TA Rear End Cover

[levityinc3]

I noticed my diff was leaking a couple months ago so I checked the bolts and refilled it. It seemed to stop the problem until about a week ago, it looked wet again. I just had it rebuilt last summer. I decided to purchase a TA cover. The install was easy and I am happy with the quality of it. Supposedly it will help prolong the life, according to some posts on ls1tech. I used sealer and a new gasket, and the hardware the cover came with is top notch. No leaks, and I don't anticipate any in the future. I know a lot of people will say "Don't waste money by pouring into the shitty 10 bolt." Unfortunately I don't have $2500 to blow on a 9" right now. Picture installed is attached.

IMAG4480.jpg

[pajeff02]

Can't tell from the pics, does it have the studs that thread in against the bearing caps?

[2002ssslp]

^ What Jeff asked. Looks like you have a cover and not a girdle. A girdle will have two screw in, lock down allen head studs in the center of the cover that you need to contact the diff end caps then torque an additional 15 ft. lbs. to give a little added strength to the poor little 10 bolt.

[Firebirdjones]

Looks like it has the preload bolts, I see the support ridges running up both side of the cover.

Nice covers, I use one on a 12 bolt.

[levityinc3]

^ What Jeff asked. Looks like you have a cover and not a girdle. A girdle will have two screw in, lock down allen head studs in the center of the cover that you need to contact the diff end caps then torque an additional 15 ft. lbs. to give a little added strength to the poor little 10 bolt.

It has the load bolts. It is a girdle. They have been torqued.

[pajeff02]

I think the torque spec on my load bolts was only 5 ft.lbs.

[2002ssslp]

I think the torque spec on my load bolts was only 5 ft.lbs.

It has been a long time since I did mine. I think 5 lbs. may be correct.

[levityinc3]

Mine were torqued to 5 per the instructions.

[bberretta]

I did the same thing when I poured a grand into rebuilding the stock 10-bolt (TA cover, ARP cap studs, new bearings, Richmond 3.73 gear). It lasted just over a year before I split the posi in half and ended up going with a 9" rear- the one thing I didn't change. Sometimes the stock rear is fine, but for some of us it just doesn't hold up. I think I was good until I put a new clutch and a better set of rear tires. I loved the girdle/cover, it looked great and served a purpose. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't enough.