Chevrolet Camaro Gearbox Failures Explained?

TTAC Commentator and sometime author Niky Tamayo gives us insight into New GM’s new Carmaro’s tranny probs, thanks to this technical bulletin (first published on Camaro5.com).

And here I was giving people crap for complaining about weak Camaro gearboxes suggesting, in all likelihood, hoonery was the cause of failure. But when GM itself cites the torque handling capabilities of the Camaro transmission as being a gnat’s hair higher than the engine’s peak torque. Then you can’t help but wonder how many more will blow before the uprate the transmission. While GM is in no way obligated to build indestructible transmissions for street cars that it has to warranty, you’d think they’d either allow themselves a little more leeway in transmission strength, given the fact that anyone buying a V8 Camaro isn’t likely to NOT hoon the hell out of it, or program the traction control or launch control to limit torque on hard launches . . . y’know . . . just in case.

2010 Tremec TR6060 (MM6/MZ6/MH3/MG9/M10) car transmission

2010 Model Year Summary

Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual car transmission

New Features and Benefits for 2010 model year

Second gear synchronizers using carbon material

Second gear synchronizer design with advanced and asymmetric teeth (CTSv in 2009)

Improved transmission pump pick-up

Implementation into the V-8 Camaro

Second gear synchronizers using carbon material

The change to carbon material on the second gear synchronizer will improve the durability of the synchronizer. Carbon also protects the synchronizer during WOT shifts with the wheels spinning. The shift feel improvements made in 2008 are refined further with the implementation of the carbon material.

Second gear synchronizer design with advanced and asymmetric teeth

Implementing advanced and asymmetric teeth on the second gear aynchronizer system improves the shiftability of the transmission during cold temperatures. This is accomplished by the advanced and asymmetric teeth contacting the second gear dog ring in less distance and with increase stopping power. The shift feel is significantly improved in cold weather. This design also improves the warm shifting comfort.

Improved transmission pump pick-up

As the performance vehicles improve in handling and on-track performance, an improvement to the transmission pump fluid pick up was needed to maintain an acceptable fluid temperature during limit handling and on-track events. In order to enhance operation, an ‘S’ tube design was introduced into some TR6060 applications for 2010 model year. The features of the ‘S’ tube are twofold. First, the tube is lengthened to put the pick-up point further rearward in the fluid sump. Second, the tube has an ‘S’ shape to put the pick up location in the middle of the sump as compared to the current design which is offset to the left slightly. With the introduction of the ‘S’ tube, fluid temps are reduced by 5 degrees Celsius.

Implementation into the V-8 Camaro

The TR6060 is mated to the LS3 engine in the 2010 Camaro. The TR6060 used in the Camaro will use the M10 gear set. A transmission pump will be standard. The TR6060 used in the Camaro is very similar to the TR6060 used in the 2009 CTSv.