Camaro team's response to concern about Transmission Output Shaft Failure

[fast34me]

Originally Posted by carguy

I wouldn't put a lot of weight on the upgraded parts comment.

I think it was service manager speak for it's been fixed. I don't even know that he knows if there were any changes. My guess is the upgraded parts just meant it was fixed.

I too originaly thought they were upgrading the trannys but after reading this thread my impression is that there was just a small percentage that failed.

I have three friends both with 6 speed v8's one has a blower and he blew second gear out twice and GM dealer backed his twice but told him no more on the second gear thing. They replaced his tranny both times.( He missed shifts not even there fault)

Out of the other two none have had any issues and they drive them as hard as I do.

One was built before mine one after so it just seems there really is no rhym or reason just one of those things.

But...I must give GM credit for stepping up to the plate and solving the problem if you have one.

I wouldn't loose a lot of sleep over it...if it happens you should rest well knowing you won't get any flack from GM they will fix it and fast. I was impressed !

I don't know of anyone with a M6 that hasn't missed a shift. I've missed 2-3 twice myself. Not hitting 5th or 1st, just ending up between 1st and 3rd. A short throw shifter helped. I'm sure disappointed with the transmission. I thought with GM using Tremec, transmission issues would be non-existent. I was wrong.

[Rick@Metco]

I had a discussion with a reputable builder of GM six-speed transmissions recently, and he explained that the Camaro transmissions are failing for a very specific reason. He stated that GM did not specify the use of a support bearing for the output shaft in the tailshaft of the transmission.
He went on to say that this unsupported shaft will inevitably fail, even under 'normal' use, due to the whip effect of the driveshaft. Apparently, this support bearing is included in the TR6060's built for the GT500 and Challenger applications.
He was unsure if current builds of the Camaro trans or warranty replacement transmissions include this additional bearing.


Take it for what it's worth...This info did not come from a GM source, and so far I have not had any way to verify this information.

[DC-SS]

Originally Posted by Rick@Metco

I had a discussion with a reputable builder of GM six-speed transmissions recently, and he explained that the Camaro transmissions are failing for a very specific reason. He stated that GM did not specify the use of a support bearing for the output shaft in the tailshaft of the transmission.
He went on to say that this unsupported shaft will inevitably fail, even under 'normal' use, due to the whip effect of the driveshaft. Apparently, this support bearing is included in the TR6060's built for the GT500 and Challenger applications.
He was unsure if current builds of the Camaro trans or warranty replacement transmissions include this additional bearing.


Take it for what it's worth...This info did not come from a GM source, and so far I have not had any way to verify this information.

Wow... Anyone able to confirm this? Is there a way to use one of the other versions when mine "inevitably fails"?

[POWERFREAK]

Originally Posted by DC-SS

Wow... Anyone able to confirm this? Is there a way to use one of the other versions when mine "inevitably fails"?

sounds logical, but it doesn't explain why (as far as I've heard) the only ones breaking are vin #'s under 26,xxx. Unless they added that part when the issues were discovered, but if that were the case I would think it would have came up by now.

[jasonbond]

Nice statement...but really doesn't clear anything up. Makes it sound like there was no defective part. If that's the case, there will be even more paranoia about failing transmissions because it effects all of us, not just a certain vin range.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DC-SS

Wow... Anyone able to confirm this? Is there a way to use one of the other versions when mine "inevitably fails"?

Please re-read John F's response.

If this unit was going to inevitably fail...then they wouldn't have installed it first of all...and secondly, if they found this out after the fact -- they would have recalled it, replaced it; and changed all future units at the factory.

However, this is not the case. The probability of failure is very low: they hold these cars to stupidly high standards, and the probability is "below tolerance", meaning it's no more likely to fail than any other part on the car.

[camarorick]

Originally Posted by Rick@Metco

I had a discussion with a reputable builder of GM six-speed transmissions recently, and he explained that the Camaro transmissions are failing for a very specific reason. He stated that GM did not specify the use of a support bearing for the output shaft in the tailshaft of the transmission.
He went on to say that this unsupported shaft will inevitably fail, even under 'normal' use, due to the whip effect of the driveshaft. Apparently, this support bearing is included in the TR6060's built for the GT500 and Challenger applications.
He was unsure if current builds of the Camaro trans or warranty replacement transmissions include this additional bearing.


Take it for what it's worth...This info did not come from a GM source, and so far I have not had any way to verify this information.

Not the first time I heard of this. Another Montrealer who had his tranny replaced was told this as well.... Apparently it's like the pilot bearing on the crank shaft

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33406

[GEN-IV]

Originally Posted by Rick@Metco

He went on to say that this unsupported shaft will inevitably fail, even under 'normal' use, due to the whip effect of the driveshaft. Apparently, this support bearing is included in the TR6060's built for the GT500 and Challenger applications.

The Challenger also experienced plenty of low mileage transmission failures when the R/T came out in late 2008.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by Rick@Metco

I had a discussion with a reputable builder of GM six-speed transmissions recently, and he explained that the Camaro transmissions are failing for a very specific reason. He stated that GM did not specify the use of a support bearing for the output shaft in the tailshaft of the transmission.
He went on to say that this unsupported shaft will inevitably fail, even under 'normal' use, due to the whip effect of the driveshaft. Apparently, this support bearing is included in the TR6060's built for the GT500 and Challenger applications.
He was unsure if current builds of the Camaro trans or warranty replacement transmissions include this additional bearing.


Take it for what it's worth...This info did not come from a GM source, and so far I have not had any way to verify this information.

Originally Posted by camarorick

Not the first time I heard of this. Another Montrealer who had his tranny replaced was told this as well.... Apparently it's like the pilot bearing on the crank shaft

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33406

I remember a post months ago, where a member mentioned someone specifying the abscense of a bearing in the tail housing causing the failures.

Avoid wheelhop, and you should be ok.

What's wheelhop? watch this:

[camaro5]

Speaking of wheelhop...

Make sure you have the latest software. This update addresses "powerhop", and I believe it reprograms the algorithms that make up the programming applied during hard launches. With or without LC.

This update includes the a/c compressor reprogramming.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by camaro5

Speaking of wheelhop...

Make sure you have the latest software. This update addresses "powerhop", and I believe it reprograms the algorithms that make up the programming applied during hard launches. With or without LC.

This update includes the a/c compressor reprogramming.

The dealer's should be well aware of these updates, right?

[JusticePete]

Some will and some won't. Great post by Camaro5.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The dealer's should be well aware of these updates, right?

Originally Posted by JusticePete

Some will and some won't. Great post by Camaro5.

That's right Pete. These are voluntary, so owners should make sure they get these updates.

I believe the VIN cutoff is pretty early. Also addressed the freezing-up evaporators, by reprogramming the a/c compressor.

[Coldpants]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The dealer's should be well aware of these updates, right?

There should be no tolls on NYC bridges too.