Z28 Diff Noise and Behavior - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Matty Ice · 08-23-2019, 12:35 PM

Have some questions for you Z28 Boys.Thanks in advance for the info.

I finally installed(myself) the used Z28 differential I bought along with the following; Z28 Rear Knuckles, Z28 Wheel Hubs/Bearings,Z28 Trailing Arms, and Derlin Off-set Differential bushings. I now have all these new noises and I am apprehensive everything is going to blow up.

My question is how noisy is this diff? I don't notice any howling or drone from the bushings or gears. I do notice it clunks a little differently than my old diff. At certain times a get a little clunk when putting it into 1st gear or running through the gears with the clutch in.

The behavior is somewhat the same. Better make sure you are pointed in the direction you want to go because this thing grips and turns. The one thing I have noticed is when making a hard left turn from a stop or going slow, seems like the left rear tire kind of chatters like it is fighting for traction, old diff didn't do that, is this normal with the Torsen diff?

I am sure all the more noticeable noises are from the diff bushings, and I am worrying for nothing.

Any of you guys that went from an SS to a Z could share any experiences/observations between the two diffs that would be great!

MrRaZ28 · 08-23-2019, 02:30 PM

It's definitely a loud diff. Clunks and noises etc during low speed turns are completely normal and should be expected. My wife and I each have one, and when I first got mine I was concerned as well, but I was told it's normal. I can confirm now with 2 Z's that the noises are the exact same for both.

j o n · 08-23-2019, 02:45 PM

Good video of why the torsen is louder, gear on gear action and they are more reactive to transferring power from one wheel to the other

MrRaZ28 · 08-23-2019, 03:07 PM

Jon for the win!

olblue75 · 08-23-2019, 03:32 PM

I put one in my SS with the DSE toe and trailing arms it's a little noiseyier than my previous 3.91 and does everything as described but it's a solid part so no worries. Did you score axles too???

pzero · 08-23-2019, 04:14 PM

My 2015 Z with 9800 miles makes the same dang noise. Clunking noise in the rear diff when driving slow. At first I was really worried I got a lemon, but reading bunch of post here it states the same thing. Also remember the Z doesn't have a whole lot of sound proofing stuff to save weight, so the sounds going to travel through the body a bit more.

My go cart back in the 80's made the same dang clunking noise, but more chain clunking and not gear clunking. It was fast as @#$%!

Matty Ice · 08-23-2019, 06:30 PM

Thanks everyone for the info.

Jon- I saw that vid on the tube, it is what sealed the deal on me getting the Z28 Diff.

Old Blue- No I did not get the Z28 axles. Not sure if it is true, but I heard the only difference between the 1le and Z28 axles is the grease? Can't justify the money just to get grease? As far as the differences in the traction/handling between the two, what did you notice?

69L48Z27 · 08-23-2019, 07:54 PM

They make a clunk or a pop when going around a corner at low speed. I would not call it noisy, they shouldn’t make any gear noises. No howling or whine.

hammdo · 08-23-2019, 08:15 PM

Delrins add to the noise — a ton!

-Don

olblue75 · 08-24-2019, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty Ice

Thanks everyone for the info.

Jon- I saw that vid on the tube, it is what sealed the deal on me getting the Z28 Diff.

Old Blue- No I did not get the Z28 axles. Not sure if it is true, but I heard the only difference between the 1le and Z28 axles is the grease? Can't justify the money just to get grease? As far as the differences in the traction/handling between the two, what did you notice?

Well I did a track day at NCM an it performed flawlessly and I had less kick out due to a clutch based diff and seemed to out the power down a lot better even hard acceleration coming out of corners

Matty Ice · 08-27-2019, 01:55 AM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I was lucky, I did not get much noise from the Derlin bushings, maybe a little around 35mph. Girlfriend says she doesn't notice any different noise from the bushings. Maybe the LT's and fuse pull NPP helps?

GeneRoss · 08-27-2019, 04:58 PM

Just bought my Z/28. I have a small clunk while at slow speeds. I wouldn't even call it a clunk more like a soft thud.

Biergut · 08-28-2019, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneRoss

Just bought my Z/28. I have a small clunk while at slow speeds. I wouldn't even call it a clunk more like a soft thud.

Isn't it great!

I love it when it pop/clunks! Reminds me how damn awesome the Z/28 is!

pzero · 08-28-2019, 04:02 PM

I told the same damn thing to one of my friend about my Z and he said, "For crying out loud, you bought a race car not a Lexus." This made me think about it and he was right. Z's a race car so it's going to snap, crackle, and pop like a race car...in a good way.

08-23-2019, 12:35 PM	#1
Matty Ice Drives: 2015 SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 537	Z28 Diff Noise and Behavior Have some questions for you Z28 Boys.Thanks in advance for the info. I finally installed(myself) the used Z28 differential I bought along with the following; Z28 Rear Knuckles, Z28 Wheel Hubs/Bearings,Z28 Trailing Arms, and Derlin Off-set Differential bushings. I now have all these new noises and I am apprehensive everything is going to blow up. My question is how noisy is this diff? I don't notice any howling or drone from the bushings or gears. I do notice it clunks a little differently than my old diff. At certain times a get a little clunk when putting it into 1st gear or running through the gears with the clutch in. The behavior is somewhat the same. Better make sure you are pointed in the direction you want to go because this thing grips and turns. The one thing I have noticed is when making a hard left turn from a stop or going slow, seems like the left rear tire kind of chatters like it is fighting for traction, old diff didn't do that, is this normal with the Torsen diff? I am sure all the more noticeable noises are from the diff bushings, and I am worrying for nothing. Any of you guys that went from an SS to a Z could share any experiences/observations between the two diffs that would be great!

08-23-2019, 03:32 PM	#5
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,147	I put one in my SS with the DSE toe and trailing arms it's a little noiseyier than my previous 3.91 and does everything as described but it's a solid part so no worries. Did you score axles too??? __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

08-23-2019, 08:15 PM	#9
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	Delrins add to the noise — a ton! -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

08-23-2019, 02:30 PM	#2
MrRaZ28 @MrRaZ28 Drives: 2014 Z28 #80 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 590 View My Garage	It's definitely a loud diff. Clunks and noises etc during low speed turns are completely normal and should be expected. My wife and I each have one, and when I first got mine I was concerned as well, but I was told it's normal. I can confirm now with 2 Z's that the noises are the exact same for both.

08-23-2019, 03:07 PM	#4
MrRaZ28 @MrRaZ28 Drives: 2014 Z28 #80 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 590 View My Garage	Jon for the win!

08-23-2019, 04:14 PM	#6
pzero Drives: 2015 Camaro Z/28 #968 Silver Ice M Join Date: May 2019 Location: Houston Posts: 366	My 2015 Z with 9800 miles makes the same dang noise. Clunking noise in the rear diff when driving slow. At first I was really worried I got a lemon, but reading bunch of post here it states the same thing. Also remember the Z doesn't have a whole lot of sound proofing stuff to save weight, so the sounds going to travel through the body a bit more. My go cart back in the 80's made the same dang clunking noise, but more chain clunking and not gear clunking. It was fast as @#$%!

08-23-2019, 06:30 PM	#7
Matty Ice Drives: 2015 SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 537	Thanks everyone for the info. Jon- I saw that vid on the tube, it is what sealed the deal on me getting the Z28 Diff. Old Blue- No I did not get the Z28 axles. Not sure if it is true, but I heard the only difference between the 1le and Z28 axles is the grease? Can't justify the money just to get grease? As far as the differences in the traction/handling between the two, what did you notice?

08-23-2019, 07:54 PM	#8
69L48Z27 Drives: 2015 Z/28; 1969 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: York, PA Posts: 813	They make a clunk or a pop when going around a corner at low speed. I would not call it noisy, they shouldn’t make any gear noises. No howling or whine.

08-27-2019, 01:55 AM	#11
Matty Ice Drives: 2015 SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 537	Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I was lucky, I did not get much noise from the Derlin bushings, maybe a little around 35mph. Girlfriend says she doesn't notice any different noise from the bushings. Maybe the LT's and fuse pull NPP helps?

08-27-2019, 04:58 PM	#12
GeneRoss Drives: 14 Z/28 #368 02 SS(sold) 2012 Equus Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 197	Just bought my Z/28. I have a small clunk while at slow speeds. I wouldn't even call it a clunk more like a soft thud.

08-28-2019, 04:02 PM	#14
pzero Drives: 2015 Camaro Z/28 #968 Silver Ice M Join Date: May 2019 Location: Houston Posts: 366	I told the same damn thing to one of my friend about my Z and he said, "For crying out loud, you bought a race car not a Lexus." This made me think about it and he was right. Z's a race car so it's going to snap, crackle, and pop like a race car...in a good way.