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Getting into the world of old Corvettes. (Sounds crazy when talking about the C5 but wow I can't believe they are 25 years old already) And now I'm reading about potential torque tube issues. How probable is this on a low mileage early production C5? I know they upgraded them in 2000 or 2001 but what about before that? Just another thing I need to worry about when looking at these cars I guess lol
Technically it is all wear items. Eventually (whether due to mileage or age) things will dry up or wear. This will be escalated the harder the car is ran or the more torque/shock that is applied through the system. On a lower mile car, you should be alright for awhile, but if you will be getting on the car hard or if you ever change the clutch (assuming it is a stick car), then just address the tube rebuild then. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much on it.
Technically it is all wear items. Eventually (whether due to mileage or age) things will dry up or wear. This will be escalated the harder the car is ran or the more torque/shock that is applied through the system. On a lower mile car, you should be alright for awhile, but if you will be getting on the car hard or if you ever change the clutch (assuming it is a stick car), then just address the tube rebuild then. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much on it.
Ok good information thank you. Yes manual only for me!
Getting into the world of old Corvettes. (Sounds crazy when talking about the C5 but wow I can't believe they are 25 years old already) And now I'm reading about potential torque tube issues. How probable is this on a low mileage early production C5? I know they upgraded them in 2000 or 2001 but what about before that? Just another thing I need to worry about when looking at these cars I guess lol
If you car is stock then drive it and have fun....If you have performance mods that actually matter and the car has to support a good deal of power\torque then it will be a maintenance item. My 1999 with very low miles was fine, but when I added a SC and rebuilt the tranny we also changed out the 10mm guibos\couplers. They did have hairline cracks from what I was told.....
1998 coupe. 431 rwhp. Four launches and carnage. Fix was a newer 01-04 from RPM they had serviceable with new brgs and rubber couplers they had in stock. So far so good.
Edit: Stock car with no strip time would most likely never break. In theory anyway.
1998 coupe. 431 rwhp. Four launches and carnage. Fix was a newer 01-04 from RPM they had serviceable with new brgs and rubber couplers they had in stock. So far so good.
Edit: Stock car with no strip time would most likely never break. In theory anyway.
...and that probably represents one of the most infrequent failures in the C5 driveline. It's almost always the differential that gives up the ghost. I rebuilt my stock 99 torque tube when I did my supercharger in 2007. 500HP/530TQ....and lot's of very unforgiving hard launches at Byron on sticky drag radials. I did install an RPM differential at the same time though.
...and that probably represents one of the most infrequent failures in the C5 driveline. It's almost always the differential that gives up the ghost. I rebuilt my stock 99 torque tube when I did my supercharger in 2007. 500HP/530TQ....and lot's of very unforgiving hard launches at Byron on sticky drag radials. I did install an RPM differential at the same time though.
Sure is. I do not run at the strip anymore. Just had the vortech head rebuilt because a bearing was howling and passing oil. It's a great driver....just over 83k on the clock.
My 2001 A4 had 28 days on road course tracks, 10,000 WOT 2-3 upshifts and off throttle downshifts, 121,000 miles on these torque tube couplers when they were replaced. No symptoms were noticed but it was time.
Last edited by jim993; Apr 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM.
Reason: Mt changed to My
My 2001 A4 had 28 days on road course tracks, 10,000 WOT 2-3 upshifts and off throttle downshifts, 121,000 miles on these torque tube couplers when they were replaced. No symptoms were noticed but it was time.
Maybe mine look similar Jim, I only have half as many track days, mines a 2004 with 87,000 miles on her.
Maybe mine look similar Jim, I only have half as many track days, mines a 2004 with 87,000 miles on her.
My thought is that none of us know what the couplers look like unless they are removed for inspection. The Manual trans couplers are probably stronger and with 12 mm bolts instead of 10 mm. but take more shock loads than an A4 will generate.
The unsaid part of my above post is that after having the original torque tube rebuilt, an annoying vibration resulted 3,800 through 4,800 rpm so it got rebuilt twice more by different shops. Vibration was lessened but still there. All three shops insisted that the vibration was from the torque tube -- so the following is on order. No couplers. if it vibrates at least it will not break.
early C5 torque tube issues probability?
