Has anyone actually tested the limitations of our 10 bolt 8.5s????? I dont think I have heard of anyone actually breaking the rear end due to too much power. Has anyone done this?????? I am pretty worried about my rear end until the 9" is done.

 

as far as the rear end goes, i think the weakest link is the g80 if you have one. the gears are strong and the axels are strong as well. our rears are a lot stronger than the fbody's.

 

Yes i know that. But it seems there alot of talk on the board about switching to a 12 bolt or 14 bolt but i dont think anyone has found out what the 10 bolt will actually handle.

 

your right. however, with guys like parish pushing his amount of hp, granted via 4wd, and blacksheep (2wd) pushing his power through the stock rear except a eaton, i think you are safe. Blacksheep has put a shitload of power through his and it is still going strong.

edit, sorry, i do not know the exact hp numbers it is going to take to blow it, but it will take a lot of hp. i know it isn't a real helper but i would venture to say at least 600 hp plus.

 

Even with a good differential and a seasoned set of gears the housing itself cannot take much. Put too much traction at the ends of these and the cover bolts will walk themselves right out from all the flexing. Been there...

 

I dont know how much it takes to break one, but I got the T/A Rear End girdle coupled with the ARP studs to hold down the main caps on the differential. But Im not making any serious power to get worried about it.

 

i understand getting traction and shocking the rear, but if you ever see blacksheep's truck hit and hook, you'll know that it can take some power.

 

You think a T/A girdle would help with this?

 

Yes, I know they do help. Anything that can help stiffen the housing to keep contact between the pinion and ring gear optimal will help. Too much flex puts all the force on the leading edges of the teeth and breaks the gears. As with anything, one weak part makes the whole thing worth no more.

I broke my 10-bolt just launching from idle, like this:
http://james.jaguar.net/pics/launch3.mpg

 

Cool. I'm going to see how long it'll last with just an Eaton, good gear install and a girdle. It help up fine on my T/A with tons of 1.5 60's.