Chevy Corvette 5.7L Repair Information

Chevy Corvette 5.7L Rear End Repair Information

Here you can find information regarding repairs to the Chevy Corvette rear end system. These repairs include the rear control arms installation, the rear swaybar information and bolt torque specs, the rear diff fluid change procedures, and the rear end watts system installation. All of these repairs and procedures include in depth details on how to perform the replacement and or repair. They also contain all the detailed torque specs needed for each bolt involved in the repair.

Rear Control Arms Installation

The rear suspension of the Chevy Corvette is very much the same as the front suspension in that it uses a very similar knuckle, wheel hub, and control arm system. To replace the upper control arm you will need to remove the frame bolts as well as the rear upper ball joint nut. To install the new rear upper control arm simply place the new part into the location of the old one and torque down the frame bolts to 81 ft-lbs. The rear upper control arm ball joint nut can be torqued down to 41 ft-lbs. As for the lower control arm you can remove it in the same way. When installing a new rear lower control arm torque down the front frame bolt to 107 ft-lbs. The rearward frame bolt can be torqued down to 70 ft-lbs. The rear lower ball joint nut can be torqued down to 52 ft-lbs. Be sure to install cotter pins into any location that uses a castle nut. Cotter pins ensure that nuts and componenets do not loosen up and cause accidents.

Chevy Corvette Rear Upper Arm Frame Bolt Torque Spec : 81 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Upper Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec : 41 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Lower Arm Front Frame Bolt Torque Spec : 107 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Lower Arm Rear Frame Bolt Torque Spec : 70 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Lower Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec : 52 ft-lbs

 

Rear Differential Torque Specs

The Corvette rear end consists of both the transmission and rear differential. For this reason there are many different torque specs that are required to work on the components. I have collected a list of important componenets and their corresponding torque specs. This list is not complete and will be updated in the future. For now please browse through what I have added and collected.

Chevy Corvette Rear End Ring Gear Torque Specs : 144 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Diff to Trans Torque Specs : 36 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Pinion Nut Torque Specs : 370 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Carrier Bearing Caps Torque Specs : 80 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Differential Drain Plug Torque Specs : 26 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Diff Cover Plate Torque Specs : 18 ft-lbs

 

Rear Wheel Hub Torque Specs

The Corvette rear wheel hub is much the same as the front wheel hub in that it is held onto the vehicle using 3 torx bolts. The only difference between the front suspension and rear suspension regarding the wheel hub is that the rear wheel hub has a cv axle that goes through the center of it and bolts down using a large axle nut. The rear wheel hub bolts get tightened down to 96 ft-lbs just the same as the front ones. The center cv axle nut can be tightened down to 118 ft-lbs. I always sue some red loctite on this part to ensure that it does not loosen up.

Chevy Corvette Rear Wheel Hub Bolts Torque Specs : 96 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Axle Nut Torque Specs : 118 ft-lbs

 

Rear Shocks Installation

To replace the rear shocks on a Chevy Corvette you will need to remove two sets of bolts/nuts located at the bottom and top of the shock. Both of these fasteners can be accessed from underneath the vehicle by jacking it up and removing the wheel. To uninstall the old shock simply just remove both of the fasteners and the part will come out. When installing the new part reverse the procedure and tighten up the lower bolt to 162 ft-lbs and then the upper bolts to 22 ft-lbs. I always use a little bit of loctite on the lower bolt to ensure that it does not come loose.

Chevy Corvette Rear Shock Upper Bolts Torque Specs : 22 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Specs : 162 ft-lbs

 

Rear Stabilizer Bar Installation

The rear stabilizer bar on the Chevy Corvette consists of a series of brackets that hold it to the frame of the vehicle and a couple of endlink nuts that fasten it the the outer side of the car. To remove the swaybar you will need to jack up the front of the vehicle and remove both the endlink nuts as well as the brackets. To install the new swaybar you will need to move it back into the place as the old one and torque the control arm sided nuts to 53 ft-lbs and then torque the frame bolts to 55 ft-lbs as well. The rear Xmember mounting nuts can be torqued down to 81 ft-lbs.

Chevy Corvette Rear Stabilizer to Arm Torque Spec : 53 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Stabilizer to Frame Torque Spec : 55 ft-lbs

Chevy Corvette Rear Xmember Mounting Nuts Torque Spec : 81 ft-lbs

 

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Rear Control Arms Torque Specs
Rear Lower Arm to Frame Bolt Torque Spec (Front)	107 ft-lbs
Rear Lower Arm to Frame Bolt Torque Spec (Rear)	70 ft-lbs
Rear Lower Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec	52 ft-lbs
Rear Upper Arm to Frame Bolts Torque Spec	81 ft-lbs
Rear Upper Ball Joint Nut Torque Spec	41 ft-lbs
Rear Differential / Axle Torque Specs
Rear End Ring Gear Torque Spec	144 ft-lbs
Rear Diff to Trans Torque Spec	36 ft-lbs
Rear End Pinion Nut Torque Spec	370 ft-lbs
Rear Carrier Bearing Cap Torque Spec	80 ft-lbs
Rear Differential Drain Plug Torque Spec	26 ft-lbs
Rear Diff Cover Bolts Torque Spec	18 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Bearing Hub Torque Specs
Rear Wheel Hub Bolts Torque Spec	96 ft-lbs
Rear Axle Nut Torque Spec	118 ft-lbs
Rear Shock Torque Specs
Rear Shock Upper Bolts Torque Spec	22 ft-lbs
Rear Shock Lower Bolt Torque Spec	162 ft-lbs
Rear Stabilizer Bar Torque Specs
Rear Stabilizer Bar to Frame Torque Spec	55 ft-lbs
Rear Stabilizer Bar to Arm Torque Spec	53 ft-lbs
Rear Xmember Mounting Nuts Torque Spec	81 ft-lbs