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Trying to decide what to do about my rear diff. It’s got a bad whine to it cruising on the interstate. Cars an 02 z06 with 120,000 miles on it. I’ve checked prices on getting it rebuilt, roughly around $1500 to $1700. Or for a little more money I could purchase a new unit, with a warranty. I always do my own work on my vehicles and have watched numerous vids on you tube. I feel 100% confident I could perform this task. However I don’t have all the specialty tools needed to complete it. I figured I’d have around $750 in the tools that I’d seldom if ever use again. What would you do rebuild the oem or replace it with a new 1?
Yes C5 and C6 diffs are very complex to dial in------If you can find a used Z06 diff with low miles i would look for that 1st
I would never try to rebuild one on my own---Also most rear end shops don't have the tools or expertise to rebulis one--so be carefull If you can afford it get a NEW one--- DONE DEAL no issues
Even if you had all the tools required, sometimes you need bearing shims to get the clearances and set up correct. To get the shims, you have to purchase a very expensive shim kit. When you are doing the set up, you need to test fit the differential parts and sometimes that requires pressing the bearing races in and out several times.
There are several well known Corvette Differential builders that have a very good reputation for reliability and warranty. I personally recommend Rick Kim who owns RK Performance out of Maryland. He is very experienced in C5 & C6 drivetrain repairs and service.
If you were planning to stick with 3,42s then I would buy a factory used one for around 600 too 750 depending on mileage. You can always sell your carrier and recoup some of the cost. I am not suggesting that you try to get get full price for yours knowing how bad it is...you can walk away doing this for a few hundred bucks.
Thanks for all the reply’s everyone. I’m an industrial maintenance machinist by trade, been in this field 22 years. Have access to a press and could probably fabricate the tooling needed to press bearings on and off. The thing is I have never worked on a type of diff that’s in our C5’s. I’m used to ford 9’ and what not. I’m prolly gonna just let someone rebuild it that knows what their doing and has the experience. It’d be less of a headache on my end. Thanks again.
Yeah Bill, I read all your posts about upgrading our rear diffs with c6 parts. I checked for broken Belleville washers, jacked up 1 rear tire and left other side on the ground, I could literally roll the lifted tire with very little resistance at all. It was the same on both sides. So I know the Belleville washers are totally shot. The odd thing is if I dump the clutch at 4000 rpm’s it’ll leave 2 solid black marks till I get out of it. The only symptoms it has is a steady whine under throttle, that increases with speed. And a bunch of metal came out of it when I changed the oil in it. Just a little bit of metal
Rear diff decisions
