Exploding differential
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Has anyone else experianced the 2005 exploding differential besides me. and the one in Vette magazine. I had My performance 2005 Z-51 Corvette at the drag strip back in Oct. And I thought I would make a time run to see what it would do in a 1/4 mile. Boy was surprised when I brought the R's up to 2500, not to smoke the stock tires to much to launch. I let out the clutch and BANG. The rear end exploded. I mean EXPLODED. 4 peices. 2 months out of warranty, and this was the only year for the weak rearend. GM replaced it in 06 with a stronger one. My Vette is stock and this happened. Did the Z06 have a stronger rearend in 05 ? How do the Vettes with mods hold together ? GM should have told me not to drive my car hard if it had this defect. Because they won't stand behind it now that it was 2 months out of warranty even though it has only 16,000 miles on it.
beefy one for cheap that will fit
He's good Guy to buy from as well!http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-p...4-10-diff.html
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Dec 24, 2008 at 04:35 PM.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I believe the differential was slightly changed with the 2006 model year but FWIW, I've heard of blown differentials with other model year C6's as well. High RPM drops off the line are hard on a car especially when coupled with tires that grip (such as DR's). Tire spin may not be conducive to low 1/4 mile times but it sure does save your car. Many serious C6 drag racers do a little modifying and use a C5 differential because it's far cheaper to replace if it blows.
There's not much need for me to do any high RPM launches on a road course but I've done a few over the years (just for fun). I put down a fair amount of power and my 2005 differential has held up fine. I think you were just unlucky for the most part. If you're really serious about drag racing there are things you can do to beef-up your drive-line. You might check with Dynotech Engineering (DTE). Good luck.
Unless its changed since I last saw one, the DTE strut for the C5 is far beefier than the one made for the C6. To the best of my knowledge the DTE strut will do nothing to prevent your differential from detonating...from cracking. What it may do is prevent consequential damage to the transmission if the differential should blow. If you think that's a concern, you might look to DTE for a hardened differential.
There's not much need for me to do any high RPM launches on a road course but I've done a few over the years (just for fun). I put down a fair amount of power and my 2005 differential has held up fine. I think you were just unlucky for the most part. If you're really serious about drag racing there are things you can do to beef-up your drive-line. You might check with Dynotech Engineering (DTE). Good luck.
I'm installing a DTE brace after Christmas in the hopes that it will keep the diff in one piece. After that I'll be switching to R compound tires so I may break the output shaft(s) but I can deal with that and replace those if/when that happens. Been there did that on my '99.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Call me about your 05 diff......
Has anyone else experianced the 2005 exploding differential besides me. and the one in Vette magazine. I had My performance 2005 Z-51 Corvette at the drag strip back in Oct. And I thought I would make a time run to see what it would do in a 1/4 mile. Boy was surprised when I brought the R's up to 2500, not to smoke the stock tires to much to launch. I let out the clutch and BANG. The rear end exploded. I mean EXPLODED. 4 peices. 2 months out of warranty, and this was the only year for the weak rearend. GM replaced it in 06 with a stronger one. My Vette is stock and this happened. Did the Z06 have a stronger rearend in 05 ? How do the Vettes with mods hold together ? GM should have told me not to drive my car hard if it had this defect. Because they won't stand behind it now that it was 2 months out of warranty even though it has only 16,000 miles on it.
Inside of a day or so, we'll be outlining (with pics) the buildup of a really nice 05 that suffered the same failure you had.
Any time we build a supercharged or cammed 05 stick, we ALWAYS recommend our HD 08' Diff conversion.
Additionally, keep watch for a new product from Corvettes of Westchester which will also help put an end the the EXPLODING rear ends.
Chuck CoW
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
There is a menber in todays for sale forum with a RPM brand new
beefy one for cheap that will fit He's good Guy to buy from as well!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-p...4-10-diff.html
beefy one for cheap that will fit
He's good Guy to buy from as well!http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-p...4-10-diff.html
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Has anyone ever had a bellhousing break on thier C6 or C5 ? My C6 broke the bellhousing just by powershifting to 2nd. And don't tell me not to beat on my Corvette, because if you can't power shift once in a while, you should own a 4 door monkey crap brown Buick.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Read this thread.....and I'll show you the CURE!
Read this thread and I'll show you the cure.....Stay TUNED!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...m-factory.html
The thread will go on for a week or so....keep watch.
Chuck CoW
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...m-factory.html
The thread will go on for a week or so....keep watch.
Chuck CoW
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Read this thread and I'll show you the cure.....Stay TUNED!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...m-factory.html
The thread will go on for a week or so....keep watch.
Chuck CoW
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...m-factory.html
The thread will go on for a week or so....keep watch.
Chuck CoW
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Stay tuned!
Keep Watch!~
Chuck CoW
