ARCTICWHITE98Z28

iTrader: (1)

I removed my 10 bolt that had 2.73 gears and am now installing a used 10 bolt that has 3.42 gears. I have a 98 Z28 A4 and the new rear is out of a 2000 Z28 M6.

After installing the u-joint bolts it looks like the torque arm is not going to line up. It is about an inch too long now. I have raised up the jack under the rear to see if adjusting the height would help. No such luck.

So am I going crazy or do I need a longer driveshaft now or a shorter torque arm?? Thanks.

EPP

iTrader: (22)

Everything should be the same, something is not aligned up. Bob

ARCTICWHITE98Z28

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the reply Bob. I was able to get the torque arm bolts in, BUT the driveshaft is not fully engaged into the transmission now. It is barely in the transmission. There are about 2-3 inches at the end of the drive shaft that I thought should slide further into the transmission. Is that normal?

After installing the torque arm bolts I tried aligning the rearend different ways (further to the left, the right, up/down, etc) and sliding it forward, but it is up as far as it will go.

I am afraid to finish the new 10 bolt install and start the car because of the front of the driveshaft not being slid all the way into the tranny.

Any advice??? Thanks

EPP

iTrader: (22)

The driveshaft should only have an extra .75 or so of play at the front. Two to three inches is definitely too much and you are correct in assuming something is not right. All of these rears are the same in their design, and all of the driveshafts are the same length, so something is not installed correctly. Is the rear on the ground or the rear supported when you checked the driveshaft? Bob

ARCTICWHITE98Z28

iTrader: (1)

The rear is supported with a floor jack under the carrier. It is jacked up to what seems like a normal height. Is it possible I have the incorrect driveshaft and I just didn't notice it before with the old rear? I am afraid the front of the driveshaft is going to either A) fall out while driving or B) screw up my tailshaft on the end of the transmission.

Should I just continue on with the install of the new 10 bolt and see if installing the shocks, LCAs, etc forces the driveshaft to slide up further into the tranny? Any other ideas? Thanks.

ARCTICWHITE98Z28

iTrader: (1)

After bolting up the LCAs and the shocks the driveshaft now has about 2 inches of play at the front vs 3". Hopefully that will be ok. Any ideas???

Thanks.