Lurbie

iTrader: (3)

Strange Engineering has just announced their Black Friday sale. I'm wondering if I should buy a new carrier, gears, axle shafts, and girdle for the stock axle; or just replace the entire axle assembly and rear brakes with a new S60?
My car dynoed at 350RWHP/400 lb.ft. torque. It's not going to see track time, it's a weekend cruiser and I enjoy fast acceleration and burnouts. I'm running 295/35R18 Nitto Invo tires (which suck for traction, so I will find a stickier street tire when these wear out). The stock 10-bolt is a 2.73:1 with the weak Auburn posi that is starting to go out, giving me a few "one-wheel peels" this summer.
I'm estimating about $1,000 just to upgrade my stock 10-bolt with new internals, or about $3,350 if I replace the entire axle with compatible rear brakes and new driveshaft. So, it is a huge cost difference for me.
I'm also wondering, what usually breaks on these 10-bolts? If it just chews up the gear set, I might consider just replacing the internals first, with the thought being that I could resell the carrier, axles and girdle if it breaks some teeth off. Is that a bad idea? Do I just need to suck it up and beg the wife to let me spend the extra money on the entire axle assembly?

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

I wouldn't put a dime into the 10 bolt

Lurbie

iTrader: (3)

That's kinda where I'm at... the 2.73 ratio sucks, the Auburn carrier is on its deathbed, but it's a big cost difference for something that I've been lucky enough to not physically break into pieces for two summers. So I don't know if it's the smaller gear ratio that's held it together, or just luck of the draw as some people experience. I'm torn between a decision of possibly blowing $1k on a trash axle, or possibly spending $2k too much for strength that I may not need.

big gear head

The 2.73 gear is stronger than 3.73 due to the size of the pinion head. As the pinion head gets smaller it gets weaker. This may be why you have not broken anything. There are better differentials for the 7.5/7.6 rear end. You could upgrade the rear end that you have and you may not ever break it, but if you do break it then that money is probably wasted. You need to look ahead and think about what you may do to the car in the future. If you plan on power upgrades then you might want to go with a stronger rear end.

Lurbie

iTrader: (3)

Thanks. I think I've read that before about the 2.73 being stronger when compared to more preferred ratios due to its size. I have convinced the wife to let me do this so I'm going to order the S60 before she changes her mind.