Rear differential issue? worth fixing?

[Camilla2015]

Hey Everyone I have a 2015 Camaro LS/RS with 163,000 mi on it. (recently spent $1800 fixing the blend door for the heat/air a month or so ago) I now have an issue with the rear differential... i believe the mechanic said the ring and pinions were worn/need replaced. Quoted price was $2200-2800... I do not doubt his diagnosis or price (through online research and my husband we thought this could be a rear diff issue) but i fear this is a huge amount on a vehicle that may not have much life left. I'm leaning towards selling it as-is. I'd like any and all opinions on price I should list it for and/or would you recommend having the repair done and keep the vehicle instead? pros/cons?

I have had other issues that have been fixed over the years: air compressor replaced, drive shaft broke, air issue (sep issue from the compressor replacement... mayve been blend door. It was many yrs ago i cant remember). i do not recall having any fluids flushed other than coolant. (obviously routine oil changes and routing cabin/engine filters changed have been done too) The sun roof opens but doesnt slide back. small dent on front driver fender and a scratch here or there.

any and all advice is welcome! thank you

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

You could swap in another used rear differential for a lot less than that. I’d look for one with as low a miles as possible, do you have an automatic or a manual transmission? The manual V6 cars use the same diff as the SS im pretty sure. That would help
Open your search up some. There may be other LS/LT options that got the SS 218 mm diff as well, I really am not sure.

[SummitWhite11]

I have a 2010 2LT/RS Auto rear differential with 105k miles that I will be swapping out and upgrading hopefully sometime this year. Not sure if there were any changes or differences from the 2015 model... However, it runs flawlessly as I am the 2nd owner and fluids changed when needed. I have a replacement upgrade on hand to turn it into a POSI rear end. However just trying to find the right time and funds to cover this job as I need to repair my rear main seal leak during the same time. I live in Florida... so not sure if this may be for you. Not sure on your timeline on when it needs to be done. Let me know if not.. hopefully you find a solution and a fix soon.

[Camilla2015]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

You could swap in another used rear differential for a lot less than that. I’d look for one with as low a miles as possible, do you have an automatic or a manual transmission? The manual V6 cars use the same diff as the SS im pretty sure. That would help
Open your search up some. There may be other LS/LT options that got the SS 218 mm diff as well, I really am not sure.

My usual mechanic (diff mech from the first diagnoses)said same thing: replace rear end. He found a used one with 80k for $1800 and a refurbished one for $2500 that comes with a 2yr or 24k mi warranty. After labor I’m looking at $3100 plus tax. (Mines an Automatic trans btw) and I’ve decided to keep her/have the repair done. I love Camaros - this is my 2nd one. And since they stopped making them, I’d like to try to hold onto her for as long as possible… and buying a used 23/24 right now just isn’t a great financial decision. Thanks for the advice

[Camilla2015]

Originally Posted by SummitWhite11

I have a 2010 2LT/RS Auto rear differential with 105k miles that I will be swapping out and upgrading hopefully sometime this year. Not sure if there were any changes or differences from the 2015 model... However, it runs flawlessly as I am the 2nd owner and fluids changed when needed. I have a replacement upgrade on hand to turn it into a POSI rear end. However just trying to find the right time and funds to cover this job as I need to repair my rear main seal leak during the same time. I live in Florida... so not sure if this may be for you. Not sure on your timeline on when it needs to be done. Let me know if not.. hopefully you find a solution and a fix soon.

I appreciate it! I’m near Memphis tn so that’s a bit of a long way plus my mechanic found me a refurbished one with a 2yr warranty for $2500! Good luck on yours

[SS_Dave]

All depends on how you want to look at it and how you value the vehicle. If you want to be customizing and playing with things it's the perfect opportunity to swap gear and add Eaton TruTrac for the same money. I just did 3.91's and the car pulls harder in every gear. Some people go for 4.10's, but it depends on what you want to accomplish, how you use the car, other mods, etcetera.

[SummitWhite11]

Originally Posted by Camilla2015

My usual mechanic (diff mech from the first diagnoses)said same thing: replace rear end. He found a used one with 80k for $1800 and a refurbished one for $2500 that comes with a 2yr or 24k mi warranty. After labor I’m looking at $3100 plus tax. (Mines an Automatic trans btw) and I’ve decided to keep her/have the repair done. I love Camaros - this is my 2nd one. And since they stopped making them, I’d like to try to hold onto her for as long as possible… and buying a used 23/24 right now just isn’t a great financial decision. Thanks for the advice

Glad to hear! I agree with you on holding off on purchasing a newer vehicle these days. I'm in the same boat. It's not worth it in my opinion especially when the future is not clear at the moment. Besides.. these 5th Gens are great vehicles if properly cared for.

[pyroguy]

I haven't ever swapped a rear end so take this advice for what you paid for it. I've seen people selling 1LE rear ends here over the years for $1k or less. That's a premium rear end because it has the 3.91 gear ratio in it that many people upgrade to. Now, I haven't shopped them lately, but $2,500 for a rear end seems very high. Are you going to the dealership or a local guy? To me that almost sounds like the "I really don't want to, but I have to I will" price. For example of what I mean, I had a complete auto repair shop that specializes in tires quote me $800 for a catalytic converter plus installation on a S10 Blazer I used to have. I was in college and thought that was high, so I went a mile down the road to a muffler shop. The muffler shop installed one out the door for $150. The vehicle ran great and while the part may not have been OEM, I never knew the difference in the way the vehicle ran. Check around a few junk yards and see if you can get a rear end for cheaper and see what a reputable, small, local shop would charge to do the same thing.

[pyroguy]

I did a quick search on Rockauto.com and found this as a result for your ring and pinion:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...d+pinion,10438

The parts are dirt cheap. I would get an itemized quote and see what they're charging you because they may be either sticking it to you on the labor or are robbing you on the parts.

[CamaroCracka]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

I haven't ever swapped a rear end so take this advice for what you paid for it. I've seen people selling 1LE rear ends here over the years for $1k or less. That's a premium rear end because it has the 3.91 gear ratio in it that many people upgrade to. Now, I haven't shopped them lately, but $2,500 for a rear end seems very high. Are you going to the dealership or a local guy? To me that almost sounds like the "I really don't want to, but I have to I will" price. For example of what I mean, I had a complete auto repair shop that specializes in tires quote me $800 for a catalytic converter plus installation on a S10 Blazer I used to have. I was in college and thought that was high, so I went a mile down the road to a muffler shop. The muffler shop installed one out the door for $150. The vehicle ran great and while the part may not have been OEM, I never knew the difference in the way the vehicle ran. Check around a few junk yards and see if you can get a rear end for cheaper and see what a reputable, small, local shop would charge to do the same thing.

Guy has two listed on Facebook group for $1300 ea. Agree, $2500 is steep for a diff.