Gears & Axles - have my 10 bolt rebuilt by a good shop or go s60?

this has probably been asked 1000 times,
my 2002 SS with less than 70k miles has the rear end really whining and i have a slight vibration at 50+ mph in 6th gear. I've read on here that the transmission can cause the vibrations in 6th but i don't think that is the cause for me. I have a new transmission mount and u-joints in the mail and will change those out in the next couple weeks and check drive shaft angle.

The car is for the most part babied, it's my daily driver to work in the summer, the worst it ever sees is a 1st or 2nd gear pull getting on the highway from a rolling start. The dealer had replaced the pinion seal years ago maybe around 20k or 30k miles so i am wondering if that job has finally caught up. I have changed the rear axle gear oil numerous times and it doesn't leak. I also have new continental tires on the oem rims and had balanced checked twice.

I recently inquired at a local shop about getting it rebuilt and the guy flat out told me he has rebuilt a few 7.5" or 7.625" GM rears like what is in my car and they turned out noisy. He claimed he even contacted GM about it and was told by them that there is sometimes nothing you can do because it's such a small ring gear. I don't know if that's true or not.

I just read
http://ls1tech.com/forums/gears-axles/1567320-whiine-new-373-a-2.html

and so now i'm undecided about having my rear rebuilt or buying an S60.
I believe I could order a Strange S60 and new drive shaft and install it in my garage along with maybe a new torque arm that doesn't mount to the tail shaft of the T56. I'm ball-parking that around $3g, but i'd be able to do it myself and hopefully have a bulletproof and quiet rear axle.

My other option having read the thread in here is to get my 10-bolt rebuilt, I'm guessing to the tune of $1g. My goal is to have a quiet highway car and not break the bank, but if i have to break the bank to have a quiet rear then i will. I park the car in the garage every winter so i'm hoping to get this done this coming winter. All in all the car is in good shape and I don't mind keeping it and putting the money into it.
thanks.

The decision is pondered by many, some have sucessfully rebuilt the 10-bolt but most have found it to be throwing money away that could go toward a S60.

Let Me know if I can provide You a quote for a S60!

Good luck with Your decision,
Carl

do the 60 .you won't regret it,except you will want a bigger motor because the 60 will take .

Definatley call carl he is very helpful and has great prices

Some say you will be throwing money down a rathole if you repair the 10 bolt, but IMO you will be throwing money down a rathole if you spend your estimated $3000 for an aftermarket rearend - at least $2500 of that $3000 - which according to your driving style you don't need.

If you have put over 40 k on the car by now and haven't broken the rearend, and don't plan to change your driving habits, then a used rearend ($350) or a rebuild of your rearend (about $500) should save you a ton of money for some other mods or leave it in the bank.

I just rebuilt my 10 bolt. Labor was $175 + a complete Ratech overhaul kit + solid pinion spacer for less than $150. I decided to add the LPW brace kit while I was at it.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/gears-axles/1572890-lpw-brace-kit-installed.html

If you decide to go with a new gear set then expect to pay another $200 or so. Even so that's considerably a lot less than $1000.

As for rearend whine - do a search on whine in this forum and review the slew of posts about the dissatisfaction about whine with Moser rearends. So stay away from it. I just sold my Moser for that very reason. Got tired of people telling me that I would just have to live with it (whine).

Lastly - if you decide to install an aftermarket torque arm be prepared for some noise from it especially if you decide on a tunnel mount. And if you decide to rebuild the 10 bolt and install the TA at the same time and get whine - don't necessarily blame the whine on the rearend. It's probably the TA causing the noise. I've been down that road too.

If you have put over 40 k on the car by now and haven't broken the rearend, and don't plan to change your driving habits, then a used rearend ($350) or a rebuild of your rearend (about $500) should save you a ton of money for some other mods or leave it in the bank.


X2 my car still has stock rearend with about 175K on it - it did have bearings replaced by PO myn is a street car with no strip time so its all I need you can get used GM gears on ebay 3.42, 3.73 and 4.10s for 50-75$ a good bearing kit and a couple hundred in labor - why spend $ you dont need to? KISS= keep it simple stupid are my thoughts

My vote is s60.