Axle limitations - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BlackMambaZL1 · 01-04-2018, 03:35 PM

Does anyone know at what point I need to start thinking about a driveline and upgraded gears and axles?

Going to be in the 700 to 750 rwhp range here pretty soon and I don't want to have to worry anything.

JB'sZL1 · 01-04-2018, 03:39 PM

I'm pretty sure I read it's good to that amount. That above 750, especially if the tires really hook, things can break.

RobZL1 · 01-04-2018, 04:07 PM

I think the handful of guys here running turbos or compound boost in the 900-1400rwhp range are (or were) still running the stock driveshaft, diff, and axles without issue.

jessrayo, sakudog and a couple others could probably give you a quick answer.

BlackMambaZL1 · 01-04-2018, 04:28 PM

Awesome. I would appreciate any additional feedback. I just got my e85 kit installed with my HX and ID1300's. I am getting my tune next weekend then have a cam planned for the summer. I am a believer of "building it the right way first as opposed to waiting for it to break" is the easier and cheaper route. I want to get out in front of any issues.

zman1969 · 01-05-2018, 02:06 PM

I'm a rear end guy and ZL1's have a 9.9" rear diff and an iron housing(thats huge - like 1 ton truck huge) and I would think axles and driveshaft are the weakest links, the Z28 and SS are like 8.5" and aluminum housings
Oh and an auto is easier on parts than the manual trans with constant loading and unloading of the torque

wait that sounded bad, I mean I rebuild rear ends so I am educated on them

ZL1 axle shafts are different diameter to prevent wrap up - wheel hop

BlackMambaZL1 · 01-05-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman1969

I'm a rear end guy and ZL1's have a 9.9" rear diff and an iron housing(thats huge - like 1 ton truck huge) and I would think axles and driveshaft are the weakest links, the Z28 and SS are like 8.5" and aluminum housings
Oh and an auto is easier on parts than the manual trans with constant loading and unloading of the torque

Lets face it.... either your a rear end guy or your not (Pun intended).

What would you think that the rear end is good for as far as hp and torque? Axles?

I was thinking that the shafts would be the weakest link but I wanted to see if anyone else knew solid numbers.

Can'tHave2MuchHP · 01-05-2018, 05:37 PM

The ZL1 drivetrain is literally bomb proof. You'll have no issues with 700-750 RWHP, or even 900 RWHP. It will handle that with ease for many more passes than the average owner would ever want to do on it. Now obviously if you're racing every single day or whatever, a half shaft may go at some point. But the rear end specifically is monstrous on these things.

gsxrturbo · 01-05-2018, 06:15 PM

pretty sure most break parts with wheel hop.

silversleeper · 01-05-2018, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxrturbo

pretty sure most break parts with wheel hop.

Wheel hop breaks parts for sure, but they did some extra design work to avoid wheel hop when they made it.
On my old school cars with a solid rear they frequently did wheel hop if you got the rear tires spinning good, but the ZL1 I haven't had any that I noticed. The engineers really did their homework making that car. The old "Ford 9 inch iron" rear was about the best you could get, now we got a 9.9 inch ! Maybe I should rephrase that somehow.
Like he said a medium duty truck trans and rear end.

ZMEnow · 01-05-2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silversleeper

Wheel hop breaks parts for sure, but they did some extra design work to avoid wheel hop when they made it.
On my old school cars with a solid rear they frequently did wheel hop if you got the rear tires spinning good, but the ZL1 I haven't had any that I noticed. The engineers really did their homework making that car. The old "Ford 9 inch iron" rear was about the best you could get, now we got a 9.9 inch ! Maybe I should rephrase that somehow.
Like he said a medium duty truck trans and rear end.

It will hop at the strip depending on tires and track prep.

Can'tHave2MuchHP · 01-05-2018, 10:29 PM

Manuals will have much more wear for half shafts/axles and stuff but with a proper driver, it will handle abuse for a long time. Much longer than any other modern muscle car that I'm aware of.

white1LE · 01-08-2018, 05:21 PM

To this day I haven't touched anything behind the flexplate, except periodic maintenance, and I'm at 30,000 miles, 20,000 miles at this power level. They are tough!!!

01-04-2018, 03:35 PM	#1
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	Axle limitations Does anyone know at what point I need to start thinking about a driveline and upgraded gears and axles? Going to be in the 700 to 750 rwhp range here pretty soon and I don't want to have to worry anything.

01-04-2018, 04:07 PM	#3
RobZL1 fo'shizZL1 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ATL Posts: 1,281	I think the handful of guys here running turbos or compound boost in the 900-1400rwhp range are (or were) still running the stock driveshaft, diff, and axles without issue. jessrayo, sakudog and a couple others could probably give you a quick answer. __________________ 2017 ZL1 M6 Black \| Maggie 2650 // 103TB // Big Gulp Past Rides- 2014 ZL1 M6 Red Hot \| Tons of mods 2004 CTS-V M6 Silver \| Many mods 1995 Corvette M6 Torch Red \| A few more mods 1992 Camaro M5 White \| A few mods

01-05-2018, 02:06 PM	#5
zman1969 Drives: 1969 R/S Z28 302 m20 Endura Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 432	I'm a rear end guy and ZL1's have a 9.9" rear diff and an iron housing(thats huge - like 1 ton truck huge) and I would think axles and driveshaft are the weakest links, the Z28 and SS are like 8.5" and aluminum housings Oh and an auto is easier on parts than the manual trans with constant loading and unloading of the torque wait that sounded bad, I mean I rebuild rear ends so I am educated on them ZL1 axle shafts are different diameter to prevent wrap up - wheel hop __________________ 1969 RS Z/28 302 1969 Firebird LS6-6 speed TA clone 2015 Zl1 Last edited by zman1969; 01-11-2018 at 04:57 PM.

01-08-2018, 05:21 PM	#12
white1LE Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Dubuque, IA Posts: 880	To this day I haven't touched anything behind the flexplate, except periodic maintenance, and I'm at 30,000 miles, 20,000 miles at this power level. They are tough!!! __________________ 13 ZL1 A6 LSX 427 with AGP Twin Turbos, E85 and Flex Fuel. Built and tuned by ADM Performance 1000rwhp

01-04-2018, 03:39 PM	#2
JB'sZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 and 2019 Ram Laramie Join Date: May 2017 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 1,259	I'm pretty sure I read it's good to that amount. That above 750, especially if the tires really hook, things can break.

01-04-2018, 04:28 PM	#4
BlackMambaZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Black Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 68 View My Garage	Awesome. I would appreciate any additional feedback. I just got my e85 kit installed with my HX and ID1300's. I am getting my tune next weekend then have a cam planned for the summer. I am a believer of "building it the right way first as opposed to waiting for it to break" is the easier and cheaper route. I want to get out in front of any issues.

01-05-2018, 05:37 PM	#7
Can'tHave2MuchHP Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,696	The ZL1 drivetrain is literally bomb proof. You'll have no issues with 700-750 RWHP, or even 900 RWHP. It will handle that with ease for many more passes than the average owner would ever want to do on it. Now obviously if you're racing every single day or whatever, a half shaft may go at some point. But the rear end specifically is monstrous on these things.

01-05-2018, 06:15 PM	#8
gsxrturbo Drives: 2010 ss Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: windom mn Posts: 337	pretty sure most break parts with wheel hop.

01-05-2018, 10:29 PM	#11
Can'tHave2MuchHP Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,696	Manuals will have much more wear for half shafts/axles and stuff but with a proper driver, it will handle abuse for a long time. Much longer than any other modern muscle car that I'm aware of.