flymybird

I have seen dozens of them when I did a search, so I'm sorry to start another thread... So, call me an idiot, but when someone is selling a cover *with the stud kit*.... what exactly is the *stud kit?* If I see someone else selling the cover and he says "comes with all the mounting hardware" -- is the mounting hardware the same as the stud kit?

And, while we're at it, here's another question... At very low speeds (like when I pull into a parking space or my driveway), I hear a low pitch wobbling noise from the rear. I know our rears make noises (our cars' rears that is), so I am not too too concerned. The car drives just fine at low and at high speeds, but I was going to open up the diff and replace the oil. I thought that while I was at it, I may as well throw out the old cover and just get myself a TA one. Does my reasoning seem logical?

VendettaV6

iTrader: (8)

the covers dont do anything but reinforce.... really only need one if you are running gobs of power... which our rears wont handle anyhow....

Wallywall

A stud kit is two bolts that add support to the main caps (I think they're called main caps). They are not part of the mounting hardware. I'd get it for an auto but not a manual.

flymybird

Why not for a manual?

Wallywall

Waste of money. More power hits the rear than in an auto so it's bound to break. A4's on the other hand, suck up a lot of power which helps lessen the stress. There's a guy in town here pushing 500+ on his stock 10 bolt w/ an A4.

rotwiler

iTrader: (1)

I've seen stock 10 bolts hold up for years on a stock rear in 500+ hp turbo cars running low 11's also. I have made 300 passes in my stock 10 bolt(I did add 3:42 gears a few years ago).. But I am only running mid 12's and I don't get crazy on the launch, plus I am only sitting at just over 340 rwhp(3400 stall converter) and using nittos. The wobbling noise may not even be something the T/A could help since...sound to me like a u joint or ?. I am getting a T/A cover, but not so much for strength...I have heard from some people that it helped with whine, plus makes changing the oil easier.

flymybird

Well I know the T/A cover won't help with the noise, I just thought that since I'm going to be replacing the fluid, why not replace the cover if it will help me in the long run... That way I won't have to f. with it twice if I decide to change the cover later on... The noise is kinda getting to me though. Can't wait till I get to change the oil to see if it will at all help...

rotwiler

iTrader: (1)

I seen someone the other day post that the T/A helped with gear noise...I used Royal Purple last few times I changed out my fluid...sound was a little better for a few months then built back up.

flymybird

Last few times? How often does it NEED to be changed?

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, the stud kit is a set of studs and nuts for the diff bearing caps. Theyre stronger than the stock bolts are.

flymybird

This guy says you can buy the two bolts at a hardware store for $5 instead of $20... http://www.thirdgen.org/beefinguprear

GuitsBoy

iTrader: (4)

Sure. You can also reuse the stockers. But the studs are the strongest.

rotwiler

iTrader: (1)

I have made 300+ passes down the track and better safe than sorry. I normally just change it once a year. I think GM says every 20k, not for sure though. I've always over maintaned my cars..even with mobile 1 oil, I change it at around 4k miles, even though it can go longer. My car sits alot and condensation etc, to me it just makes me feel better and may even make the car happy, so far never 1 issue since new(not even a stupid thing like window motor).

lo_jack

iTrader: (27)

I am not sure he is talking about what you are talking about.

A stud kit is for the main caps, and they secure the main carrier bearing caps to the housing. They replace the factory bolts inside the housing. Those get pushed on when you launch. So holding them on there better is good.

A girdle usually has a pair of bolts with a set screw-like configuration to actually snug up on the back of the the main caps, and are adjusted from the outside. This can be in addition to any potential main cap stud kit. They are designed to address the same problem but do it differently. You do not need a main cap stud kit to do a girdle, and you do not need a girdle to do a stud kit.

However - you should check the clearances on the girdle you choose if you ARE going to do studs as well; I know there have been several people here that have run into clearance problems when they did both, when a girdle was not machined with the extra length of the studs in mind.

Dr. Jeckel

iTrader: (12)

I got main cap studs when I did mine. The TA rear-end girdle will have the main cap support studs that go thru the cover.
You just have to ask and make sure with each case, because some people get sconfused or just really don't know how to word things when they are selling it.