Thank you Lyle. I never watch one of your videos without learning something. I’ll be 69 this month and I’m living proof that you can teach an old dog a new trick.
Thank you for this incredibly important and so well explained needed maintenance service that all Corvette owners need to pay attention to. I hope you make many more videos like this and some how-tos, you're a natural at teaching and presentations. thanks again!
@@BellaRocko We hear that a lot from Southern California customers...not a whole lot of Corvette shops out there, I guess. Let us know if we can help in any way with your Corvette! Lyle
I've been thinking about having this done when my clutch needs replacement. Makes sense. Changing the clutch is probably about a $2K job by itself. What's another $300-400 to replace the TT bearings and couplers...It'll ensure a trouble free drive train for the duration.
Your series of Corvette videos are by far the best on You Tube. My front bellhousing and flex plate are cracked (2008 62K miles) What would a reasonable labor cost be to drop the torque tube and replace with my parts? (then perhaps while apart replace the rear main seal and couplers too.) thank you
A loose estimate on time would be 15 hours, total. That includes rebuilding the torque tube with new bearings and couplers, replacing the rear main seal. Labor is $110 an hour. Lyle :)
@@csvette Outstanding reply speed!! that seems fair for the work involved, now if I can just find an honest experienced shop to do it here in Austin Tx.
Mine has 50k miles on it.2004.Can they still go bad due to simply age.I do like to drive a little hard.Mainly you can feel it cruising around 60MPH.Feels like a out of balance tire
I get a clunk was seems to be coming from the rear portion of the car when letting out the clutch while moving at a slow pace in 3rd and 4th around 35 mph such ass driving with gags 1-4 when I let out in first its fine shift to 4th and when the luck is depressed it makes a gentle clutch same when when I down shift from 5th to 4th or 4th to 3rd.. Any ideas more annoying then worrying car has 56k miles
My wife has a 2018 C7 Grand Sport (automatic) and she heard a grinding sound from the engine. Took it to the dealer and they said both couplers were bad and needed to be replaced. They replaced the whole prop shaft assembly. We were lucky it was till under warranty and did not charge us. It only has 11,000 miles on it. Is there some kind of action that GM is doing to fix this or are they just blowing it off as normal wear and tear?
I just did a diagnostic at GM and this came back: "found torque tube front bearing walking back" and "excessive crank shaft end play"? Can anyone PLEASE explain this. I own a 2017 C7 grand sport. Yes newer car but voided my warranty because of mods 😫. Am I in the creek now with this issue? My car shakes before it can switch gears with a manual and even stopped in mid drive on the freeway. When I try to start it up, it cranks but doesn't kick over then eventually kills the battery after 2 or 3 tries. Please help.. GM is trying to make me change the whole engine with other things at $22k. That's ridiculous
I just bought a very nice looking yellow convertible 2000 C5 Corvette with 80k miles, I replaced the harmonic balancer and now i am pretty sure i am experiencing torque tube problems. It almost sounds like i have an exhaust leak, it's loud and I am losing power as i step on the gas, and i am pretty sure it's because my front torque tube bearing has pulled away and it's slopping around in there. i also hear a lot of rattling i didn't hear before, like a loose washer rattling on the muffler, but it's gotta be the torque tube failing. Should i replace with OEM coupler? Will they last at least 10 years if i do? Also can i pull this thing out with out pulling the entire rear end out?
I have a 2011 corvette c1 . I experienced vibration while I'm driving and noise coming from underneath. How much will it cost to fix the torque tube on this model?
which model? how many miles on this one you showed? auto or manual? which one affected worse for this? THANKS, doing rear main seal and considering this. 08 Base Auto with LS3 and 135K miles
I had a whine in the back end after about 3 hours driving my 02 C5. When I stop and put it in park it still remained constant. I parked and let it rest for about an hour and a half and it went way and hasn’t returned. Any clues or ideas?
And let's not forget how time affects these components---rubber couplers and steel bearings only last so long in the best environments and the inside of that tube is a very hot place to be! :) Lyle
Great video Lyle. Your videos are very helpful. In reference to the C6 torque tube what are your thoughts on a DSS ALUMINUM TORQUE TUBE DRIVESHAFT? Could you maybe do a video on it please?
Mathew--I looked those up after your message prompted me to do so. It looks like a really nice product, and if you are drag- or road-racing the car I think it could be a very viable solution. For daily driver cars, I think the expense of the unit versus a rebuild and loss of vibrational dampening that the couplers provide may make it a tougher sell. I will research it a bit more. Thank you for the heads-up on this! Lyle
@@mathewkozel5323 I haven't had a chance yet...we are backlogged four weeks on shop work and we are all pitching in trying to catch up. It will probably be next week before I have an opportunity to dig into the DSS unit.
ProThane makes those--I would contact them directly to ask about failure rates. The forums are full of people who have had a problem with the aluminum cracking, but they may have solved that issue. If you are racing the car, you may want to consider the billet couplers. Lyle
Thanks for the info! You mention mileage (70k-100k miles) as a cause of this problem. Do you think time also has an effect? For example, a 2008 vs 2013 C6 Corvette. Thx!
Would this be the cause of a grinding vibration from the drive train area(I think), sound/vibration only happens with semi hard to hard acceleration from stop position and only lasts a few seconds. 01 c5 automatic trans.
Question: My C5 corvette 100,000 miles. I noticed a thumping noise at lower speeds while coasting to a stop light. Thought it was my tire., you thinking it could be the Torque tube issue? Thanks
Billet couplers are really only good for track use--they make street driving unpleasant because they transmit every vibration from the drivetrain to the entire car. For street use, rubber is the way to go until our kevlar fiber reinforced units are available in September.
Hi Lyle, I have a quick question regarding my c5. It seems when i go over some uneven pavement while going any speed either on the freeway or on the city street, the back end of my corvette feels like it wants to jump or scoot sideways .. It is hard to explain but it is just kinda awkward the way it feels and I was wondering where do I start first to figure out what it is ? Rear end alignment? What is bump steer ? any ideas thanks Lyle !
Hey Mark! Most likely suspect would be alignment. Along with that, I would look very carefully at the rear tie rods and sway bar links. Also, if you are still running run-flats, I would recommend considering going to normal radials as the hardness of run-flat compound exacerbates that skittish rear end feeling. Lyle
@@csvette Hey Lyle yes I do have the runflats and it sounds like you nailed it again .. From what I am hearing those run flats are known for that ! All of who I talk too tell me it is the run flats .. I will also look at alignment and tie rods thank alot Lyle
That question needs to be posed to someone like Lingenfelter or Callaway. We do not do high-performance work at our shop, and at those numbers a speed shop is going to be far more knowledgeable about what stresses exist in that realm. Lyle
Is this much more common on low mileage (40-60k), stock condition C6's than differential damage? I'm noticing some weird clunking, shimmying in a straight line, and skipping at takeoff and around corners.
@@csvette It's a manual. The clutch and shifter feel smooth and tight and there's no noise or looseness coming from the center of the car, only the rear.
@@enthused7591 The skipping around corners sounds like posi-snap, which means you should definitely replace the fluid (gear oil and GM Posi Additive) in your diff. Do that first, then drive the car and re-evaluate.
All LS1 motors tend to have loud valve train noise at startup, which fades after a few minutes. This is common and shouldn't be a cause for concern 99% of the time. Lyle
@@jowin960 You don't. They all do it. I recommend taking the car to an LS engine authority in your area and letting them listen to it to give you their thoughts regarding the noise. Lyle
Polyurethane has one great weakness...it doesn't wear over time like rubber. It just falls apart one day with no warning whatsoever. If your car is being raced (and therefore being torn down and inspected constantly) poly bushings can work well. In a street car that does not receive that kind of constant monitoring, I high recommend sticking with rubber couplers...that is why we chose rubber as the base compound in our own upgraded units. Thanks for watching! Lyle
Hi John! We'd love to do that video--it is just a matter of time before we have the chance to do it. Our longer instructional videos take anywhere from 6-12 hours to shoot and edit, so we just need the time to do it. Hopefully in the next three months we will have that opportunity. Lyle
Lyle Aulwurm you guys rock. I’m trying to learn how to do these corvette jobs at home and using the most basic tools. I’m a poor corvette owner. I’m ok at working on stuff but not a mechanic really. Cheers.
@@johnholtz1205 , I appreciate your kind words. I DO NOT recommend that you attempt this particular job if you haven't done extensive work on a drivetrain before... This job really needs a lift and some serious skill. Lyle
Hi Tommy! The C7 is NOT the same as the C5/C6 couplers. In fact, GM is the only manufacturer who makes them, and they will not sell them to anyone. The only way to get them is to buy a rebuilt driveshaft assembly directly from the dealer. Lyle
I have a c6 manual transmission...when I shift gears it gives me a “clank” sound in the rear. Could that be the same issue you mentioned in this video?
That sounds more like a Clutch Slave/ Throw out bearing issue, but impossible to be sure. It doesn't sound like a problem rooted in the torque tube, but a tube needing a rebuild could be a contributing factor. Lyle
Thank you Lyle. I never watch one of your videos without learning something. I’ll be 69 this month and I’m living proof that you can teach an old dog a new trick.
This video deserves more views. It's well explained and informative.
Thank you for watching!!!
I agree.
Coming from Orlando Fla. I just spoke with Lyle on the phone and he is the man !!! Very knowledgeable and helpful specialist.
Thank you for this incredibly important and so well explained needed maintenance service that all Corvette owners need to pay attention to. I hope you make many more videos like this and some how-tos, you're a natural at teaching and presentations. thanks again!
Thank you for your kind words! We work hard to help the Corvette Faithful! :) Lyle
Where is your shop...?
@@BellaRocko we are located in Sarasota, FL.
Darn, I was hoping you were in So Cal somewhere... Thanks again for your great videos!
@@BellaRocko We hear that a lot from Southern California customers...not a whole lot of Corvette shops out there, I guess. Let us know if we can help in any way with your Corvette! Lyle
Just called you guys because of your extensive knowledge. Keep up the good work 👍🏽
This guys is incredible at explanations. Very well done.
Awesome video Lyle. Definitely saving this one for my future C6 !
Great summary, thanks!
Well done. Simple explanation for very important info. Thanks for sharing.
I've been thinking about having this done when my clutch needs replacement. Makes sense. Changing the clutch is probably about a $2K job by itself. What's another $300-400 to replace the TT bearings and couplers...It'll ensure a trouble free drive train for the duration.
A no brainer anytime the tube is out of the car.
Great advice thanks!
Great video Lyle! I got my TT bearings from you earlier this week and will be replacing my clutch soon...wish me luck!
Very informative. Thanks.
I just replaced the clutch in my c5 on Jack stands not too long ago, now you're making me think twice about the torque tube lol.
We almost always do them together (plus a new master and Slave cylinder). You really don't want to do this job more than once, for certain, Lyle
Thankyou, love your insight.
Great video thanks for the info .
Super cool, ty I am subscribed but must have forgot to click the bell. Fixed that. Will a C6 manual TTube fit a C5 manual (2000) car?
I think my buddy had go rebuild his. I know he wasn’t happy when he got the bill. Lol 😂
Torque tube…thank you!
Great video.. thanks!
I want ahead and purchased the 6061 couplers in my 99 Corvette to compensate for 750+ hp engine.
Excellent.
Thank you, for guiding me in the right path. I won't be buying a vette.
Your series of Corvette videos are by far the best on You Tube.
My front bellhousing and flex plate are cracked (2008 62K miles) What would a reasonable labor cost be to drop the torque tube and replace with my parts? (then perhaps while apart replace the rear main seal and couplers too.) thank you
A loose estimate on time would be 15 hours, total. That includes rebuilding the torque tube with new bearings and couplers, replacing the rear main seal. Labor is $110 an hour. Lyle :)
@@csvette Outstanding reply speed!! that seems fair for the work involved, now if I can just find an honest experienced shop to do it here in Austin Tx.
How reliable are the billet aluminum couplers and d9es it throw off imbalance or harmonics that can destroy the engine and trans
Do you recommend the rubber couplers or billet aluminum couplers? I have a rebuild on the horizon and wondering which I should order.
Fantastic I’m calling you tomorrow 6-2-23 thank you Lyle
Would a bad torque tube cause metal shaving in oil pan please help
That big rubber coupler is that the same bolt pattern as a mercedes propeller shaft it's like a u joint
I think my xlrv needs this done. I feel a little wobble
Mine has 50k miles on it.2004.Can they still go bad due to simply age.I do like to drive a little hard.Mainly you can feel it cruising around 60MPH.Feels like a out of balance tire
I get a clunk was seems to be coming from the rear portion of the car when letting out the clutch while moving at a slow pace in 3rd and 4th around 35 mph such ass driving with gags 1-4 when I let out in first its fine shift to 4th and when the luck is depressed it makes a gentle clutch same when when I down shift from 5th to 4th or 4th to 3rd.. Any ideas more annoying then worrying car has 56k miles
My wife has a 2018 C7 Grand Sport (automatic) and she heard a grinding sound from the engine. Took it to the dealer and they said both couplers were bad and needed to be replaced. They replaced the whole prop shaft assembly. We were lucky it was till under warranty and did not charge us. It only has 11,000 miles on it. Is there some kind of action that GM is doing to fix this or are they just blowing it off as normal wear and tear?
I just did a diagnostic at GM and this came back: "found torque tube front bearing walking back" and "excessive crank shaft end play"? Can anyone PLEASE explain this. I own a 2017 C7 grand sport. Yes newer car but voided my warranty because of mods 😫. Am I in the creek now with this issue? My car shakes before it can switch gears with a manual and even stopped in mid drive on the freeway. When I try to start it up, it cranks but doesn't kick over then eventually kills the battery after 2 or 3 tries. Please help.. GM is trying to make me change the whole engine with other things at $22k. That's ridiculous
I just bought a very nice looking yellow convertible 2000 C5 Corvette with 80k miles, I replaced the harmonic balancer and now i am pretty sure i am experiencing torque tube problems. It almost sounds like i have an exhaust leak, it's loud and I am losing power as i step on the gas, and i am pretty sure it's because my front torque tube bearing has pulled away and it's slopping around in there. i also hear a lot of rattling i didn't hear before, like a loose washer rattling on the muffler, but it's gotta be the torque tube failing. Should i replace with OEM coupler? Will they last at least 10 years if i do? Also can i pull this thing out with out pulling the entire rear end out?
I have a 2011 corvette c1 . I experienced vibration while I'm driving and noise coming from underneath. How much will it cost to fix the torque tube on this model?
Is it a manual or an automatic?
which model? how many miles on this one you showed? auto or manual? which one affected worse for this? THANKS, doing rear main seal and considering this. 08 Base Auto with LS3 and 135K miles
I had a whine in the back end after about 3 hours driving my 02 C5. When I stop and put it in park it still remained constant. I parked and let it rest for about an hour and a half and it went way and hasn’t returned. Any clues or ideas?
The torque tube "wears out" from abuse or impacts - not regular driving unless the mileage on the car is insane.
And let's not forget how time affects these components---rubber couplers and steel bearings only last so long in the best environments and the inside of that tube is a very hot place to be! :) Lyle
Great video Lyle. Your videos are very helpful. In reference to the C6 torque tube what are your thoughts on a DSS ALUMINUM TORQUE TUBE DRIVESHAFT? Could you maybe do a video on it please?
Mathew--I looked those up after your message prompted me to do so. It looks like a really nice product, and if you are drag- or road-racing the car I think it could be a very viable solution. For daily driver cars, I think the expense of the unit versus a rebuild and loss of vibrational dampening that the couplers provide may make it a tougher sell. I will research it a bit more. Thank you for the heads-up on this! Lyle
@@lyleaulwurm9486 Have you had a chance to look into the DSS driveshaft yet?
@@mathewkozel5323 I haven't had a chance yet...we are backlogged four weeks on shop work and we are all pitching in trying to catch up. It will probably be next week before I have an opportunity to dig into the DSS unit.
OK, thank you for getting back to me.
My vett in the shop now getting that did i only got 17000mi on mine 2011
michael butler how much it run you
Lex 2800
The bearings and couplers can fail with age just as much as with use. Rubber couplers dry out and bearings get rusty over time.
Great video what do you think about the polyurethane couplers as upgrades
ProThane makes those--I would contact them directly to ask about failure rates. The forums are full of people who have had a problem with the aluminum cracking, but they may have solved that issue. If you are racing the car, you may want to consider the billet couplers. Lyle
Thanks for the info! You mention mileage (70k-100k miles) as a cause of this problem. Do you think time also has an effect? For example, a 2008 vs 2013 C6 Corvette. Thx!
Hi Jeff! Age definitely plays a part in the torque tube wearing out, but in my opinion your driving style has more impact overall than time alone.
............................................................................................... happy Friday everybody.
Would this be the cause of a grinding vibration from the drive train area(I think), sound/vibration only happens with semi hard to hard acceleration from stop position and only lasts a few seconds. 01 c5 automatic trans.
It certainly fits the normal set of symptoms, but someone with experience with these cars needs to get a look at it to confirm.
Question: My C5 corvette 100,000 miles. I noticed a thumping noise at lower speeds while coasting to a stop light. Thought it was my tire., you thinking it could be the Torque tube issue? Thanks
Following....
is there a way to inspect this with out removing the torque tube
Only by listening to the tube with a mechanic's stethoscope while the car is in the air and idling. Lyle
Are billet couplers Worth a crap or are the rubber ones the way to go?
Billet couplers are really only good for track use--they make street driving unpleasant because they transmit every vibration from the drivetrain to the entire car. For street use, rubber is the way to go until our kevlar fiber reinforced units are available in September.
I remember this spare part in the Discovery II similar problem 👎
Hi Lyle, I have a quick question regarding my c5. It seems when i go over some uneven pavement while going any speed either on the freeway or on the city street, the back end of my corvette feels like it wants to jump or scoot sideways .. It is hard to explain but it is just kinda awkward the way it feels and I was wondering where do I start first to figure out what it is ? Rear end alignment? What is bump steer ? any ideas thanks Lyle !
Hey Mark! Most likely suspect would be alignment. Along with that, I would look very carefully at the rear tie rods and sway bar links. Also, if you are still running run-flats, I would recommend considering going to normal radials as the hardness of run-flat compound exacerbates that skittish rear end feeling. Lyle
@@csvette Hey Lyle yes I do have the runflats and it sounds like you nailed it again .. From what I am hearing those run flats are known for that ! All of who I talk too tell me it is the run flats .. I will also look at alignment and tie rods thank alot Lyle
I keep stripping input shaft with twin disk clutch in my c5. It made 750rwhp on dyno, any advise!? I'm tired of replacing expensive clutches
That question needs to be posed to someone like Lingenfelter or Callaway. We do not do high-performance work at our shop, and at those numbers a speed shop is going to be far more knowledgeable about what stresses exist in that realm. Lyle
Is this much more common on low mileage (40-60k), stock condition C6's than differential damage? I'm noticing some weird clunking, shimmying in a straight line, and skipping at takeoff and around corners.
Do you have a manual or automatic?
@@csvette It's a manual. The clutch and shifter feel smooth and tight and there's no noise or looseness coming from the center of the car, only the rear.
@@enthused7591 The skipping around corners sounds like posi-snap, which means you should definitely replace the fluid (gear oil and GM Posi Additive) in your diff. Do that first, then drive the car and re-evaluate.
@@csvette That's what I'll do. Thank you sir.
Lyle, my local Chevy dealer wants about $6K to replace the torque tube/driveshaft in my "17 Z06. Is this reasonable? Thanks for your time!
I think that price is about $1000 too high--even for a dealer. Shop around and see if another can do better. Lyle
@@csvette Thank You-Again!
I have a question do you know what the main cause is on a C5 Corvette the startup in the mornings it knocks really loud and then it slowly goes away
All LS1 motors tend to have loud valve train noise at startup, which fades after a few minutes. This is common and shouldn't be a cause for concern 99% of the time. Lyle
@@csvette how do you fix it
@@jowin960 You don't. They all do it. I recommend taking the car to an LS engine authority in your area and letting them listen to it to give you their thoughts regarding the noise. Lyle
So if I did a manual swap I'd have to do a different torque tube?
Correct.
@@csvette Thank you for that information!
Strategic pause/smile at 1:33 FTW
I’m trying to replace the bearings.. what part number are they?
I have the bearings on my website (including the o-ring seals) for $139.00 INCLUDING SHIPPING. Order at Corvettepartscenter.com. Lyle
Can you do that again
0👈
What are your feelings on the polyurethane couplers.
Polyurethane has one great weakness...it doesn't wear over time like rubber. It just falls apart one day with no warning whatsoever. If your car is being raced (and therefore being torn down and inspected constantly) poly bushings can work well. In a street car that does not receive that kind of constant monitoring, I high recommend sticking with rubber couplers...that is why we chose rubber as the base compound in our own upgraded units. Thanks for watching! Lyle
@@lyleaulwurm9486 Thanks for the response Lyle, that makes sense and answers my question.
I bought a C5 with 64K miles and the couplers were shot.
What’s the costs on the labor ??
Depending on the year, anywhere from $1200 to $1700.
Can someone do a legitimate step by step torque tube removal and rebuild? Everyone I have seen is just like do this quick ..... no detail.
Hi John! We'd love to do that video--it is just a matter of time before we have the chance to do it. Our longer instructional videos take anywhere from 6-12 hours to shoot and edit, so we just need the time to do it. Hopefully in the next three months we will have that opportunity. Lyle
Lyle Aulwurm you guys rock. I’m trying to learn how to do these corvette jobs at home and using the most basic tools. I’m a poor corvette owner. I’m ok at working on stuff but not a mechanic really. Cheers.
@@johnholtz1205 , I appreciate your kind words. I DO NOT recommend that you attempt this particular job if you haven't done extensive work on a drivetrain before... This job really needs a lift and some serious skill. Lyle
Is the c7 coupler is the same as the c6 one?, and where can i find a c7 coupler
Hi Tommy! The C7 is NOT the same as the C5/C6 couplers. In fact, GM is the only manufacturer who makes them, and they will not sell them to anyone. The only way to get them is to buy a rebuilt driveshaft assembly directly from the dealer. Lyle
@@csvette could we have the c7 coupler size ?
@@ksasalman6427 I don't have one here to measure.
@@csvette do you have any idea which coupler can fits c7 corvette shaft drive
Thanx
@@ksasalman6427 There isn't one UNLESS you are buying it from GM...they are the SOLE source at this time. ZERO AFTERMARKET.
I have a c6 manual transmission...when I shift gears it gives me a “clank” sound in the rear. Could that be the same issue you mentioned in this video?
That sounds more like a Clutch Slave/ Throw out bearing issue, but impossible to be sure. It doesn't sound like a problem rooted in the torque tube, but a tube needing a rebuild could be a contributing factor. Lyle