So I got a few questions about building up the 10 bolt:

1) does the TA girdle really strengthen the rear end?

2) I have seen some mini spools for our 7.5 10 bolt. Would this make it stronger?

3) Anybody make strong axels for the 10 bolt?

4) What are the strongest gears(brand)

5) what are the limits of the 10 bolt?

6) anybody have a fast car and still running one w/o problems?

Marty

I kinda figure that w/ the girdle/spool/axels/ and a new ring and pinion the 10 bolt should be pretty stout. Am I wrong in this assumption? <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">

 

The longest amout of time I've seen a 10-bolt last was on hammers car....the girdle will save the gears...and the STRONGEST gears are the 2.73's... <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

 

There is nothing you can do, it will break. No amount of money will save the bad design. If you keep the stock gears and add a $150 girdle, you stand the best chance, but don't count on it.

Just save up the $2000 and buy a real rear end.

 

What he said... <img src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" border="0">

 

How long will a girdle and 3.73's last with DR's.. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]Originally posted by vmoore:
<strong>How long will a girdle and 3.73's last with DR's.. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I am curious on this one too.

 

The gears will last until they break.

 

I never broke my Strange 3:73 Gears, w/Ultimate Girdle But after a few 3k-4k launches they made so much noise I had to replace them.. The Precision Gears I put in lasted 800 miles before thay got so noisy I couldn't stand it. The installer just put a new set of Strange back in. (no charge) will see how they do till I can couph up $2500.00. BTW the first set of 3:73 were in for close to a year and were very quiet till they failed.. Jason

 

Marty I would seriously save the $$ for a 9" or 12 bolt...with the th350 its gonna go fast no matter what you put in it...especially for WOT shifts...and if your on a et street... <img src="gr_emb.gif" border="0"> BOOM!

 

[quote]Originally posted by Terry Burger:
<strong>The gears will last until they break.</strong><hr></blockquote>

i'm sorry sitting here at work this just cracked me up!

<img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> <img src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" border="0" alt="[jester]" />

 

Ratech solid collar seems to help.

A few things are the natural enemy of the stock rearend...

-traction
-wheelhop
-slicks

Everytime I have seen someone ignore wheelhop it has cost them a rearend.

 

[quote]Originally posted by vmoore:
<strong>How long will a girdle and 3.73's last with DR's.. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I have an A4 with YANK ST3500 and had 3.73's in the 10 bolt, it lasted 13 sub-2.0 60' passes, roughly 7 or 8 of those passes were 1.7 60's... this was on BFG DR's... hope this helps. I have a Moser now! <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

Marty, M6 or A4? It will last a lot longer behind an A4. I'm with you I think, a little money in to the 10 bolt rather than a lot of money for a 12 bolt (right now at least). Here's what I did to my 10 bolt in the fall:

• Weld the axles tubes all the way around the housing - from the factory they are just tacked in two spots per side
• Solid bearing spacer in place of the pinion crush sleeve - supports the pinion and helps keep the it from climbing up the ring gear
• Support cover - save yoursedlf some money and get one from Summit, it's the same thing and is $30-$40 less
• Moser axles

Keep higher gears in it, 3.73 are about 50% the strength of 3.42.

All told, I have less than $400 into the 10 bolt. I've got a few dozen passes on it since I did the work (minus the axles, they're sitting in the basment still). I generally cut high 1.8 to mid 1.9 60' times on F1s, but my car is no much of a beast, generally 12.8-13.0 @ 108-109. My planning will be tested this season as I am going to a PY3600E, DOT slicks and nitrous.
I deally I'd rather have a 12-bolt, but want to put off dropping $2500 as long as possible. Who knows if I break this one maybe I'll just do another 10-bolt depending on how long it lasts.
If you want some more information shoot me an email direct.

 

The reason most people drop the 2500 and don't bother beefing up the 10 bolt is because many people have broken 10 bolts with TA covers and other little things here and there like you said you had done. It might last a little longer, but in the long run, it's wasted money.

When mine broke I had the choice of rebuilding for about $1,000 or buying a 12 bolt for $2000 ($2175 out the door). I made the better decisions which was to buy the 12 bolt and be done with it and not have to worry about breaking it for a long long time.

 

I know I'm bringing up an old thread here, but...

I think it's all about set up and parts choice. Bearing cap studs are a VERY wise choice to keep things in place. I have an Eaton posi, MAC cover, Richmond 4.10s, and bearing cap studs. I haven't had the Eaton out on a track yet, but my STOCK torsen differential with the exact same parts held up to a more than a dozen low 1.6 second 60' times on ET Streets, with the best being a 1.612. It finally broke when I came off the line spinning had and hooked suddenly...sounded a lot like a hand grenade. This rear also still has the stock axles in it. This weekend I'm going to try to break my way into the mid 1.5 range with it.

6 speeds may kill them, but an automatic car with a properly built 10-bolt will last...

 

u can pick up used ten bolts cheap on ebay i bought one for a spare for $100 that was everything caliper to caliper so let'm blow

 

my stock 10 bolt lasted 5 years and countless passes at the trac on mid to low 1.6 60" on drag radials with a vig 3200, now a 3600. I broke 3 transmissions, but just now my first 10 bolt. I ate the teeth on the pinion bearing on a used set of 3.73's

 

i had 4:10s in my 10 bolt behind an m6 on my camaro and beat on it consistently until the noise was unbearable.
i took it to DTS and they had to straighten out the tubes & weld them to the center section new bearings and diff cover and a new set of 4:10 gears. up till that point i had all bolt ons on my car; after i redid the rearend i did a head and cam swap and that 10 bolt held up beautifuly.
i am currently running a 12 bolt in my camaro but recently bought a T\A that's gonna be my DD with the stock rear on it and im planning on doing the same with that rear as i did to the 10 bolt when it was on the camaro.