Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

ZO SIC · 03-21-2002, 04:38 PM

Well I already snapped the driver side axle in the Z06 on street tries many moons ago. Figured it was a fluke since TONS of folks are running fast on C5's with no trouble. (Meaning heads/cam/NOS cars with slicks running 10.5 or so with 1.5 short times.) My best 60 ft ever was a 1.99 and my normal ones are 2.05-2.10. So I get some 26x11.5-16 ET Streets and mount them to some 16x8 Camaro rims (cause when the track is crappy I can't hook at all.) Head out to the track again. First launch I dropped the clutch at 3,000 rpm with the tires at 20 psi and it just bogged. Ran a 12.59 @ 114mph with a 2.05 short time (best so far of 12.32 @ 119mph with a 2.05 short time. Best short time ever on F1 SC tires was 1.99.) So the next time I lowered them back down to 19 psi and dumped the clutch at 3,500 rpm and snapped the driver side axle again.

The EXACT same thing happened on street tires last time. 3,000 rpm and it bogged. 3,500 rpm and it snapped.

I'm freaking PISSED!!! I might go back out and snap it again and call the lemon law into effect on this bitch!!! Just kidding... mostly.

Or just retire it from drag racing altogether and run the '96 Z-28 which is WAY faster and more fun. Now the Z06 is WAY more fun on the RR course and Auto-X course... where it belongs.

Oh, I meant to say, "This was a friend of mine that went through all this." Sucks for him, eh?

fcalmes · 03-21-2002, 04:53 PM

Ernie from Breathless has developed some new high strength shafts. You may want to check them out if this is a continuing problem.

ZO SIC · 03-21-2002, 05:32 PM

fcalmes...

Yep, I know Ernie makes some high strength ones, but I wonder if GM will let me buy them and have them install them under warranty. What happens the next time if I do break Ernies axle? GM wants the part back and I think they might notice that the axle is not theirs.

The problem is this car should NOT be breaking the axles. All I have done to it is a TRIC intake and I have 355 rwhp. Nothing like what others are running. I'm chalking the low hp up to Cali 91 octane crap gas and the fact I'm running rich as hell. 10:1 AFR. I NEED a MAF T badly. Stock it dyoned at 342 rwhp...

Jayzvette · 03-21-2002, 08:45 PM

Your bound to break short shafts when you "dump" the clutch at 3500 rpm's!! At that high of an rpm with those sticky tires you got to "roll" off the clutch!!! Hope this helps

ZO SIC · 03-22-2002, 02:24 AM

Jayzvette...

Uh, thanks. Did you read my entire post that I snapped an axle on the stock street tires as well? And the fact that MANY folks are running 1.7-1.9 short times on stock tires and or ET Streets without snapping the axles. Hell, there are folks running 1.5-1.6 short times on slicks and DOT race tires. Why me? I always say, if it wasn't for my bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...

Jose Gonzalez · 03-22-2002, 10:17 AM

You may want to get a Supra

Sorry, I could not resist. I am a 100% Corvette guy. Sorry about your bad luck. One idea would be to get the GM to give you some new ones save them and put on the strong ones. If those break, you can always put one the originals.

I am real rough on my Z and have had 0 problems. Could it be that the suspension is stressing in someway causing the breaks

Good luck

CLICK02 · 03-22-2002, 10:34 AM

Be careful how you present this to your local G.M. dealer because everything I've ever read or heard very clearly stated that the General wouldn't warranty cars/parts used for competition much less warranty any aftermarket parts(like axles) that you do or want to put on,,be real,,thats not even reasonable to expect them to..Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think so.

Nick

Redshift · 03-22-2002, 10:42 AM

Keep in mind that although Chevy shows you how to properly set the car up for the track in the video that comes with your car, they don't actually support its use on a track. You are supposed to use it to impress your friends, get groceries, get laid, or whatever, but under no circumstances should you ever drag race or take it to a track because then your warranty is void and you will have to put up with a lot of BS to get things looked at.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I love my car to death, but after it is dead (which will probably be soon by the way things are going) I will probably get a Porsche or M3. Hopefully they don't treat me this way.

Best of luck with your car.

***N4C5S*** · 03-22-2002, 10:47 AM

Dumping the clutch at 3500 should be left to purpose built drag cars. There is no reason to dump the clutch at that high of RPM.

I'd reconsider your technique.........You'd be surprised. I've gotten a 1.92 on street tires leaving the line at 1500........without dumping the clutch.

JC

RG · 03-22-2002, 11:29 AM

Sorry to hear that. They won't warranty aftermarket items if you own the dealership unless you 'slide it through'.

Try Ernies shafts(that didn't sound right, did it

)...supposed to be very, very durable under those conditions.

RG

Quote:

Originally posted by Redshift

Sorry, couldn't resist. I love my car to death, but after it is dead (which will probably be soon by the way things are going) I will probably get a Porsche or M3. Hopefully they don't treat me this way.

You are kidding right? Your aren't going to try out a Z someday soon? Not that the Porsche and M3 aren't wonderful cars.

RG

Jose Gonzalez · 03-22-2002, 12:23 PM

I am not sure about the rest of the country but if you think it is hard to get help from a GM dealership, try Porsche or BMW. We have a local AutoX driver with a Porsche 911 and that thing could not hold up to average race driver stress. The dealer was no help.

I am very selective of the dealer I purchase from and I try to be loyal to them. In the past five years I have bought two Corvettes and one daully and I am talk to them about a new dually. If they are not tolerante of a little extra abuse, I would not buy from them. After all, it is not like they are not compensated for warranty work.

Of course, all thing within limits. I am talking about 12 autoX a year, six or seven visits to the 1/4 mile track and a few road races. If every mile on your car is racing, that could be pushing the limits.

Redshift · 03-22-2002, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RG in Dallas
You are kidding right? Your aren't going to try out a Z someday soon? Not that the Porsche and M3 aren't wonderful cars.RG

I would love to. But if I have to deal with this BS to get stuff fixed all the time because they think I am some kind of abusive nut, even on a bone stock vehicle, no thanks. They assume way too much about how I drive and use the car, and nothing can change their minds. I can just see having trouble with warranty work on a Z06 as soon as the zone rep saw my name.

I heard through the local grapevine that he doesn't want to ever help me with anything again - as if I would be SOL if I brought my car in again for anything under warranty. What a great attitude for him to take. And GM Customer Service is powerless to do anything about it.

I don't want to have to keep a lawyer on retainer just to get stuff fixed if it happens to break. Ridiculous.

Jose Gonzalez · 03-23-2002, 01:28 PM

I would not want to deal with that either

70boss302 · 03-23-2002, 01:37 PM

The best advice I read here was that you should change your launch technique and use a "roll the throttle on" refrain from side stepping the clutch to let the torque "pull" you out of the hole rather than slingshot you across the lights. I think getting stronger half shafts w/o altering your technique will just cause something in the rear or trannie to break. Good luck! Bill

ZO SIC · 03-23-2002, 06:37 PM

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. But the simple fact remains that MANY folks are doing exactly what I am or even launching at a higher rpm with more HP and not breaking ANYTHING!!! I've got maybe 100 runs on this car and maybe 2,000 1/4 mile runs in my Camaro. I know how to drive. I've tried every different technique in this Z06. Slipping the clutch, dumping the clutch, stock tires, ET Streets, different tire pressure, etc, etc...

I've decided this car is just not worth drag racing anymore. I don't enjoy drag racing it that much, that is what the Camaro was built for... But Road Racing and Auto-Xing this sum bitch is GREAT fun. So no more drag racing for this Z06...

I guess that means I don't need to install this N2O kit now.