On a stock GM rear differential the only thing the c clip does is holds the axle in...If you twist an axle and it breaks your axle will come out...c clip eliminators hold the axles in the housing if an axle breaks...The eliminators fasten to the end of the tube...I hope this helps

 

steve. thanks.

I understand that, but why would a C-Clip "break" or come out? that's the part I don't get.

 

a clip won't break, or comeout most of the time, as their is a shaft that holds the spyder gears, blocks them from coming off. as stated before c clip elimators keep the axles from coming out if they break.

 

It's not an issue of the c-clips themselves. You are right they won't fail and all they do is hold the axle. But if the axle breaks anywhere outboard of the c-clip there is nothing to keep the axle in the housing. The c-clip eliminators as they are called is a press on bearing housing that will keep the axle in the housing if it breaks.

 

If you install c clip eliminators you will have to cut off part of the housing end where the stock bearing goes. When this is done then the housing can not be used with c clip axles any more. It is a perminate modification. C clip eliminators can cause problems on a street driven car. They are known to leak oil on the brakes and sometimes the bearings will fail. They are not designed for the side loads that street driving puts on them. If you don't need them then don't install them

An axle upgrade would be a good idea if you want to keep the c clips and still feel a little more secure with them. Moser and other companies make replacement c clip axles that are stronger than the originals.

 

that's kind of how I feel. everybody assumes that all of us are "drag racers", even if we say it is a street car. If there are millions of factory GM cars on the street running C-clip axles doesnt that say something? I have never seen an axle break, but then again I don't hang out at drag strips 5 days a week. If I install aftermarket Moser or Strange 30-spline axles I would think they would never break on a car that's running only 9" wide tires like mine, running pump gas and under 600 HP. I hope I am right!!!

 

I wouldn't worry about the C-clips too much, I've only seen one axle come apart when the C-clip came out and it was a old Ford used as a trailer, 70 mph down the highway and the tire/shaft just slowly "walked" out of the axle housing, saw it before it ever came out too far. In a car where power is applied to the axle, you're going to "feel" the jolt if a axle shaft breaks before it comes apart and causes a larger problem

 

that's kind of how I feel also. why modify the whole axle housing and get new axles to accomdate C-clip eliminators if the chance of a C-clip failing on me is like 100,000 to 1? Plus half the people I talk to say they leak, and not recommended for street.

 

one thing also to consider. if the differential fails, such as the cross pin breaks, it happens, the the clips can fall out then. tom