Rear End Swap

[Rhunadan]

Hello all,
Looks like we're having a nice weekend for working outdoors, so I thought I would do the rear end swap. I bought a complete rear end from a 2000 Z28.
Its going into a 96 camaro that has rear drums. I'll also be installing a new pan hard bar that I bought from Spohn. with the delrin spherical joints. I was hoping for some words of wisdom from someone who's done this before.
Thanks.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Rear End Swap

good luck, stay safe and watch your brake lines...I've only actually dissassmbled the rear end, not taken it out, so I can't offer much in the way of dropping it.

on a side note I got a stb if you want it to add to your suspension setup lol :P

[Skinny]

Re: Rear End Swap

My best time is 42mins, including pulling the axles out to swap the brake backing plates... :)

I've never had to swap from drum to disc though, so I'm not sure what you're in for there. If the new rear end has brake lines on it already, then I think you would only have to connect the hose on from the chassis to the rear.

The process is simple - support the rear end with a jack, unbolt the driveshaft and torque arm, disconnect brake line(s) and speed sensor(s), unbolt control arms, panhard bar, and shocks, lower rear end, remove, reverse.

The only other issue you may come across is the ABS setup on the donor rear end vs your factory one. If you have a 3 channel ABS and the donor has a 4 channel (or vice-versa), then you'll have some ABS issues. Easy way to tell by looking at the rear end- if there is a sensor on the top of the pumpkin (the big round part in the center) then it is a 3 channel rear end. If not, then it is a 4 channel, which will have one sensor on each side behind the brakes. It will also have two independent lines going from the chassis to the rear, where a 3 channel just has one that splits to each side. Another way to tell if you have a 3 or 4 channel system is traction control. If you have traction control, it is 4 channel, if not, it's 3 channel.

[Rhunadan]

Re: Rear End Swap

on a side note I got a stb if you want it to add to your suspension setup lol :P[/QUOTE]

How much do you want for it? Who's it made by?

[Rhunadan]

Re: Rear End Swap

The new one is a 3 channel but I haven't looked at the old one yet, so I don't know. Did cars with drums come with 4 channel?If not, then I'm OK. The unit actually came complete with discs,panhard bar, sway bar and the parking brake cables.

[Skinny]

Re: Rear End Swap

Not sure whether drum brake cars could have a 4 channel or not. If your car does not have traction control you are good (if you have traction control, there would be a switch in the car labeled something like "TC OFF" or "ASR OFF")

[Rhunadan]

Re: Rear End Swap

Then I have no traction control because there's no switch for it. There is however a "Traction" light in the dash that flickers on and off when I break over a slippery patch. I guess that's the ABS?

[Rhunadan]

Re: Rear End Swap

Can someone tell me what the gear ratio might be for a 2000 Z28? Is there a way to find out by the numbers stamped on the pumpkin?

Thanks.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Rear End Swap

The new one is a 3 channel but I haven't looked at the old one yet, so I don't know. Did cars with drums come with 4 channel?If not, then I'm OK. The unit actually came complete with discs,panhard bar, sway bar and the parking brake cables.

No, you have a 3-channel stock.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Rear End Swap

Then I have no traction control because there's no switch for it. There is however a "Traction" light in the dash that flickers on and off when I break over a slippery patch. I guess that's the ABS?

That's for the ABS - different.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Rear End Swap

I sent you a PM.

I know that they would either be 2.73, maybe 3.08, or 3.42. Would have to be one of those 3.

Once you have it all hooked up, there is a way to tell what gear is in the rear by spinning the driveshaft and counting the rotation of the tires...or it's something to that extent...I've seen it mentioned on here a couple times.

You should have a 3 channel abs unit in the 96...if you run into an issue let me know...I got my abs unit that I took out sitting in the garage...it's a 3 channel.

[Mark42]

Re: Rear End Swap

Can someone tell me what the gear ratio might be for a 2000 Z28? Is there a way to find out by the numbers stamped on the pumpkin?

Thanks.

Check the build codes on the glove box door or drivers door. Then look up the axle codes in the tech database to see what ratio you have.

[bigairboarder44]

Re: Rear End Swap

if the z you got it from was a stick, it's a 3.42. if it was an auto, it's either 2.73 (standard) or the "performance axle" 3.23. if you can look at the rpo codes, then GU2 - 2.73, GU5 - 3.23.

OR, go to a highway and look at the rpms:
3.23s @ 2000 rpm = 67 mph; 2.73s @ 2000 rpm = 80 mph

[Rhunadan]

Re: Rear End Swap

As far as going from drums to disks on the rear, will there be enough fluid capacity in the master cylinder? I ask because a buddy of mine has to upgrade his master cylinder when he swapped rear drums for disks on his 68 chev pickup.

[Skinny]

Re: Rear End Swap

The MC will be fine.