snap,crackle - POP!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
snap,crackle - POP!
That was the sound of my left half-shaft snapping at the lower joint today. I got to sit along the side the road and watch the snickering and jeering of those passing by while awaiting a tow truck 
I replaced the weak 05 diff with a nice built C5 unit. I guess the axles are the next weakest link. SpinMonster told me I should get Z06 shafts , but I thought the stockers were fine. His prophetic words were echoing in my ears as my wife gave me a look of disgust as we coasted off to the side of the road. Luckily the broken joint is still contained within the boot, and it didn’t flap around causing collateral damage. Looks like I will be calling Gene on Monday.
Do I need to upgrade the passenger side to a Z06 shaft too or does the driver side take the brunt of torque under acceleration?
I replaced the weak 05 diff with a nice built C5 unit. I guess the axles are the next weakest link. SpinMonster told me I should get Z06 shafts , but I thought the stockers were fine. His prophetic words were echoing in my ears as my wife gave me a look of disgust as we coasted off to the side of the road. Luckily the broken joint is still contained within the boot, and it didn’t flap around causing collateral damage. Looks like I will be calling Gene on Monday.
Do I need to upgrade the passenger side to a Z06 shaft too or does the driver side take the brunt of torque under acceleration?
Last edited by csnow; Mar 26, 2011 at 07:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
Which wheel spins first? When I put it in gear, the left side is the only one turning. You can see the shaft spinnig but because the joint is broke, it just makes a clunking noise within the boot as it rotates. The passenger side doesnt attempt to spin at all right now. Is that normal?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
That is what my conclusion was, but the above post of the right side being the weak link made me question my logic. I would "assume" the one prone to breaking would be the one that takes the brunt of the torque first, which seems to be the driver side since it is spinning without any load. That made me "think" the driver side spins first. I would guess the passenger side engages once the driver side begins to loose traction. Maybe I am chewed up like bubble gum on this and how a lsd works
Maybe some of the experts will chime in and clarify.
Maybe some of the experts will chime in and clarify.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
It is the passenger side who gets the most IMO. Which way does the body move under hard acceleration. The passenger side. Again IMO upgrade both dint want to get te look from the wife or break the other side too.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
I have been doing a bit of reading tonight. It looks like the C5 shafts are stronger than the C6 shafts, so I will order two C5 shafts. I have a C5 diff and now C5 shafts. I should have saved some coin and bought a C5! 
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
No, you should have spent a little more and got Z06 parts.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
Lots of threads on c6 Z06 axle failures.
However, I would have loved to swap the driveline to Z06, but swapping to a Z06 diff would have required the transmission shaft to be replaced. After labor, it would have been cheaper to buy a Z06 trans and diff. I didnt have 6k to spend on the differential/trans upgrade. I also wanted 4.11's and there are no gear vendors for the Z06 and I didnt want to put C6 gears in a Z06 diff (kinda defeats the purpose of upgrading). This was a preventative maintance upgrade since my stock 05 diff hadnt exploded (yet). The c5 diff I have is a Stage III unit and will hold my power levels fine. I dont run at the track/strip, but I do drive it hard on the street (obiviously, since it was towed home)....lol
However, I would have loved to swap the driveline to Z06, but swapping to a Z06 diff would have required the transmission shaft to be replaced. After labor, it would have been cheaper to buy a Z06 trans and diff. I didnt have 6k to spend on the differential/trans upgrade. I also wanted 4.11's and there are no gear vendors for the Z06 and I didnt want to put C6 gears in a Z06 diff (kinda defeats the purpose of upgrading). This was a preventative maintance upgrade since my stock 05 diff hadnt exploded (yet). The c5 diff I have is a Stage III unit and will hold my power levels fine. I dont run at the track/strip, but I do drive it hard on the street (obiviously, since it was towed home)....lol
Last edited by csnow; Mar 26, 2011 at 10:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Lots of threads on c6 Z06 axle failures.
However, I would have loved to swap the driveline to Z06, but swapping to a Z06 diff would have required the transmission shaft to be replaced. After labor, it would have been cheaper to buy a Z06 trans and diff. I didnt have 6k to spend on the differential/trans upgrade. I also wanted 4.11's and there are no gear vendors for the Z06 and I didnt want to put C6 gears in a Z06 diff (kinda defeats the purpose of upgrading). This was a preventative maintance upgrade since my stock 05 diff hadnt exploded (yet). The c5 diff I have is a Stage III unit and will hold my power levels fine. I dont run at the track/strip, but I do drive it hard on the street (obiviously, since it was towed home)....lol
However, I would have loved to swap the driveline to Z06, but swapping to a Z06 diff would have required the transmission shaft to be replaced. After labor, it would have been cheaper to buy a Z06 trans and diff. I didnt have 6k to spend on the differential/trans upgrade. I also wanted 4.11's and there are no gear vendors for the Z06 and I didnt want to put C6 gears in a Z06 diff (kinda defeats the purpose of upgrading). This was a preventative maintance upgrade since my stock 05 diff hadnt exploded (yet). The c5 diff I have is a Stage III unit and will hold my power levels fine. I dont run at the track/strip, but I do drive it hard on the street (obiviously, since it was towed home)....lol
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 819
Likes: 130
From: San Antonio TX
My c5 diff was in SpinMonster's car. It is not a RPM diff, I think it is a Cartek diff.