Advice Needed: Additional Maintenance While Rebuilding Torque Tube
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
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From: New Jersey
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St. Jude Donor '25
Advice Needed: Additional Maintenance While Rebuilding Torque Tube
I'm in the process of having my torque tube rebuilt and will also be replacing the clutch, even though it has only 32k miles on it (but, as they say, life goes on). The shop handling the rebuild will source the clutch parts, but they've advised me to find and supply any additional parts needed for the job.
Could anyone share current best practices for this type of maintenance? Specifically, are there any other components or parts I should consider replacing while the torque tube is being rebuilt? Also, I would appreciate recommendations for reliable sources or brands for these parts.
Thanks in advance for your help and advice!
Could anyone share current best practices for this type of maintenance? Specifically, are there any other components or parts I should consider replacing while the torque tube is being rebuilt? Also, I would appreciate recommendations for reliable sources or brands for these parts.
Thanks in advance for your help and advice!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,768
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
The best couplers are GM, but many reports of BMW couplers being of similar quality. Dorman couplers are generally considered junk, and there have been a number of reports of Dormans failing early. With an '03, you need the 12mm couplers and associated bearings. A quick check of the google finds the best bearing kit I've seen, $140 with bearings, seals, and slinger -- and SKF bearings no less. I seriously doubt you will find a better option for the bearing side of things:
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,018
Likes: 1,433
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '25
The best couplers are GM, but many reports of BMW couplers being of similar quality. Dorman couplers are generally considered junk, and there have been a number of reports of Dormans failing early. With an '03, you need the 12mm couplers and associated bearings. A quick check of the google finds the best bearing kit I've seen, $140 with bearings, seals, and slinger -- and SKF bearings no less. I seriously doubt you will find a better option for the bearing side of things:
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
C5 (1997–2004) New Parts Corvette Parts Center
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I replaced my torque tube a few years back. I tried to get a shop that specializes in drive shaft rebuilds, and custom drive shafts. They turned me away, saying that yes they can re-build it, but that they need a special rig to balance the torque tube. Since they dont get many requests for corvette rebuild, it would not be ecconomical for them to buy the balancing rig. I was able to have a shop order a brand new one already balanced from the factory. The cost for a brand new torque tube was not much more than re-building, and luckily GM still makes them(at the time). My original failed at 180,000 miles. I am now at 250,000 miles. My advice is make sure the shop re-building youre torque tub balances the thing properly, to avoid wobbling, and premature failure. Good opportunity to replace rear main seal too.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,768
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
Thanks for the info, I see that C&S also has the kits, along with the rear main seal I was looking at. That might also be an option for me.
C5 (1997–2004) New Parts Corvette Parts Center
C5 (1997–2004) New Parts Corvette Parts Center
I replaced my torque tube a few years back. I tried to get a shop that specializes in drive shaft rebuilds, and custom drive shafts. They turned me away, saying that yes they can re-build it, but that they need a special rig to balance the torque tube. Since they don't get many requests for corvette rebuild, it would not be economical for them to buy the balancing rig. I was able to have a shop order a brand new one already balanced from the factory. The cost for a brand new torque tube was not much more than re-building, and luckily GM still makes them(at the time). My original failed at 180,000 miles. I am now at 250,000 miles. My advice is make sure the shop re-building your torque tub balances the thing properly, to avoid wobbling, and premature failure. Good opportunity to replace rear main seal too.
The rear main seal is a very good idea -- in that same vein, a remote bleeder is an absolute "must", if you don't already have one. This is the first time I've heard of re-balancing the tube on a rebuild, though there have been reports of people losing the assembly orientation, which could definitely have an effect. Generally, it's a matter of match marking the input and output shafts to center shaft, so that the orientation remains the same.
I would think it possible to assemble the center shaft and have it balanced in a manner very similar to a normal drive shaft prior to final assembly in the outer tube. Might take a trip to a drive shaft balance shop to find out. It's also important to make sure the couplers face the correct way -- there are arrows molded into the rubber, though I fear I have forgotten which way the arrows face!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 758
Likes: 366
I bought everything from Tick performance when I did my old C5
I used their couplers and I still know the guy that bought that car. No issues.
The TT rebuild is pretty straightforward, but I used a local well respected driveline shop to balance everything. It’s cheap insurance IMO vs just aligning the bolts all back in the holes the came from.
I used their couplers and I still know the guy that bought that car. No issues.
The TT rebuild is pretty straightforward, but I used a local well respected driveline shop to balance everything. It’s cheap insurance IMO vs just aligning the bolts all back in the holes the came from.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,018
Likes: 1,433
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
The best couplers are GM, but many reports of BMW couplers being of similar quality. Dorman couplers are generally considered junk, and there have been a number of reports of Dormans failing early. With an '03, you need the 12mm couplers and associated bearings. A quick check of the google finds the best bearing kit I've seen, $140 with bearings, seals, and slinger -- and SKF bearings no less. I seriously doubt you will find a better option for the bearing side of things:
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
https://www.txdrivetrain.com/product...d-bearing-kit/
Rock auto has the GM couplers at $141 each -- the German BMW version may be as good for less, but too much risk for my money.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ex+joint,10701
