I was talking with a diesel mechanic today and he told me that the main trouble he's seen with Duramax engines is when they come in with pistons that have melted from the extreme heat put to them with modifications from "chips" or programmers that increase torque and horsepower beyond what the engine was designed to take. Obviously, when the program puts more fuel and air mix into the cylinder to increase power you're going to get increased heat as well. Do the Ford and Dodge owners have the same problem?

He also said the Chevy/GMC front differential is designed to handle "only" up to 450 ft.lb. of torque. So, if you drag race these things with four wheel drive engaged you're risking blowing the front diff.

 

it's the same thing on all the trucks, when the pyro is above 1250 your exceeding the melting point of aluminum. Seems like I see more cummins than dmaxes with that.

The front diff will hold power, its the tie rods that need to be beefed up, and if cv angles are bad it can blow them apart.