Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

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zmaro
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Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by zmaro » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:19 am

I asked this over on LS1Tech, but figured there might be more people on here with experience with the "factory optioned" AAM diff cover.

I need to replace the pinion seal in my rear end. I have heard that adding an aftermarket cover can help make my 10 bolt last longer. I am leaning towards the AAM cover since it was a option on Firehawk's (and it will be going on my Hawk, which I would like to keep pretty original), and it is only $90 compared to the T/A cover for $150.

Any advice on which one to get? I am leaning heavily towards the AAM, unless the T/A has significant improvements over the AAM on a STREET car. Some have said that a stud kit would help. What does the stud kit do, and can it be used with the AAM cover?

AAM:
Image
T/A:
Image

On tech lots of people say "don't waist your money on the 10 bolt, go to a 9 inch." I am not going to drop a $2-3k rear end in this car as it is not a daily driver, not a track car, and probably will never even get LT headers. It is just a nice day cruiser. And I am going the get new bearings and a solid pinion spacer as well to help out the 10 bolt.

Thanks
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lakeratiam
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by lakeratiam » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:03 am

It really depends on how you drive the car. If are into drag racing and are prone to hard launches and shifts, (short of going with a 9" ford) go with the T/A with stud kit. Notice they call it a "Girdle", this is because it actually reinforces the carrier bearing caps (notice the two extra "bolt heads" (studs) on the T/A cover) to help control deflection or distortion when launching/shifting hard. And no you can't use a stud kit on the AAM//SLP as it is not set up for it. If your car is just a cruiser makes less than 400 h.p. and you are not prone to hard launches, other than the fact that it doesn't have a drain plug, the stock unit is actually fine. If you are into the occasional stop light to stop light thing and the car is not heavily modified, go with the the AAM/SLP, it will help stiffen the rear end some what, fluid will run cooler (beneficial if in a warm climate area) and the drain plug makes fluid changes a breeze. Hope this helps.............. :)
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zmaro
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by zmaro » Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:30 pm

Thanks for the help, I think I am going to get the LPW racing cover (supposedly the strongest cover and bolts you can get). I have heard too many horror stories about the 10 bolt, so hopefully the cover and stud kit will help.
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:10 pm

i might need to upgrade to that T/A cover!
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by 1998silverbird » Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:49 am

These rears are very weak. I broke one on the street in my V6 Firebird on motor.. My car made 225rwhp and 225rwtq. If you wheel hop off the line on the street or at the track that really can kill the rear end. In all I blew 3 rear ends in my 1998 V6 firebird and 1 in my 2002 WS6.
Mandee and Jeff
1995 Firehawk # 599
2002 WS6 M6
2009 G8 GT
1986 Corvette

Previous F-body Cars
1998 Firebird V6.. 370rwhp and 430 rwtq
1988 Trans am GTA
1979 Firebird Formula
1986 Chevy Camaro
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1991 Bandit 2 Firebird
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SLPhawk
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by SLPhawk » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:55 pm

That AAM cover came stock on 96-97 cars that had the Torsen rear end from SLP.
Last edited by SLPhawk on Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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'02 WS6
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by '02 WS6 » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:51 am

I'll be running the TA piece eventually myself.
2008 G8 GT - The "Family" Car
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redhawk
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by redhawk » Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:12 pm

I bought one of these T/A covers from a co-worker a few years back. He had bought it for his Camaro but never installed it. Brand new in the box for $60. I was waiting for my extended warranty to expire before I installed it. Its now been 3 years since warranty ran out and I've yet to install it.
I put the PRO in PROCRASTINATION :roll:
2002 Trans Am Firehawk Vert #25 Red w/Ebony Interior w/M6 1 of 19 built
2002 Trans Am Firehawk T-top #162 Sunset Orange Metallic w/Camel Interior 1 of 7
1978 Trans Am Martinique Blue w/Black Deluxe Interior Owned since 7/82

lakeratiam
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by lakeratiam » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:24 pm

redhawk wrote:I bought one of these T/A covers from a co-worker a few years back. He had bought it for his Camaro but never installed it. Brand new in the box for $60. I was waiting for my extended warranty to expire before I installed it. Its now been 3 years since warranty ran out and I've yet to install it.
I put the PRO in PROCRASTINATION :roll:
I'll give ya $60.00 for it! LOL!
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redhawk
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by redhawk » Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:21 am

You bought it! LOL!
2002 Trans Am Firehawk Vert #25 Red w/Ebony Interior w/M6 1 of 19 built
2002 Trans Am Firehawk T-top #162 Sunset Orange Metallic w/Camel Interior 1 of 7
1978 Trans Am Martinique Blue w/Black Deluxe Interior Owned since 7/82

lakeratiam
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by lakeratiam » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:40 pm

redhawk wrote:You bought it! LOL!
Is that "Shipped" or "Pick up only"? I'm only about 60 miles away.......... :lol:
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redhawk
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by redhawk » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:21 pm

FYI- there is an AAM cover on EBay right if anyone is interested.
2002 Trans Am Firehawk Vert #25 Red w/Ebony Interior w/M6 1 of 19 built
2002 Trans Am Firehawk T-top #162 Sunset Orange Metallic w/Camel Interior 1 of 7
1978 Trans Am Martinique Blue w/Black Deluxe Interior Owned since 7/82

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oberth1
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by oberth1 » Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:09 pm

i thought i read somewhere that the aam cover needed modification to the rear housing in order to sit properly? If i find the link again ill post it, i just saw it a few days ago when the aam cover hit ebay.
2000 TA WS6 M6 Vert / 2015 Legacy AWD DD
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'02 WS6
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by '02 WS6 » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:12 am

You have to drill for the cooling passages of else the gears will burn up.
2008 G8 GT - The "Family" Car
2002 Formula Firehawk #1072
2002 WS6 - ASC #12116 Built LS6 - Sold 12/2010
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redhawk
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Re: Diff cover. AAM vs. T/A

Post by redhawk » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:45 am

What about the TA cover? Is there anything that needs modified to install it?
2002 Trans Am Firehawk Vert #25 Red w/Ebony Interior w/M6 1 of 19 built
2002 Trans Am Firehawk T-top #162 Sunset Orange Metallic w/Camel Interior 1 of 7
1978 Trans Am Martinique Blue w/Black Deluxe Interior Owned since 7/82

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