Trans Brace or not??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 1
Trans Brace or not??
I spoke withe RPM transmissions today regarding upgrades for my soon to be 600RWHP. I was already planning on a stage 3 diff as well as a trans brace but they said I dont need a trans brace and it is more for the C5...? I've never hears someone say that a trans brace is a waste or I don't need one. Anyone else have any input? I wouldn't mind putting the cash towards something else if its not needed.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,347
Likes: 25
From: Apache Junction AZ
I spoke withe RPM transmissions today regarding upgrades for my soon to be 600RWHP. I was already planning on a stage 3 diff as well as a trans brace but they said I dont need a trans brace and it is more for the C5...? I've never hears someone say that a trans brace is a waste or I don't need one. Anyone else have any input? I wouldn't mind putting the cash towards something else if its not needed.
Supposedly the 2005 C6 is more prone to cracking and I know nothing about the C5.
Last edited by 07MontRedcp; Feb 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,711
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From: Middle of No where AK
It wont save you entirely. There was a thread around here somewhere I think where somebody had one and their input shaft still got destroyed when the diff blew. The shop is probably right. Just be glad they arent trying to sell you something you dont truly need. Most places will just sell you it because they are making money.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Diff brace
May I suggest that you contact Chris or Doug at ECS (forum vendor). I'm not suggesting that you've got improper advice already, but ECS has a diff brace that is quite different from DTE which was designed and manufactured to their own specs. They are a full service shop and not only design and sell them but also build and run some of the fastest C5s and C6s in the country, so they are in a unique position to advise you of these things. Hope this proves helpful to you. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
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From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
The brace is NOT going to save your rear, so to speak. It's purpose is to isolate the damage to just the dif and not allow the carnage to take out your transmission as well. Your dif can/will still crack under the right(or wrong depending on how you look at it) circumstances. When the dif takes out the trans, you're looking at big $$. I've seen it. 
The brace is supposed to prevent that. Of course I don't know anywhere near as much as RPM or ECS so my word really isn't worth much.
The brace is supposed to prevent that. Of course I don't know anywhere near as much as RPM or ECS so my word really isn't worth much.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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Im definitally not saying someones word is not worth anything. I know RPM is a great company and I do plan on having them build me a diff I was just shocked to hear the a brace is basically usless on a C6. I remember specifically bringing up the issue about saving your tranny in the event that the diff goes but I was told it wouldent help and the trans will still be affected.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
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From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
Im definitally not saying someones word is not worth anything. I know RPM is a great company and I do plan on having them build me a diff I was just shocked to hear the a brace is basically usless on a C6. I remember specifically bringing up the issue about saving your tranny in the event that the diff goes but I was told it wouldent help and the trans will still be affected.
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Former Vendor
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From: ECS Sales & Service Advisor
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A brace wont stop you from breaking a output shaft, or a pinion, but it will stop the trans from ripping itself from the rear.
This one is on a C5 but we've seen it on the C6's as well. Only on the 6 speeds however. (not to say that it couldnt happen in an auto).
A brace is $399 bucks. A new tranny and rear (no rebuild, becuase you'll have no core) is probably $4000+. You can blow the trans, you can blow the rear, but the likelyhood of exploding both of them is pretty much nil with a brace. To me it's cheap insurance.
I have one on my car, and after 100+ qtr mile passes with 4+k dumps, and who know how many road course days I still have the stock tranny and rear in the car.
Your call tho... 
This one is on a C5 but we've seen it on the C6's as well. Only on the 6 speeds however. (not to say that it couldnt happen in an auto).
A brace is $399 bucks. A new tranny and rear (no rebuild, becuase you'll have no core) is probably $4000+. You can blow the trans, you can blow the rear, but the likelyhood of exploding both of them is pretty much nil with a brace. To me it's cheap insurance.
I have one on my car, and after 100+ qtr mile passes with 4+k dumps, and who know how many road course days I still have the stock tranny and rear in the car.
Your call tho...
Race Director
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If you are talking about the DTE differential brace, it's sole purpose is to to prevent the differential from taking the tranny with it should it grenade. Period. It does nothing to reinforce the case or prevent the differential case from breaking.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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When you say it prevents the differential from taking the tranny with it do you mean just the tranny case? I understand the main shaft will still probably go. So basically all the brace does is save the tranny case from going in the event that the diff goes? Sorry im just trying to understand. I know the brace is just cheep insurance but I am trying to safely do my build on a budget so I would much rather save the money if its not needed. I will be at about 600rwhp on dr's and I was planning on doing hardened left & right shafts.
Race Director
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Somtimes with a catastrophic differential failure, the unit will move rearward, causing damage to the tranny. The brace prevents the unit from dislodging itself from the tranny. Look at the DTE webste and view the brace. A pic is worth a thousand words.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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Ok so this might be a stupid question but.... I understand that the brace provides a stronger mating between the tranny and rear end and can cause the diff from taking the tranny with it in the event that it goes. But isn't there another housing between the diff and the tranny? I believe this piece is something like $300 or so. So in the event that the diff does go would the worst case be that it takes this other piece with it and not the whole tranny?
Former Vendor
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From: ECS Sales & Service Advisor
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Yes there is.... but by the time that piece breaks, you're still way over the cost of a brace. Not to mention you'd likely be destroyiong internal parts at that point.
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From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
Ok so this might be a stupid question but.... I understand that the brace provides a stronger mating between the tranny and rear end and can cause the diff from taking the tranny with it in the event that it goes. But isn't there another housing between the diff and the tranny? I believe this piece is something like $300 or so. So in the event that the diff does go would the worst case be that it takes this other piece with it and not the whole tranny?
The main function of the brace is to keep the rear from rotating in the opposite direction of the wheels. You are correct that there is an adaptor plate in the rear of the trans that fits it to the Corvette, but when the rear rips from the trans (in the pics above) it takes the trans shaft (which goes from the front of the trans, all the way threw the rear of the diff) along with it. Since it is not being pulled off straight it has to break the shaft as well.
That shaft is the main shaft that goes throughout the entire trans, so you would need an entire trans rebuild, along with the new rear adaptor plate. The main trans housing may be usable, but the build on the trans alone is going to be way over the expense of a brace, let alone the rear you will need to replace as well.
I hope that explains it easier, if anyone has any other questions, please let me know.
.
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Last edited by DOUG @ ECS; Mar 1, 2010 at 04:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
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From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
The main function of the brace is to keep the rear from rotating in the opposite direction of the wheels. You are correct that there is an adaptor plate in the rear of the trans that fits it to the Corvette, but when the rear rips from the trans (in the pics above) it takes the trans shaft (which goes from the front of the trans, all the way threw the rear of the diff) along with it. Since it is not being pulled off straight it has to break the shaft as well.
That shaft is the main shaft that goes throughout the entire trans, so you would need an entire trans rebuild, along with the new rear adaptor plate. The main trans housing may be usable, but the build on the trans alone is going to be way over the expense of a brace, let alone the rear you will need to replace as well.
I hope that explains it easier, if anyone has any other questions, please let me know.
.
That shaft is the main shaft that goes throughout the entire trans, so you would need an entire trans rebuild, along with the new rear adaptor plate. The main trans housing may be usable, but the build on the trans alone is going to be way over the expense of a brace, let alone the rear you will need to replace as well.
I hope that explains it easier, if anyone has any other questions, please let me know.
.
Seen it happen. Although we thought (hoped) it was just the rear, when the car was put on the lift, the shop had to deliver the unfortunate news to the owner that his trans was done too.
