We've identified the three most common causes for C6 Corvette
driveline failure and engineered the DTE Differential Strut to address and
correct those negative issues in a lightweight, compact package. The problem of
differential case fracture, transmission case breakage and driveline deflection
during hard acceleration on the street, road course or drag strip is a common,
inherent problem with the C6 Corvette that often shears the differential away
from the attachment point at the transmission.
This product significantly increases the strength of the
differential and transmission assembly for high performance use by spreading the
drivetrain stress loading over a greater surface area and to the strongest
points of attachment in the C6 Corvette driveline. Superior strength by design
was successfully achieved with out adding unnecessary weight to the vehicle.
The main point of weakness and area prone to failure in HP C6
applications are the mounting pad side covers themselves. The O.E. mounting pad
"wings" are completely hollow, therefore lacking any real strength. This
unfavorable case design makes them inherently weak for intended high
performance, high-powered C6 applications. Additionally, there is no significant
structural strength in these hollow "wings" to support the extreme shock loads
of high performance street/strip use, therefore they rapidly fatigue, crack and
shatter~ often taking the rest of the differential to premature failure with
it.
Our new C6 Differential Strut fills that engineering gap by
providing additional driveline strength on top of the differential case itself
using the same design principles as the C5 models, which functions in tandem
with the current two lower C6 differential mounting locations that are already
engineered into the Getrag case. All of these driveline strengthening
refinements and additional "girdling" around the differential case itself our
product provides, culminates to one final solution to preventing catastrophic C6
differential failure for HP applications.
Only the strongest materials and hardware are used in its
manufacture and the principle of adding driveline strength with out adding
unnecessary weight was the engineering goal that was successfully achieved. The
M6 model only weighs approx. 17.2 lbs., which is comparable in weight to approx.
2.5 gallons of gasoline.
Each bracket is manufactured using laser-cut, 3/8" thick tempered
steel for durability and exact fit. The adjustable strut rods are manufactured
of stainless steel and are 9/16" in diameter for strength, while still being
lightweight. We also utilize HD, steel-ball Heim joints at both ends for ease of
assembly and strut rod durability. All threaded mounting holes deeply threaded
to increase thread engagement and surface area for strength.
The entire kit is easily installed or removed while using a lift
or jack stands while the driveline is in the car. Lowering of the sub-frame is
necessary for easier access to the M6 transmission brackets and is designed to
be a true, bolt-on installation kit that can be installed in a few hours using
regular, commonly found metric/SAE hand tools. There is also no driveline
vibration/noise resonated into the passenger compartment/cabin of any kind and
interior sound levels are unaffected from O.E.M.
The DTE Differential Strut is designed to be a true bolt-on
drivetrain upgrade for the 2005 C6 Corvette with a manual transmission and
doesn't require modification to the vehicle of any kind to install. Each kit
comes powder coated red or black for corrosion resistance and includes all of
the necessary brackets, fasteners, hardware and detailed photo enhanced
instructions required for installation.
Kit Design Features and Principles:
The DTE Differential Strut kit is engineered to counter-act the
destructive, natural upward, "wrap-up" action of the differential during hard
acceleration that is equal to and opposite of the forward motion of the wheels.
Adjustable strut rods connect the transmission to the differential by providing
a pre-load against this "wrap-up" action, which causes the differential case to
fracture at the transmission mounting flange where the two are bolted together.
In some severe cases of fracture, the transmission output shaft will also be
broken off when the differential breaks away from the transmission. This differential strut increases the overall strength
and rigidity of the diff./trans. assembly as a whole and provides increased
stability to the entire rear drivetrain. The steel brackets secured to the
transmission bell housing flange and around the differential case cover
perimeter, act as strengthening "girdles" that adds mounting flange rigidity by
spreading the driveline shock loads over a greater surface area. These
strengthening methods significantly decrease differential mounting flange cracks
and transmission output shaft failures. The differential girdle also
incorporates a steel cross-strut rod that counteracts any possible deflection
between the two upper differential girdle area by tying the two sides of the
differential brackets together, side-to-side. Each one of the two adjustable
steel strut rods are secured to their respective girdle brackets by heavy duty,
steel-ball Heim joints at both ends, in addition to each strut rod being
independently adjustable to set pre-load of the entire assembly at both ends.
Application:
2005 C6 Corvette with M6 manual transmissions *May be used with 2 or
3-series carrier assy. using any gear ratio
Complete Kit Includes:
- 3-piece differential girdle bracket set w/ strut rod mounting blocks
(pre-welded)
- 2-piece transmission bell housing bracket set w/ strut rod mounting blocks
(pre-welded)
- 2 stainless steel adjustable main strut rods w/ integral "hex" machined
into body of rod
- 4 HD steel-ball, Heim joints
- 1 stainless steel cross-strut rod
- Hardened grade 8 fasteners, studs, washers and related hardware
- Powder coated red or black finish
- Detailed instructions w/ installation photos
- DTE decals
- Lifetime warranty
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