ok...I need rear-end, axle help...

to make a long story short....

Problem:
my car has had very slow diff oil leak since i bought it. (2months ago) was making 30min road trip, 15 min into, rear starts to wine (consistent with road speed). apparently burning up, smelled it inside. drove back. filled up diff oil. made noise ever since. was drivin last week, wine is still consistent with road speed but making very slight clunkin noise (barely noticalbe, but I notice everything). so, sounds like something is getting ready to fail me....

Possible Failure:
i believe it might be a failed/overheated axle bearing, but I dont know. i've learned engines and transmissions but not rear-ends yet.

The Situation...
engine i built is/will be 370-400hp normal, later 50-100shot of spray. i need a rear end solution and need to learn how to do it (i have a drivetrain guy that will do for me, but i prefer not to pay and do all myself if I can).

ford rear end = not option. (dont like idea, too expensive)
buying complete aftermarket rear = not option (too expensive)
build junkyard rear end/modify existing = only option (just right)

Solutions?
If you can, please give suggestions. I want to know which factory rear end to pull from junkyard and/or what parts I need to build it (AT LOW COST).

Sounds to me GM 8.5" 10-bolt is bolt-in solution and can hold the power...???

I am familiar with general parts, ring/pinion, axles, carrier.

Info you may need...
1990 Camaro
700R4 tranny (late-model)(28-spline?)
Currently open 10-bolt diff (7.5" Im pretty sure)
factory driveshaft
rear drums (wouldn't mind adding rear discs, despite the work involved)

any suggestions??? thanks.
-Kevin

read away...

http://www.thirdgen.org/beefinguprear

700R4 tranny (late-model)(28-spline?)

should be a 30 spline, unless you have a 4l60e then i wouldnt know...

yea, tranny is 30 spline, axle shafts are 28 spline. Tranny spline count doesn't matter tho when it comes to the rear end, I do however recommend contacting John about a driveshaft if you haven't already.

read away...

http://www.thirdgen.org/beefinguprear

thanks Geno, I had actually already read that.

there's something about building the smallest and weakest rear end that doesnt sit right with me. but if its strong enough, then its worth considering.... any other thoughts on this??


what size 10-bolt is Mr. Lous running?

is the GM 8.5" 10-bolt rear end casing/housing the same width as the factory third gen?

anybody got a good amount of power? if so, what rear end combo do u have?

any companies that are rear end specialists (online or otherwise)? useful sites?

looks like im going to have to buy another book....

For some reason I think Mr. Luos is running a 9in rear end

Edit
*Moser 9" with 4.11 gears

In one of his post

yea, tranny is 30 spline, axle shafts are 28 spline. Tranny spline count doesn't matter tho when it comes to the rear end, I do however recommend contacting John about a driveshaft if you haven't already.
i second that motion, john likes giving the shaft to people

For some reason I think Mr. Luos is running a 9in rear end

Edit
*Moser 9" with 4.11 gears

In one of his post
yup hes running a moser, i dont think his stock 10 bolt would take a 4g launch on drag radials

well i'm doing the 10-bolt 7.5 rebuild myself, so we'll see exactly how well it holds up to about the same amount of power put to it as kevin's.

1) rebuild

2) takeoff

3) 12 bolt

after a long night of researching. I think I will build the 10 bolt... with the Zexel Torsen diff and factory axles. maybe, if I can pull some money out of my ass, I'll switch to 30spline axles. but looks like 28 will be fine. im thinking about get those 3.73s while i am at it, and having them cryogenically treated.

I thought i read somewhere Lous had a 10-bolt. guess i was wrong.

Last question. what about the 4th gen rear?? Im reading that those come factory with Zexel diffs. what do they have for axles? Im thinkin I could just get one of those, then I would have rear discs, the Zexel Torsen, and I could remove my rear spacers on my wheels... and just by the ring and pinion I want...



For anyone else who comes across this thread here is some useful stuff i found.

http://moserengineering.com/Pages/axletech.html
Drivetrain specialists

http://www.angelfire.com/my/fastcar/diffey.html
Different types of diff - pros and cons

Zexel install instructions
http://www.sdimes.com/Articles/Powertrain/Installation-of-a-Zexel-Torsen-differential-2.html
http://home.hiwaay.net/~sbuc/stalkerv6/torsen.htm

http://reiderracing.com/home.htm
Rear end specialist Retailer

I just have to toss in my 2 cents here. Short set up,80 z, auto/man body, 3450lbs wet 1/4 tank fuel,sbc(not even gonna do the arm chair dyno)stock d/shaft,stock axles,stock diff with a 4:56 tossed in it,9.5 sticky,11:51 to a :53 till the cows came home.Never once had and issue with the diff,forgot the( this is that part where the " your full of sh@t fly's") 1:64 on the 60'.Took home some hardware and had alot of fun for a few years.Blew up a few mills and a few trans but never once had an issue with the diff.Forgot the 3900 stall.

i believe you, there's a young kid that runs at the same track I do, 83z28 with a 383, runs mid 11's on the stock rear, and that's with the 26 spline axles to boot. some hold up great, and some fail. I'll take my chance with mine, I trust my own work. And if it breaks, I don't really care, it's not like it's my daily driver ya know.

with close to 500 horse my Torsen held up just fine but when I stepped up to force induction I did a custom 8.5. Not to say that a built up 7.625 can't take it but the weak link will always be the tiny go-kart sized ring gear. Also, the torsen can be transfered into any 7.5 - 7.625 housing as long as its used 28 spline axles.

The rear was one upgrade that always scared me due to the major cost but prices seem to be coming down a little.

well that makes me feel a little better. thanks for the info folks. but nobody have info on a 4th gen rear swap into a third gen???

i know people do it all the time... i just want to know more about them...???