High-Performance Differentials, Axles, and Drivelines Book

All too often, when an enthusiast builds a high-performance engine, swaps a more powerful engine into a car, or mounts sticky tires, the driveline components simply can't handle the added torque and fail. In addition, differential, axles, and driveline parts have limited life span under the power of a high-performance engine, and these parts need to replaced or rebuilt. Also, the proper gear ratios need to be selected and installed for maximum performance on the street, strip or track. The performance of the driveshaft, differential, axle and other driveline components needs to match the performance level of a particular engine, so maximum efficiency, longevity, and reliability can be realized. This book covers everything the enthusiast owner or at-home mechanic needs to know about selecting the most desirable gear ratio, rebuilding differentials and other driveline components, and most importantly, matching the correct driveline components to engine power output. The reader will learn how to set up a limited-slip differential, install high-performance axle shafts, swap out differential gears, and select the best available products for the driveline. This book covers the Chevy 12-bolt, Ford 9-inch, Dana units as well as many other popular high-performance axles and rear ends. In addition, it explains rear differential basics, rear differential housings, rebuilding the rear differential for non-posi, limited-slip differentials, factory differentials, ring and pinion gears, axles, driveshafts, and U-joints. All the horsepower in the world is useless unless you can transmit it to the ground, and this volume shows you how to make the most of a vehicle's horsepower. With this book in hand,the enthusiast will be able to buy, install, maintain, and setup a drivetrain for almost any vehicle and a variety of applications.