Strange S60 & Moser M9 Rearends - Bullet Proof Backends - Tech

The hole for the three-channel ABS sensor comes sealed by a shipping plug, and it comes out using snap ring pliers and a bolt (which you partially insert and then pull on to remove the plug-visible in the previous photo). This also makes for a handy location to pour in the required gear oil. Strange specifies between 2 and 2.5 quarts of 80W-90 fluid for street use. For the initial fill it needs to be non-synthetic for proper break-in. Posi additive is not needed with the gear-type Truetrac diff. Holding the rear as level as possible, the guys fill until fluid begins to drip out the plug in the rear cover. As a side note, there is a drain in the very bottom of the S60 for easy fluid changes.

Now the slotted Brembo Sport-Kit brake rotors (part No. 47197, $295) slide on each side. If they don't want to go on, you may need to finagle with the e-brake lever, or even back off the adjuster for the drums. Each caliper mounting bracket goes onto its backing plate using threadlocker on the stock bolts, which are torqued to stock spec (again, the calipers could also have been left on these brackets, but the TTP staff had removed them). Note how there are grease fittings provided on the axle tubes to enable periodic bearing lubrication, which the stock rear does not have. We grease each of them about five pumps.

Time to lay on the brake lines and bolt up the calipers. This is a simple task thanks to the S60's aforementioned brake-line clips, as well as a pre-tapped hole to bolt up the junction (shown currently hanging free). At this point, shop owner Matt Sorian steps out of his office and shouts the order that nobody goes home until Jensen's rear install is completed-myself included. Fortunately, it's going very quickly!

With all of its accoutrements now in place, the rear is carefully positioned and the Camaro slowly dropped onto it. Nick Stevko and Jay insert the rear LCA bolts, connect the shocks, and get the driver side of the Panhard rod in place before lifting the car back up.

In the air, the parking brake cables are attached, and Jay attempts to put the stock torque arm up (the S60 comes fully machined for it, and aftermarket units will work, too). He is shown in defeat here, but at no fault of Strange-the rear is simply tilting too far back. After the photo is taken, he uses a screw jack to rotate the rear and make things easier. The torque arm is tightened onto the rear, then the stock sandwich clamp attached up front. The screw jack can then be removed.

The ABS sensor is plugged in and the brake line reconnected to its counterpart on the frame. The springs are popped in-a pry bar may be needed (one also can disconnect the shocks temporarily-with the rear supported of course!). Nick then assists Jay in putting on the antiroll bar. One will need the 3-inch "U" portions of two muffler clamps (or, as here, four bolts) to attach the mounting brackets to those that Strange includes welded to the rear.

The completed installation. The antiroll bar endlinks have gone in (as during final tightening of most bolts, the rear must be loaded on jackstands to do this), as has the driveshaft. Finally, the brakes have been adequately bled. That's it-the installation of the Strange S60 has been one of the easiest jobs I've ever been a part of! Though I didn't actually turn any wrenches on this task (thank you, TTP), putting this rear in looked only marginally harder than bolting up a cold-air intake.

The rear wheels are reinstalled (the stock lugs can be reused, as Strange provides metric-threaded wheel studs), and the S60's gears receive an initial break-in by running the car on the lift at 40-60 mph for about 10 minutes, then letting it cool down completely. Project 1SC-YA is now ready for hardcore gear-bangin' action with virtually no fear of driveline breakage!