If you've added power enhancers like Rick and I have (Maggie/Procharger) adding the DTE kit is indeed cheap insurance.
DTE Diff brace, is it worth it?
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
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From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
Yah, it's probably worth it in any case - but especially if you start adding power. Will it prevent a mishap if you light em up, get wheel hop and stay on the pedal? Most likely not - but we should know better than to let that happen anyway.
At my level of mods, it (and a hardened output shaft) was cheep insurance while I had the drivetrain out to do the clutch...
Rick
At my level of mods, it (and a hardened output shaft) was cheep insurance while I had the drivetrain out to do the clutch...
Rick
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
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St. Jude Donor '08
Drifting
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DTE brace
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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These were posted on the C5 forum some time ago. I copied and kept them as a constant reminder of what can happen on the drag strip. Brace or no brace.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Dec 17, 2006 at 10:05 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
From what I've seen at the track and read here, I think the key to breakage is controlling wheel hop. I've never experienced it on DR's or ET's. I don't race on or spin my EMT tires, they are too darn expensive! I've watched a few guys blow rears on EMT's at the track due to wheel hop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
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From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
If not, then I don't think you'll need it. A hardened O.S. as mentioned above is a good idea as well.
I broke bad in my C5Z on a drag radial dead hook once. Diff housing, trans housing,etc...
Went w/ DTE brace, hardened O.S. & Rodney trans & never broke again!
Haven't heard of anyone breaking w/ one installed either. Even if you were to break, the brace will severely reduce the number of parts that DOES break!
Ron
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
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From: Allentown PA
If you drag race for long enough, you're going to break things. Brace or no brace. The only thing that brace is going to do is limit the carnage. It should keep you from damaging your transmission too. But this diff busted from the inside.
These were posted on the C5 forum some time ago. I copied and kept them as a constant reminder of what can happen on the drag strip. Brace or no brace.
These were posted on the C5 forum some time ago. I copied and kept them as a constant reminder of what can happen on the drag strip. Brace or no brace.
That is not good news, the rear broke before the output shaft, that is a stock output shaft shown in the pic
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: God Bless America
The DTE instructions recommend that you drop the cradle to ease the installation. I did not do this when I installed mine, but it was a PITA and I left some skin up in the transmission tunnel. The hardest part was installing the top rear strut rod mounts on the transmission, especially trying to attach the wiring harness strap on the passenger side. However, it can be done without dropping the cradle.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
The above pictures are from a C5 not a C6 brace. The C6 version doesnt have the bottom two diff to transmission supports. The two lower diff mount arms have been said to be the reason you dont need the two lower ones. The ring that goes around the diameter of the side covers is also much smaller giving little support.
These braces arent keeping anything from breaking. Cars with no brace have similar breakage.
Few if any people take their car to the track after suffering big damage so there is little evidence to support what it does or doesnt do.
Tech Contributor
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Isn't the shaft above the input shaft? I think the output shafts run parallel to the ring gear, not perpendicular..
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
Last edited by Joe_G; Dec 19, 2006 at 03:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
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Isn't the shaft above the input shaft? I think the output shafts run parallel to the ring gear, not perpendicular..
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Isn't the shaft above the input shaft? I think the output shafts run parallel to the ring gear, not perpendicular..
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
DTE has posted a ton of information why they say the brace helps, if the original poster is still looking at this thread, might be a good idea to search for posts by DTE Engineering.
DSOM, do you recall that type of launch caused that carnage? Was there wheel hop? Was it a clutch drop off the rev limiter? I'd like to know - so I can avoid that type of launch!!
I think the point was that the brace was in place and there was still a break. Other tuners have some input on the topic without bias. Maybe you should call around. Other opinions can be valuable, even the manufacturer I guess.