IT LIVES! My Z/LE ZL1 + 1LE + 2SS = Z/LE ;o) LSA SC [COTW 2/09/15] - Page 63 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

hammdo · 10-08-2016, 02:56 PM

Got the diff out -- I was able to unbolt the axles and drive shaft easily (DSS made this a no brainer). Had to remove the exhaust and the hotchkis brace to drop the diff:

8MM allen socket did the trick:

Driveshaft:

Dropping the diff is still a pain though -- have to lift the right axle up and tilt the right side of the diff down first:

Drained the diff -- no issues found! no metal to speak of -- very glad of that!:

With the diff out, you can see the bushings are cracked and have a lot of give:

And culprit number 2:

The axle hubs pop out with just my hands -- both drivers and passengers (3 tugs and out they came):

I don't think the clips are 'strong' enough to prevent a pop out, but I'm sure I'll hear 'fix the bushings and they won't pop'. Yes, that is true, but should these come out of the diff by hand? I'm thinking not.

I'll call DSS on Monday and give them my findings, but, it looks as if these pop easy if the diff moves or the angle is just enough on the axles to add 'pulling' pressure.

The offset bushings will help a ton with this as they won't allow the diff to move AND will help the angle of the axles.

So, there you have it, 600 RWHP, SOLID cradle/bushings, aftermarket toe/trailing arms/swaybars, 1000hp axles, CF driveshaft, looks like contributed to killing the stock diff bushings, but, NCM proved to be the final nail as it is HARD on the left side of the suspension -- thus the popped driver's axle...

-Don

JusticePete · 10-08-2016, 04:28 PM

As we suspected. I love it when a plan comes together.

hammdo · 10-08-2016, 05:05 PM

Yep, only thing left it could be. Really obvious with the diff out. Now to see about stiffer clips for the axle hubs, but bushings are for sure the main issue.

Thanks for your help with this! First time for everything...

-Don

JusticePete · 10-08-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammdo

Yep, only thing left it could be. Really obvious with the diff out. Now to see about stiffer clips for the axle hubs, but bushings are for sure the main issue.

Thanks for your help with this! First time for everything...

-Don

hammdo · 10-08-2016, 05:32 PM

Beers on me when I see you (hopefully LS Fest -- as that's where I'll be next year for sure).

Now, to find someone (hopefully local) who'll install the Eaton and bushings for me -- once I get the Eaton and LWP Cover. I'll be selling the BMR sway bars and the posi-mod unit.

I'll be installing JusticePete's sway bars as soon as I get them, then the Z28 motor mounts. Once I get the diff back and installed, I'll then install the new exhaust, do the oil change, and brakes bled -- probably Castrol React SRF:

Again, thanks for your help!

-Don

JusticePete · 10-08-2016, 08:06 PM

You are welcome Don.

hammdo · 10-10-2016, 11:28 AM

Talked to DSS this morning, they suggested I expand the clips enough so it takes a prybar to pop the axle hubs. They agreed, I should not be able to 'pop' the hubs by hand. My take is if the clips were not 'weak', I would not have found the bad diff bushings -- at least this way, I can fix the bushings and update the clips -- should make for a stronger setup!

-Don

hammdo · 10-10-2016, 08:03 PM

OK, adjusted the c-clips in the axle hubs. According to DSS, you just stretch them a bit so they have some overhang.

Here is the clip:

Here they are adjusted:

This should help keep the axles in better!

-Don

camaro500 · 10-10-2016, 08:47 PM

Great info and pictures! Thank you! This build has been a great help to me. The offset bushings look really interesting... Keep us posted, I might buy a set!

RubyCamaro · 10-10-2016, 08:50 PM

Vely Interesting.

hammdo · 10-10-2016, 09:09 PM

Yes it is ;o). GPI said they'd do the differential and bushings so I'll drive it up this time and avoid UPS.

-Don

RubyCamaro · 10-10-2016, 09:32 PM

Russell James · 10-11-2016, 08:29 PM

Can this happen to a stock axle? Can't believe we are relying on a deformed wire ring to hold the axles in. I thought that ring was just an assembly thing to keep the axles from falling out during assembly.

Shouldn't the axle length be what keeps it in?

hammdo · 10-11-2016, 08:44 PM

In this case, I'm lowered, axles are on a different angle. The clips on stock axles are a big stronger and thicker so very unlikely to happen. In my case, the diff bushings are really bad and gave way too much room for the axle to move. They only moved 1/2 inch so it wasn't much, just enough to move the axle away from the seal.

Now, with the updated bushings, clips reset, I will likely NOT have that problem. It has to do with 'all' the changes I did (solid bushings, lowering, etc) that had an affect on the axles. Diff bushings really allow the diff to twist enough to pull the axles out. I doubt a 'stock' setup will see that unless its been changed like mine...

-Don

10-08-2016, 02:56 PM	#869
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	DSS axle pops from diff - reason found! Got the diff out -- I was able to unbolt the axles and drive shaft easily (DSS made this a no brainer). Had to remove the exhaust and the hotchkis brace to drop the diff: 8MM allen socket did the trick: Driveshaft: Dropping the diff is still a pain though -- have to lift the right axle up and tilt the right side of the diff down first: Drained the diff -- no issues found! no metal to speak of -- very glad of that!: With the diff out, you can see the bushings are cracked and have a lot of give: And culprit number 2: The axle hubs pop out with just my hands -- both drivers and passengers (3 tugs and out they came): I don't think the clips are 'strong' enough to prevent a pop out, but I'm sure I'll hear 'fix the bushings and they won't pop'. Yes, that is true, but should these come out of the diff by hand? I'm thinking not. I'll call DSS on Monday and give them my findings, but, it looks as if these pop easy if the diff moves or the angle is just enough on the axles to add 'pulling' pressure. The offset bushings will help a ton with this as they won't allow the diff to move AND will help the angle of the axles. So, there you have it, 600 RWHP, SOLID cradle/bushings, aftermarket toe/trailing arms/swaybars, 1000hp axles, CF driveshaft, looks like contributed to killing the stock diff bushings, but, NCM proved to be the final nail as it is HARD on the left side of the suspension -- thus the popped driver's axle... -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577 Last edited by hammdo; 10-08-2016 at 05:06 PM.

10-08-2016, 05:05 PM	#871
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	Yep, only thing left it could be. Really obvious with the diff out. Now to see about stiffer clips for the axle hubs, but bushings are for sure the main issue. Thanks for your help with this! First time for everything... -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

10-08-2016, 05:32 PM	#873
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	Beers on me when I see you (hopefully LS Fest -- as that's where I'll be next year for sure). Now, to find someone (hopefully local) who'll install the Eaton and bushings for me -- once I get the Eaton and LWP Cover. I'll be selling the BMR sway bars and the posi-mod unit. I'll be installing JusticePete's sway bars as soon as I get them, then the Z28 motor mounts. Once I get the diff back and installed, I'll then install the new exhaust, do the oil change, and brakes bled -- probably Castrol React SRF: Again, thanks for your help! -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

10-10-2016, 11:28 AM	#875
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	Talked to DSS this morning, they suggested I expand the clips enough so it takes a prybar to pop the axle hubs. They agreed, I should not be able to 'pop' the hubs by hand. My take is if the clips were not 'weak', I would not have found the bad diff bushings -- at least this way, I can fix the bushings and update the clips -- should make for a stronger setup! -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577 Last edited by hammdo; 02-23-2017 at 12:49 AM.

10-10-2016, 08:03 PM	#876
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	OK, adjusted the c-clips in the axle hubs. According to DSS, you just stretch them a bit so they have some overhang. Here is the clip: Here they are adjusted: This should help keep the axles in better! -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

10-08-2016, 04:28 PM	#870
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,171	As we suspected. I love it when a plan comes together.

10-08-2016, 08:06 PM	#874
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,171	You are welcome Don.

10-10-2016, 08:47 PM	#877
camaro500 Drives: 2017 Jaguar F Type R Tuned 498awhp Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada Posts: 871 View My Garage	Great info and pictures! Thank you! This build has been a great help to me. The offset bushings look really interesting... Keep us posted, I might buy a set! __________________ JRE cammed w.full bolt ons 444rwhp/422rwtq SOLD 2017 Jaguar F Type R ''Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.'' - F. Bueller

10-10-2016, 08:50 PM	#878
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,240 View My Garage	Vely Interesting. __________________

10-10-2016, 09:09 PM	#879
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	Yes it is ;o). GPI said they'd do the differential and bushings so I'll drive it up this time and avoid UPS. -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577

10-10-2016, 09:32 PM	#880
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,240 View My Garage	__________________

10-11-2016, 08:29 PM	#881
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Can this happen to a stock axle? Can't believe we are relying on a deformed wire ring to hold the axles in. I thought that ring was just an assembly thing to keep the axles from falling out during assembly. Shouldn't the axle length be what keeps it in?

10-11-2016, 08:44 PM	#882
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	In this case, I'm lowered, axles are on a different angle. The clips on stock axles are a big stronger and thicker so very unlikely to happen. In my case, the diff bushings are really bad and gave way too much room for the axle to move. They only moved 1/2 inch so it wasn't much, just enough to move the axle away from the seal. Now, with the updated bushings, clips reset, I will likely NOT have that problem. It has to do with 'all' the changes I did (solid bushings, lowering, etc) that had an affect on the axles. Diff bushings really allow the diff to twist enough to pull the axles out. I doubt a 'stock' setup will see that unless its been changed like mine... -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577 Last edited by hammdo; 05-28-2017 at 11:51 AM.