Have you ever broken anything during a launch?

[thor'svr4]

I did a quick search on this forum and didn’t see any thread that discussed the breaking point of drivetrain components so I figured I would start a thread on it. It might be a good idea to get together a ‘list’ of what people break at what hp/tq. This information would defiantly be useful for anyone whose new to the 3000gt / stealth platform.

So like the title says, post up your experiences. Good or bad. If you have broken a part let us know what you broke. How much hp/tq? What rpm did you launch at? Ect. But equally as important as knowing what parts will break is what parts will hold. Let us know about any parts that have surprised you.

My contribution:
418/408 awhp/tq
Solid motor mounts
Stock OEM clutch, stock flywheel, stock 25 spline t-case with maximal ‘old style K’ brace.
~7000rpm launch on brand new Kumho Ecsta MX 245s deflated to ~20psi at the track.

The only issue I’ve ever had was this thing



I heard a weird noise right after the launch and I initially thought I had broken something in the trans and when I pulled the trans apart I saw that this part was purple and 4 of the 6 gears in it were seized. (turned out the noise was a spun #6 rod bearing) The car drove perfectly fine on the way home from the track. To be honest I’m not sure if I killed the part with all the launches or if the part had been seized ever since I bought the car. When I bought the car it had no oil in the trans, t-case or rear end. It is interesting to note that it was the cars first drive with Pennzoil synchromesh in the trans.

Other than that I’ve never had a single issue. So far I’ve done a few hundred street launches and ~8 launches at the track on the stock drive-train.

From my personal experience (which is obviously limited to my vr4) I would say a stock first gen 25 spline drive-train with Maximal Performance transfer case brace is plenty strong enough to hold low 400’s. I’ve got no idea how it would do on wider street tires, drag radials or slicks though.

[mb3000]

Does my neck count?

[thor'svr4]

Does my neck count?

those are always the first thing to go, along with your passengers bladder and there ability to refrain from screaming like a little girl lol.

[Ninja Performance]

I have broken 5 spd TCs ( think 4 or 5) , a 6 spd TC (pinion), 3 rear axles, 3 transaxles.

-Chris

[FeaRpb]

I have broken 5 spd TCs ( think 4 or 5) , a 6 spd TC (pinion), 3 rear axles, 3 transaxles.

-Chris

Hey Chris, was it only the driver side rear?

[thor'svr4]

I have broken 5 spd TCs ( think 4 or 5) , a 6 spd TC (pinion), 3 rear axles, 3 transaxles.

-Chris

how much power did it take to break the transaxle? im pretty surprised to see that you've killed 4-5 5 speed t-cases yet you haven't broken any output shafts? i always assumed the breaking point of the t case was similar to the breaking point of the output shaft.

also has anyone ever blown a rear end? it seams pretty common for RWD guys to talk about switching out there stock rear end for a larger one. ive been asked by several 'domestic' guys what ive got for a rear end in the car and they always seam surprised to hear that its just stock.

[Ninja Performance]

how much power did it take to break the transaxle? im pretty surprised to see that you've killed 4-5 5 speed t-cases yet you haven't broken any output shafts? i always assumed the breaking point of the t case was similar to the breaking point of the output shaft.

also has anyone ever blown a rear end? it seams pretty common for RWD guys to talk about switching out there stock rear end for a larger one. ive been asked by several 'domestic' guys what ive got for a rear end in the car and they always seam surprised to hear that its just stock.

I have a 300M output shaft. And was running stock TCs. I know have a SS front and mid case with stock internals. Our rear end is pretty stout. Don't think anyone has broken one, not that I have heard of.

-Chris

[Ninja Performance]

Hey Chris, was it only the driver side rear?

Went to the track once, brought a pair of stock rear replacements like I always do. Launched, broke pass side. Replaced in pits. Launched, broke driver's side, replaced in pits. Launched, broke pass side and was out of axles to went home. Good times.

-Chris

[UTRacerX9]

I've broken a stock 5 spd TC, the front housing is pretty thin in a few places. I didn't completely shatter it, but it was enough to crack it in several places and for fluid to start leaking out. Upon opening it up, the bearings were toast. This was when I first got my 13T's. I've also stripped the splines on a 18 spline stock OS on my previous red TT.

[HellBringer]

Literally 100's of street launches and 60-70 or more track passes between a few different cars and never broke anything but a stock/original clutch. Unless you're making BIG power (600+ wheel) the guys breaking shit left and right need to adjust their launch technique. The only excuse for breaking shit at BPU levels is the driver and/or using an overkill clutch. Granted, sometimes shit happens and something breaks unexpectedly, but generally the drivetrains in these cars are stout; however, they are not tolerant to poor technique.