10 Bolt Rear End

**Intrepidman** · 03-27-2009, 06:44 AM

Well guys, spring is getting closer and as I'm about to start modding my attention turns to the rear end. (My car is a 2002 WS6)
Anyone who remembers my posts knows I'm not getting too crazy with my car....just the usual bolt ons, airflow in & airflow out and of course a good tune and some SFCs.
But I will be slapping on some nitto 315s. (street tire, not drag)

There really isn't an answer out there (as far as I can tell) to the question of WHEN exactly a 10 bolt becomes inadaquate and I think I'm still in a pretty safe zone...but I have been warned by a few people about the big tires and I'm wondering if I can "sure up" the old 10 bolt a bit?

I wouldn't really think there is much that can be done, but I do see some places like LMPerformance selling aftermarket diff covers that claim to strenghten the 10 bolt a bit and also cool it faster.
Is there any trueth to that claim and should I think about getting one if I plan to drag race my car one weekend a month and act a fool sometimes (but still with just the street tires, I'm never getting drag radials, and probably not getting any more mods)

BTW, I'll be changing the fluid soon...should I just follow the write up at "Install University":
2 quarts of Synthetic Gear Lube (Mobil 1 75w-90)
1 bottle (12 oz.) of genuine GM limited slip additive
and some RTV sealant on both sides of the gasket

**shady milkman** · 03-27-2009, 07:31 AM

is your car a4 or m6? do you track alot..with street tires the traction will break before the rear has enough time to be heavily stressed

**shady milkman** · 03-27-2009, 07:31 AM

also search around..this subject has been beat to death..

**Intrepidman** · 03-27-2009, 10:23 AM

FYI I should have mentioned I'm talking about an A4. (Tuning will program it to be "more aggressive" though)

And yes....the rear end thing has been talked to death, I just hadn't noticed anyone saying YEA or NEA on the issue of aftermarket covers actually being worth the $$.

**Sweet Chops** · 03-27-2009, 10:48 AM

I plan on putting a TA cover on when I do 4.10s. I think they help alittle but to me it is more peace of mind.

Ryan

**shady milkman** · 03-27-2009, 11:45 AM

you'll be fine with a A4....the covers do help ..but axles are our weak points also..that and the flex on the casing then causes the contact patch of teeth to deflect leading to grenadine

**SLP00blueSS** · 03-28-2009, 01:52 PM

I have an m6 and have a ta cover with synthetic fluid which does not require the gm additive make sure you read the label on which ever fluid you do use because some stuff like royal purple will not require the additive. I think you will be fine with the 315 street tire on an a4.

**0rion** · 03-28-2009, 11:54 PM

playing with the stock 10 bolt is like playing the stock market. That's why you never hear anyone give a definite on them. It could be fine for years or pop tomorrow. The limit for them is about 100HP less than the LS1 has stock.

I never recommend putting a dime into the stock 10 bolt and here's why. A TA cover is ~$150 and a main cap stud kit is another $25. Just doing a cover is going to cost you $175+shipping so you might as well say $200. You can buy a used 10 bolt for that or cheaper when your stock one pops. Guess what? When your stock one pops it's probably going to send some metal through that $200 cover.

It's just not worth putting the money into them when you can buy used replacements so cheap.

**Intrepidman** · 03-30-2009, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

It's just not worth putting the money into them when you can buy used replacements so cheap.

Hahaha....I hope your right about those prices, but in my experience everything around this part of the world costs at least 3X what you guys pay in the blessed USA.

Though what I'd really stress would be the labour costs....they'd probably shock a guy to death.

**Intrepidman** · 03-31-2009, 09:23 AM

At the risk of sounding like a compete noob....why do you need a main cap stud kit with the new cover?

**0rion** · 03-31-2009, 09:28 AM

it puts pressure on the bearing caps to keep them from walking around.

**Intrepidman** · 03-31-2009, 10:41 AM

I was thinking about this....if I do anything to the 10 bolt.

Anyone know if this is a reputable manufacturer?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TA-Pe...91210003r30876

**0rion** · 04-01-2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Intrepidman

I was thinking about this....if I do anything to the 10 bolt.

Anyone know if this is a reputable manufacturer?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TA-Pe...91210003r30876

are you talking about the cover or the seller? Never heard of the seller but the T/A cover is a good cover. It's what I have on my 12 bolt. The drain and fill allen bolts, while handy to have, are a real pain to get at and get off.

**rbob93** · 04-02-2009, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

The drain and fill allen bolts, while handy to have, are a real pain to get at and get off.

Couldn't you use a square or hex drive plug rather than a socket head??

**0rion** · 04-02-2009, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by rbob93

Couldn't you use a square or hex drive plug rather than a socket head??

I'm going off memory here and would have to crawl under there and look but I'm pretty sure they're true allen bolts. I know they're 2 different sizes.

**rbob93** · 04-02-2009, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

I'm going off memory here and would have to crawl under there and look but I'm pretty sure they're true allen bolts. I know they're 2 different sizes.

Yeah, but I mean replace them with square or hex head.....

**02Sweet** · 04-02-2009, 10:15 AM

I just swapped out a 10 bolt. It took me a couple of hours with some friends. I couldn't imagine paying someone to do it though. I got a good deal on mine $200 picked up. I am looking for another one for about that price. Then I will start the savings up for the 12 bolt

**0rion** · 04-02-2009, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by rbob93

Yeah, but I mean replace them with square or hex head.....

I'm sure you probably could but there's just not a lot of room back there to begin with. The panhard bar and brace ends up in the way when you're filling it. Just a pain.

**Turrry** · 04-02-2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

you'll be fine with a A4....the covers do help ..but axles are our weak points also..that and the flex on the casing then causes the contact patch of teeth to deflect leading to grenadine

Isn't that the cherry stuff they put in drinks...?