I'm going to be going to a junk yard next week and they have a bunch of 3rd gen Camaros and I was hoping I could find a posi-trac rear end, maybe even with disk brakes (not holding my breath). So I'm wondering how I can tell if a rear-end is posi-trac or not without having to take it apart etc. Also, will there be any problem with it bolting up to my car with the stock drive shaft even though I have a V6?

 

It's not really "taking it apart," your just pulling off 10 little bolts and looking in the cover. It's quite obvious right away then if it's posi. If it is you'll see a carrier with springs/clutches in it. If it's not you'll just see an open carrier with spider gears.

It'll bolt up just fine to your car whether you have a V6 or not. They're the same rear-end and everything.

If you do get a disc brake one, try to get it with e-brake cables too. It's kind of annoying to do it yourself.

 

There's supposed to be a metal tag like the one in the following pic (under the left guide) on limited slips--but the only real way to check is pop the cover.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...g?d=1087748246

JamesC

 

Would someone happen to have pictures of what I'd see under the cover on a posi-trac and a limited-slip? I've never seen under either so I really wouldn't know what I'm looking at.

 

Posi/Limted Slip are the same thing.

G80 Gov-Loc posi.eBay Motors: 7.5 GM Eaton Locker 10 Bolt Posi Carrier 28s 3.73 4.11s (item 8074486528 end time Jun-18-06 07:02:48 PDT)

Regular open carrier, notice there aren't any springs or anything.

Standard Clutch-type posi (notice the springs).

 

the tag is not always acurate. my buddy purchased a Z28 with a limited slip rear, had the tag, but when we opened it up it was an open carrier... the prior owners had put the tag on so they could pass off the car as a posi.

 

If they're the same, then why does everyone want a posi-trac? I thought that posi-trac was "solid" axel (i.e. both wheels will spin and not just one in a burnout or if one tire is stuck in mud, etc.). I must be confused (I know nothing about rear ends).

 

Yep, that's what limited slip and posi-trac do (but the axel isn't solid). They're the same. Do a search for more detailed info.

JamesC

 

Posi-trac is a trademark of GM of thier Limited Slip Differentials hence the cunfusion as people think they are 2 different units.

On the newer cars 98+, they came with the Zexel Torsen LSD, which is a torque based LSD which gives the appearance of beiong an open diff when the rear is in the air. it uses gears and springs to multiply the torque from one wheel to the other, but one wheel needs to have some grip for the multiplication to work.

On the older rears like in our cars (and Eaton/Auburn posi unuts), when the rear is suspended both wheel turn the same direction.