My Axle snapped!!!!(updated)

[CrystalRedTintcoat]

Originally Posted by VOGGS-LS3-1LE

These aren't Lexus LFA's or Rolls Royce phantom's. These are mass produced vehicles. You can't QC every single part and assembly process.

Even NASA has failures. As is life. I know at some point my diff or axles will grenade. I knew before I even bought the car that it had a known weak link. Still didnt defer my decision.

The Ford Pinto exploded on rear end collision but it was cheaper for Ford to pay damages, given failure probability, than recall all the vehicles......

[gatorlover]

Update- so I spoke with the service advisor today. He said the differential is on order from Michigan as it has to be replaced as one whole unit. Issue is with all the bad weather up north, it will be a few days at least before we can get it here. Looks I'll be cruising in the Tahoe for another week at least.

[Mean Green Z28]

hope none of the members here who can't accept it can take a class in quality engineering statistics ... it'll blow their mind! lol

[bluBlud]

Originally Posted by Mean Green Z28

hope none of the members here who can't accept it can take a class in quality engineering statistics ... it'll blow their mind! lol

Here's what I know - I've had more than one car that cost much less then my C5 and had no issues outside normal wear & tear (e.g. timing belt) well into 6 figure mileage. So, I don't buy arguments that the cost of better quality would make the purchase price prohibitive. It can and has been done.

As an engineer; I do know a few things about quality control, statistics, and risk analysis. What blows my mind is complacent attitudes about these problems.

Don't get me wrong, I love my C5 but also think GM could do better. Yeah, things will probably get covered under warranty but A) it's an inconvenience, particularly when it takes 2 or 3 trips to get something fixed these days, B) there's a chance the mechanic will do something wrong or damage something else, and C) I don't like the idea of my relatively new $45k car getting torn apart.

Sorry if I ranted but GM will never do better if their customers just "accept it".

[Camaro Dude]

I concur with the above statement.

[sengli]

I'll bet the spyder gears broke, or shed a tooth or two. I have had that happen to a couple of diffs in the past.

[libertyforall]

I second that motion, esp. as someone who is debating on a 1LE or a ZL1...

Originally Posted by Camaro Dude

I concur with the above statement.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by gatorlover

Update- so I spoke with the service advisor today. He said the differential is on order from Michigan as it has to be replaced as one whole unit. Issue is with all the bad weather up north, it will be a few days at least before we can get it here. Looks I'll be cruising in the Tahoe for another week at least.

gatorlover,

Appreciate your update. Please let us know how the process continues to proceed and don't hesitate to contact us with questions.

,

William R.
Chevrolet Customer Care

[gatorlover]

Thanks William.

So my car is fixed!!! First off let me say that the service advisor was clearly guessing as to what the issue was....on a whim, I stopped by the dealership and asked him if I could go see my car. He said of course and we went into the service area. He stated that he was about to call me because the tech said that the issue was the right axle and was just finishing his test drive. He showed it to me and explained it failed inside the inner cv joint. See the picture. So the differential was not damaged. A few minutes later, I was on the road.

[gatorlover]

Also got a little souvenir from the ordeal. Got one of the bearings from inside the cv joint.[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Camaro Dude]

Thank you for sharing!

So are these the "Higher-capacity rear-axle half shafts to help with increased horsepower levels of traction" off of the ZL1?

[Msmall143]

So another axle went?

[gatorlover]

Originally Posted by Camaro Dude

Thank you for sharing!

So are these the "Higher-capacity rear-axle half shafts to help with increased horsepower levels of traction" off of the ZL1?

I asked the mechanic and he said they looked exactly like the ones on the regular ss for what it's worth.

I also asked him if he had seen many of these and he stated he had seen a few. Most recent was someone at the dragstrip using launch control snapped one. The said gm covered it but, flagged the vin that if it comes in again with damage again, they won't cover it.

Apparently dude had slicks on his when he hooked up and broke it. Too much torq he said in the 3.91 gearing.

[Bad@ssCamaro]

Originally Posted by Camaro Dude

Thank you for sharing!

So are these the "Higher-capacity rear-axle half shafts to help with increased horsepower levels of traction" off of the ZL1?

They might be higher capacity than the SS, but they are not the ZL1 halfshafts

part #'s for 1LE:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1LE Diff (3.91) - 22806794
1LE 3.91 Gears only - 22813040 (fits SS and V6 manual)
1LE LH Axle - 22806795
1LE RH Axle - 22806796
1LE Front Sway Bar - 22812946
1LE Front Sway End Link (passenger side) - 22842515
1LE Front Sway End Link (drivers side) - 22842516
1LE Rear Sway Bar - 22786260 (same as ZL1, comes with brackets and bushings)
1LE Rear Sway Bar Endlink (2) - 22761221
1LE Rear Sway Bar Bracket Bolt (4) - 11518623

part #'s for the ZL1 HD driveline kit:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...59394/10002/-1