so... that took longer than expected
 

broke the V.

LMAO

i did something to the drivetrain mounts or rear suspension.
Down shifted to second at about 46mph and went WOT.
Experienced extreme wheel hop and before i could get off it, BANG!

Car is still 100% driveable so im pretty sure the rear is alive.
but when going from reverse to forward or vice versa, it bangs, kinda like a trans mount or DS bearing mount, possibly even the rear cradle mount.

On wed i should have time to get it up on a lift and see what i did.

But ill give the car some credit, it held together a lot longer than i had expected :-D

oh well... glad this happened now, before a blower install.

well, i was laying under the car and took pictures.

I know whats wrong.

I need a whole new differential.... fun.....

I was rocking it and noticed the excessive movement of the front of the rear diff.
This pic says it all...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/vdamage1.jpg


now zoomed in a little....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/vdamage2.jpg


and now highlighted... I broke to the top loop/ear off the front of the differential housing.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...damage2b-1.jpg

I may have found a temporary fix....

The BMR CTSV Pinion support brace....

this could hold me over till i find a new housing.. and even then id keep it on to prevent this again


http://www.bmrfabrication.com/CTS-V/PS001installed.jpg

i expected moaaaar carnage :|

well, im glad there wasn't... lol

I ordered the brace, should have it on Thursday and installed Friday.

i know the brace isn't designed to act alone as a front mount but its my only real option and i don't see it causing any further harm.

It'll give me time to find a good V diff, OR a cheap cts housing which i can have fully rebuilt with my current internals during the winter months. And id do all new axles and bushings then.

ok well i found a brand new housing... no internals just the case, which has the section where i broke the mount.

anyone ever take one of the independent rears apart?
how involved is it to swap the guts over?
I would prob have a shop do it anyway, and it would be over the winter.

but 200 + cost of swapping guts and getting new bearings and seals in my mind makes more sense than 650 for a used complete rear that i dont know the history of...

Holy crap dude, that's insane! Nice job breaking the whole case. :) That brace looks pretty stout, definitely make sure you install it on the new rear.

I've done a few of those rubber bushings on the V6 models. Never seen a broken case tho.

If you still have a wheel hop issue after you fix the case there is a bulliten for cradle bushings (V only). They made plastic inserts to stiffen the original bushings.

Bulliten # -- 05-04-114-001B
P/N -- 19133557

It comes as a kit and you'll need to do a 4 wheel alignment afterwards.

I went through a training course on how to rebuild them, there actually extremely easy. I don't think my dealership has the tool kit for them tho.

i think ill buy that housing and give a rebuild a shot this winter.i found this exploded view and it doesn't seem that bad. id end up doing the cradle bushing, new axles, and the bmr anti-wheelhop kit. All that with the pinion brace should do me well for a while.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...eardiffcts.jpg

i wonder if i could strengthen up the stock case by reinforcing it with JB weld or similar hahaha... id just have to add an external gear oil cooler then id guess.

I wonder if that fits on the Solstice/Sky....... :?:

I doubt it. Recent models have a tq arm that covers and replaces that mount. And earlier ones I think use a part that attaches to diff and turns 90degrees then bolts up. But doesn't hurt checking under ur car.

how will that fix the leak?

leak is just the pinion seal, been since i bought the car. it doesnt drip, just wetness.
I'll install a new one when i rebuild with the new housing.

ooo pretty...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...iffhousing.png

that looks good to me. I can't imagine breaking that after you get the new housing without some serious abuse

V is back like crack!
 

I got the pinion support brace yesterday and got time to install it today.
I like it.

Also got the see exactly what i had broke under there.

It was exactly as had thought, top of the front mounting ear was gone.

Hopefully this holds me over till i get the new rear built, but so far i think it drives even better than before.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/IMG_1432.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/IMG_1427.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/IMG_1440.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/IMG_1441.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5...V/IMG_1444.jpg

Looks great Paul, hopefully it holds up! :)

I did a bushing for my friends V a little while ago. I did some searching and couldn't find an aftermarket bushing. If I had time I would have tried to fill that bushing with Flexane, I've filled a lot of motor mounts in the past with it and have had great luck.