Trans is out of the car....

[Chris 96 WS6]

Some of you know I've been having insane vibration issues in 5th and 6th gear...as in strong enough to shake tq arm bolts loose and losen the bolts that hold the 9" center chunk to the rear end housing.

LS13RDGEN and I pulled the trans Saturday morning and he took it back to his garage to tear down in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to share some pictures of what we find as we pull it apart.

I'm guessing some bearings are thrashed as I've heard of similar issues that turned out to be bearings. The good news is the input shaft looked good and the output shaft didn't appear twisted either, although we had a helluva time getting the driveshaft off the output shaft. I had to pry it off with a breaker bar and a rubber mallet. So something's still not right on the output shaft.

[Fenster]

I'd honestly go ahead and get a new output shaft dude. With as much trouble as you and I had last time gettin that thing off, and as much trouble as you and Paul had, its time for a new one. It might be so minute you can't see it...

[Chris 96 WS6]

Who said I wasn't? :D

It might have to be a stocker just for budget reasons but I think it would be a smart move to just replace it.

[Fenster]

I figured you would go ahead and do it. Stocker or not, a new piece is better than that piece in there.

[Chris 96 WS6]

Well the 26 spline upgraded high-strenth HD output shaft is $600!!!! so I think I'll have to stay with another stocker.

[Fenster]

at that price might as well upgrade to the viper output shaft... ouch on that price...

[Chris 96 WS6]

Can't unless I want to replace my brand new driveshaft yoke....which is just that much more money. The Viper shaft is 30 or 31 spline I think. If the Viper shaft was a lot cheaper then it would be worth it I guess.

[LS13RDGEN]

I wonder if the diameter of the yoke on your new driveshaft is larger than the stocker?
You have a micrometer? If not, I will bring mine over so we can measure.

[Chris 96 WS6]

I have a plastic one. Actually the stock DS stuck on like that too AFTER the track day last April, which is when I think I bent the stock DS input splines.

[Chris 96 WS6]

OK, we got the trans apart Saturday (or really LS13RDGEN did while I watched), and there is good and bad news.

1. Good news: Trans appeared to be in good shape. Bearings looked pretty good, no wear on the gears, output shaft looked really straight. A little wear on the synchros but all in all its in fine shape.

2. Bad News: didn't find any source/cause of the vibes. I'm thinking the incorrect tq arm angle may have thrashed the rear end pinion bearings, so now that the tq arm is dialed in right the damaged bearings are continuing to cause the vibes. Silver lining is that pinion bearings for a 9" are cheap.

[LiquidFire350]

how far off was the TA angle

[Chris 96 WS6]

Way off. Drove a couple hundred miles with it set +3 or more.

[LiquidFire350]

wow

[Chris 96 WS6]

Its at -1 now and the vibes did get quite a bit better, so I'm thinking now it is residual damage to the pinion bearings.

[CamTom12]

Chris, there's 2 pinion bearings in a 9", I doubt you did any damage with only a 3* off angle. I had a 4.5 off angle when I first put my rear on (talk about vibrations!) and drove across the country with it that way (didn't know any better). When I did my rear rebuild my pinion bearings were perfect.

What type of TA do you have? If it's a chassis-mount you're going to feel some vibrations (especially on decel) no matter what

[Chris 96 WS6]

Its a Spohn arm....these aren't vibrations man...not just harmonics. I can't explain it to people that haven't ridden in the car but the ENTIRE CAR SHAKES like shit is coming apart on me. It is big and violent and NOT anything like what you think I am talking about. It was nasty enough to vibrate the center section bolts lose from the 9" housing.

I went on and ordered some T56 parts....bearing kit, 3/4 slider and steel 3/4 fork will be here early next week.