I am building a turbo 5.3 with a th350 trans. 3200 stall. Trying to figure if I should go ahead and get a rear diff set up, or see what I can do with the stock one. Going to run 273 or 308 gears in the rear and more than likely drag radials. any suggestions?

 

Their really is no answer on how much one can hold. I have talked to customers that have had them break while their car was stock and have others mention how they made such and such HP before theirs let go.

It isn't really a HP thing that breaks these. It is the torque arm attached to a housing that just can not handle the abuse.

 

What type of torque arm improvement would make the stock rear last longer?

 

There isn't one, the fact it is there in the first place is the issue. The housing is physically not strong enough to handle a torque arm added by the small size of the ring and pinion.

 

im actually interested in that as well. thats the first time ive heard that the torque arm is the root casue. I myself have an UMI Adj TA thats on a UMI Trans mount with the relocation mout for the TA all whilel attached to my stock 2.73 filled rearend.

 

It is a combination of things that I posted above. Add in the weight and a M6 car and put them all together you are prone to have issues especially if you add a sticky tire or get into a wheel hop situation.

 

Best straight answer, anywhere from stock to 1k HP. Depends on weight of car, tires, what type of driving/racing you do etc....I've seen people with 800 rwhp running a stock 10 bolt, but it never leaves the street and never sees anything but street tires. Also I've seen broken 10 bolts in stock power cars running m6's and drag radials at the track....

Basically any way you stack the odds, any 10 bolt with a torque arm is a ticking time bomb.

 

Honestly, if you plan to push a 10 bolt to its limits, make sure each time you nail it, the fact your riding around on a toilet paper roll for a rear axle is in the back of your mind.

A little scare like that can save them sometimes.

 

I went 11.7 with a 1.7 60' with a 100 shot on my stock 10 bolt and tq arm. But this is an a4 sometimes that helps them last longer but best idea is a s60 or strange 12 bolt. Then you can beat the **** out of it and not have to worry