DTE C5 Differential strut kit

The DTE Differential Strut Kit is designed to be a true bolt-on drivetrain upgrade for the 1997-2004 C5 Corvette with either a manual or automatic transmission that can be installed in a few hours on a vehicle lift or on jack stands using regular, commonly found metric/SAE hand tools. and doesn't require modification to the vehicle of any kind to install. The complete driveline may remain in the chassis for either kit model's installation, only the rear sub-frame need lowered a bit to access the transmission bell-housing flange area.
 

Design Features & Engineering Principles:

This product was successfully engineered by DTE Powertrain to solve the problem of differential case fracture and/or transmission output shaft housing breakage caused by inherent driveline stresses present during high performance street driving, road racing or drag racing. This kit increases the strength of that vulnerable transmission-to-differential attachment point, to reduce the likelihood of fracture in that area that would otherwise cause complete transmission/differential failure. The entire kit only weighs approx. 19.3 lbs. for the M6/M12 model and 18.1 lbs for the A4 model. (approx. the same minor weight addition as 3 gallons of gas) The strut's simple design is engineered to spread the inherent stress loading of the driveline during hard acceleration, over a greater surface area to all the strongest areas of the Corvette driveline architecture.

This design counteracts the natural upward "wrap-up" action of the IRS driveline during hard acceleration by tying the transmission and differential together via adjustable strut rods. These steel strut rods provide a pre-load against this destructive wrap-up action that causes differential case fracture at the trans./diff. mounting flange. In some severe cases, this fracture can also destroy of the transmission output shaft also.

The installation of this product provides added rigidity to the entire Corvette drivetrain as a whole, while the steel perimeter brackets mounted to the transmission and differential cases act as case "girdles" that provide additional strength in those areas also. These steel "girdle" brackets spread the driveline shock loads over a greater surface area; therefore decreasing differential mounting flange cracks, decreasing case distortion and increasing driveline durability. The differential bracket cross-strut rod counteracts any possible deflection between them by tying them together side-to-side. Each one of the four strut rods are secured to the trans./diff. brackets via heavy duty Hiem joints at both ends, where each rod is independently adjustable to set pre-load of the entire assy. at all four corners.

There is also no driveline vibration/noise (NVH) resonated into the passenger compartment/cabin of any kind with the kits' installation and interior sound levels are unaffected from O.E.M. Each kit comes powder coated red for corrosion resistance and includes all of the necessary brackets, fasteners, hardware and detailed photo enhanced instructions required for installation.
 

Application:

1997-'04 C5 Corvette with M6 or M12 manual transmission
1997-'04 C5 Corvette with 4L60-E A4 automatic transmission
*May be used with 2 or 3-series carrier assy. using any gear ratio and/or 2.5"-3" exhaust

Complete Kit Includes:

• 3-piece differential girdle bracket set w/ mounting hardware
• 2-piece transmission bell housing bracket set w/ mounting hardware
• 4-piece main strut rod set w/ mounting hardware
• 8-piece HD Heim joint set w/ locknuts
• 1- piece cross-strut rod w/ mounting hardware
• Detailed instructions w/ installation photos
• DTE Powertrain decals
• Lifetime warranty

Complete Kit Price: $369.00