i want to upgrade my rear axle . my car is a 86 camaro with the 7.625 stock axle 2:73 gear set and of course its an open diff. its a street driven car that sees no track time . just a DD . would a eaton /detroit locker be a good choice? it would only see 300 LBS. FT. torque. AND i want to keep the 2:73 gearing. the question is ,, of all the carriers out there this ,to me seems like the best choice. however i am asking for opinions from others who have done this upgrade BEFORE i go dropping money on it

 

I wouldn't put a locker in it, you'll likely end up removing it.

Can go with either a Torsen type differential or a clutch type posi.

RBob.

 

The problem that you are going to have is finding an after market 2 series limited slip differential. Most, if not all, after market differentials are 3 series, which will not work with your 2.73 gears.


I like the Eaton Posi for most street/strip applications. The Eaton truetrac is also popular. Be sure to match the differential to your axle splines, which would be 26 for an '86.

 

i have heard stories wherein the clutch plates in the eaton posi dont last very long . obviously i cant verify this . however , Mr big gear head. i will take your advice on the eaton posi and have summit ship me one. and i already have a set of axles from a 92 that are 28 spline . and as for a gear set , what brand would you choose for quiet street application?

 

I used the Eaton Posi with clutch pack. Not only was it recommended here but the man installing it with over 20 years experience with differentials (shop is Called "The Rearend Shop" )also recommended it for my application.
Here it is at Eaton = http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsS...posi/index.htm


And here is my thread = https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...de-photos.html


The 3.42 gear ratio is a perfect match to my 700r4 and added 100 % to the fun factor compared to the 2.73 s it replaced.


I used the brand that the shop caries and uses for all of there jobs including large fleet trucks, etc. made by "Sierra Gear & Axle". Nice and quiet. Everything came with a 3 year warrantee.




That brand is not mentioned here that I know of so I would go with whatever big gear head recommends.

 

Recommending a gear that is quiet is hard to do. So many people are having problems with gears now. I don't think there is a quality gear now that you can count on being good. I would probably try a Yukon gear. The good brands that I used years ago are no longer available. If you want to spend about twice the money then get a AAM gear. They are the best quality because they are the supplier for GM.

 

So as apposed to what a lot of these manufacturing company's are offering with gear sets now ,how does a used set of GM gears measure up ?

 

If you can set them up the way they were before then they will be fine. The problem with used gears is that it's extremely hard to read any pattern on them due to normal wear.