[thunder]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

So far all of you have managed to take what I have said and totally misconstrue it.

The 12bolt is PLENTY strong enough for most applications. AS I said I can count at least two cars I have done with 12 bolts that run deep into the 9's and one off hand that is in the eights. All of these cars have trans brakes and are at least 3400 lbs. Unless you have 1000+ horsepower you really do not have to worry about braking the 12 bolt any more than anyther rear. As far as 12 bolts not being intended to have a torque arm bracket, that is true.. FOR STOCK HOUSINGS. The Strange housing is a completely aftermarket casting whish IS designed to have a torque arm mount.

9 inch works ok but has the most amount of parasitic drag due to the location of the pinion in relation to the ring gear. I have one in my Camaro and have scattered it all over the track so it is not exempt from breakage either. Also the torqe arm mount involves mutiple brackets welded to the stamped steel rear housing, not casted into the differential center section itself..

60 is a bit heaver than the other two but it is by far the strongest. The pinion/ring relationship makes this rear have about the same parasitic loss as a 12 bolt does. Only other draw back is the need for a slightly shorter driveshaft due to the overall size of the housing. The 60 like the 12 bolt, is a completely aftermarket casting whish is designed to have a torque arm mount so there are no problems there either.

Remember EVERY one of these rears WILL break eventually, EVERYTHING BREAKS in racing/high performance, it is just a matter of how long it lasts in between service or repairs..So to repeat myself.. For the majority of people any one of these rears will be a capable unit. It just boils down to the pros and cons involved with each particular design.

impressive answer. you know ur stuff