about all of the fun and games of measuring for spacers/shims? Seems like it would but wanted to confirm before I spent the cash. I bought a trans/diff brace for peace of mind to go with the 3.42 one-rib I got from a 9,000 mile C5, but am not opposed to getting a three-rib case and swapping everything over to give me that extra bit of confidence in the setup. My C5 still has less than 27,000 miles on the odometer, but I'm working on it lol. Just want to do the diff swap once. I did a search for this, but it seems everyone does rebuilds. Thanks in advance!
#3
Safety Car
you won't find any 3 rib cases that came with factory 2.73 gears....or 3.15 either.... the 3 rib cases were Z06 with 3.42 ratio..... your single rib inneards will fit in the 3 rib case NP, but you'll check clearances and may have to shim up....
#4
Advanced
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2017
Location: Aiken South Carolina
Posts: 52
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My 2002 has a three rib case and 2.73 gears with the RPO Code to match. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a three rib 3.15 at a good price on that bidding site so now I just have to decide which one I want to use and/or swap the gears between the cases if I can do so without shimming.
#8
Advanced
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2017
Location: Aiken South Carolina
Posts: 52
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’m thinking that I can swap the gear, pinion, and side covers to make it work being that the bearing races are pressed into the side covers with the appropriate shims. The only variance would be the case itself. Looking at both the 3.15 three rib and the 3.42 one rib, the inside of the three rib has a much more finished look to it. The one rib has a rougher cast look to it on the inside and out.
Last edited by BigOlly83; 10-11-2018 at 12:59 AM.
#9
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Anthony TX
Posts: 32,736
Received 2,180 Likes
on
1,583 Posts
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
OH'BOY!!
DIFF ALIGNMENT/SET UP!
IMHO ,,,,,, Anytime that you remove the pinion from the case and make changes, you ALWAYS need to make sure that the pinion to ring gear depth and ring gear to pinion backlash clearances are with in spec. Every case is a little bit different.
It would SUCK to install everything and have a serious whine or too much/not enough ring to pinion backlash and damage the gears....
When we the owners make our OWN differential set up corrections, the problem comes with getting the proper shim kit parts. They come in big sets and are expensive. You also end up pressing the pinion and side cover bearing races apart numerous times to get the shim set at the correct clearances. You also need the proper Kent Moore or equivalent set up tools.
Call Rick Kim at RKT56 Performance. He will be happy to discus the details with you..
Its NOT that you CANT do it, it just difficult to do properly!
Bill
BC
DIFF ALIGNMENT/SET UP!
IMHO ,,,,,, Anytime that you remove the pinion from the case and make changes, you ALWAYS need to make sure that the pinion to ring gear depth and ring gear to pinion backlash clearances are with in spec. Every case is a little bit different.
It would SUCK to install everything and have a serious whine or too much/not enough ring to pinion backlash and damage the gears....
When we the owners make our OWN differential set up corrections, the problem comes with getting the proper shim kit parts. They come in big sets and are expensive. You also end up pressing the pinion and side cover bearing races apart numerous times to get the shim set at the correct clearances. You also need the proper Kent Moore or equivalent set up tools.
Call Rick Kim at RKT56 Performance. He will be happy to discus the details with you..
Its NOT that you CANT do it, it just difficult to do properly!
Bill
BC
#10
Advanced
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2017
Location: Aiken South Carolina
Posts: 52
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OH'BOY!!
DIFF ALIGNMENT/SET UP!
IMHO ,,,,,, Anytime that you remove the pinion from the case and make changes, you ALWAYS need to make sure that the pinion to ring gear depth and ring gear to pinion backlash clearances are with in spec. Every case is a little bit different.
It would SUCK to install everything and have a serious whine or too much/not enough ring to pinion backlash and damage the gears....
When we the owners make our OWN differential set up corrections, the problem comes with getting the proper shim kit parts. They come in big sets and are expensive. You also end up pressing the pinion and side cover bearing races apart numerous times to get the shim set at the correct clearances. You also need the proper Kent Moore or equivalent set up tools.
Call Rick Kim at RKT56 Performance. He will be happy to discus the details with you..
Its NOT that you CANT do it, it just difficult to do properly!
Bill
BC
DIFF ALIGNMENT/SET UP!
IMHO ,,,,,, Anytime that you remove the pinion from the case and make changes, you ALWAYS need to make sure that the pinion to ring gear depth and ring gear to pinion backlash clearances are with in spec. Every case is a little bit different.
It would SUCK to install everything and have a serious whine or too much/not enough ring to pinion backlash and damage the gears....
When we the owners make our OWN differential set up corrections, the problem comes with getting the proper shim kit parts. They come in big sets and are expensive. You also end up pressing the pinion and side cover bearing races apart numerous times to get the shim set at the correct clearances. You also need the proper Kent Moore or equivalent set up tools.
Call Rick Kim at RKT56 Performance. He will be happy to discus the details with you..
Its NOT that you CANT do it, it just difficult to do properly!
Bill
BC