Do I need new ring and pinion? Video!!!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Bay Area Ca.
I have only seen 1 2010 Z06 pinion spanner nut that came loose (it was never staked from the factory) and caused a noise out of all the C5/C6/C7 differential we have done.
Although the bearings do wear and the backlash do change over time but the root cause of the noise either have to be heat or lack of fluid change. The floating metal debris is an abrasive that eats at the ring and pinion gears. Car owners are religious about changing their engine oil but when asked about how often they change other fluids and most will tell me they can't remember.
The C5/C6/C7 differentials are different that the pinion gear sits behind the ring gear. You can't just set the pinion shim and then move on to the side shims like you do on the solid rear axles diffs. These differentials are shimmed in combination (when you change side shim, the pinion shim has to be changed in combination to have to correct backlash AND pattern).
There are 4 bearings in the diffs (2 support pinion carrier and 2 side carrier bearings) and they are pretty big compared to other solid diffs (especially pinion carrier bearings). We normally replace them due to discoloration but I have personally never seen one fail other than when something else has failed and damaged the bearings.
Although the bearings do wear and the backlash do change over time but the root cause of the noise either have to be heat or lack of fluid change. The floating metal debris is an abrasive that eats at the ring and pinion gears. Car owners are religious about changing their engine oil but when asked about how often they change other fluids and most will tell me they can't remember.
The C5/C6/C7 differentials are different that the pinion gear sits behind the ring gear. You can't just set the pinion shim and then move on to the side shims like you do on the solid rear axles diffs. These differentials are shimmed in combination (when you change side shim, the pinion shim has to be changed in combination to have to correct backlash AND pattern).
There are 4 bearings in the diffs (2 support pinion carrier and 2 side carrier bearings) and they are pretty big compared to other solid diffs (especially pinion carrier bearings). We normally replace them due to discoloration but I have personally never seen one fail other than when something else has failed and damaged the bearings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Dallas TX
And I personally would never go that far into an axle without changing the bearings, especially at 80k miles.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Great info in there. These diff's seem to be a mystery and nobody really talks about them.
I kind of want to get one from a junker and tear it apart just to see how everything goes in these.
Axle/differential work is something that a lot of people are afraid of. Once I learned how to assemble and shim and measure and what not the solid axle's on Jeeps, i became much less scared of tearing into them. That was really the only thing I hadnt ever touched before, but after I got into it and got taught the right way to work on them with the proper tools, the mystery and "fear" was very quickly removed from me.
I kind of want to get one from a junker and tear it apart just to see how everything goes in these.
Axle/differential work is something that a lot of people are afraid of. Once I learned how to assemble and shim and measure and what not the solid axle's on Jeeps, i became much less scared of tearing into them. That was really the only thing I hadnt ever touched before, but after I got into it and got taught the right way to work on them with the proper tools, the mystery and "fear" was very quickly removed from me.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Rick please correct me if I am wrong(I probably am), but any new gear set will have to be completely re-shimmed right? You cant just bolt a new ring onto the carrier and toss a new pinion gear in with the old shims, unless you some how managed to luck into a new gear set that is 100% identical to the old set(I have never seen this before personally, but I am more experienced with Jeep gear sets, maybe Corvette gear sets are made to a higher tolerance).
And I personally would never go that far into an axle without changing the bearings, especially at 80k miles.
And I personally would never go that far into an axle without changing the bearings, especially at 80k miles.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 288
Likes: 5
From: North Carolina
I talk to a guy today that has a very respected shop. He said to drain the fluid and try GMs new diff fluid that is for these cars. Apparently they made a special type of fluid bc the started making noises. Maybe mine didn't like the fluid I used?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
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From: On the east coast we drive until we die
The noise he is most likely referring to is the clunking and/or grinding noise some have experienced. This is something completely different and a fluid change will not fix what you have. I've tried GM, Amsoil, Royal Purple, and even a custom blend in various viscosities. None have made any difference. The only fix is a replacement.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 288
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From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by 5knives
The noise he is most likely referring to is the clunking and/or grinding noise some have experienced. This is something completely different and a fluid change will not fix what you have. I've tried GM, Amsoil, Royal Purple, and even a custom blend in various viscosities. None have made any difference. The only fix is a replacement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 195
From: On the east coast we drive until we die
Your video shows the same high pitch whine/hum as mine and a few others have reported. A fluid change will not fix this. I have tried 4 different fluids. If you have an experienced shop near you, have them inspect it and I bet their only advice will be to change out the gears.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 288
Likes: 5
From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by 5knives
The fluid change is only a fix for the clunking/grinding noise. Which is a different issue and not something you have.
Your video shows the same high pitch whine/hum as mine and a few others have reported. A fluid change will not fix this. I have tried 4 different fluids. If you have an experienced shop near you, have them inspect it and I bet their only advice will be to change out the gears.
Your video shows the same high pitch whine/hum as mine and a few others have reported. A fluid change will not fix this. I have tried 4 different fluids. If you have an experienced shop near you, have them inspect it and I bet their only advice will be to change out the gears.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by 5knives
Yikes! Is that clunking sound new? Can it be heard inside the car?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
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From: On the east coast we drive until we die
That is scary. Mine makes a very similar whine/hum sound as yours but I've never listened from underneath either. It makes me want to now. Did the clunking noise repeat itself as it was given gas or was it just the one time?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 288
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From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by 5knives
That is scary. Mine makes a very similar whine/hum sound as yours but I've never listened from underneath either. It makes me want to now. Did the clunking noise repeat itself as it was given gas or was it just the one time?
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
The clunking is normal if you have the wheels off of the ground. It's the driveline slack (transmission/ring and pinion gears) causing the clunking with no load to the wheels.
It's definitely your ring and pinion gears making the whine.
It's definitely your ring and pinion gears making the whine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 288
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From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by Rick@RKT Performance
The clunking is normal if you have the wheels off of the ground. It's the driveline slack (transmission/ring and pinion gears) causing the clunking with no load to the wheels.
It's definitely your ring and pinion gears making the whine.
It's definitely your ring and pinion gears making the whine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 195
From: On the east coast we drive until we die
Whew, that's a relief.