Breaking in new gears

[Foggman]

I just had new gear installed w/ a L/S in the rear as well. I was told to drive it easy for the first 500 miles then change the fluids. I read on the maitenence page on here that I should hand pump the fluids out, but I thought that since they were new gears I should probably pop the cover on the rear end and let it drain that way in case there are metal shavings. does that sound right? Also, since I obviously don't use 4wd on a daily driving basis, and I am taking it easy on my new rear end gears so I dont want to go wheelin' how do I break in my front diff. gears?


Also, just incase anyone is thinkg about this, I just added the BBK throttle body and the vortec MAF senser...AWSOME! Those two combined with my KKM intake (the older one with the big metal intake pipe) are by far the best bolt on performance mods I have ever done! Well worth the money I paid for them!

 

[Creager]

Drive for atleast 10 minutes, and no longer then 30. That way the differential has time to get to full operating temps (+600*F)... TAKE IT EASY on the gas! You can drive it, just no 3500rpm clutch dumps.

Just pop the cover off, there will be two magnants in the 8.8. One on the cover itself, (little square) and one on the filler-plug that is right of the pinion.

The only way to break in gears is by using them. So to break in the front gears you will have to use 4wd (in the DIRT or ICE, no asphalt) for 10-30 minutes at a time. Obviously you cant use 4wd all the time, so you dont know when your 500 miles is past due. Dont worry about it, afterall it is your front diffy, you only use it what... .01% of the time? Just take it easy on it for a couple months, and try and drive it offroad for like 10 minutes a day. More than likely, only putting 500 miles on that oil its gonna be a waste of gear oil (yeah i said it, breaking in your gears is a waste of expensive oil... but you NEED to do it), but you wont actually know until you pop the cover off and drain the fluid, to see what kinda particales you got going =)

If you have manual hubs lock your hubs while you are driving around (with the transfercase in 2wd!), that will help speed up the process. Dont do this if you have a automatic locker! But dont rely on this method alone, because you will only be fooling yourself. TORQUE needs to be applyed to them to completely break in.

 

[Foggman]

Thanks for your help! I already have about 150 miles n the rear end...easy driving of course.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Foggman - please shorten your signature to 6 lines


Also, for front gears on our Explorers is where you'll need to pump the fluid out. I still haven't changed the fluid in my front end yet, but when I do, Royal Purple Synthetic is going in. Good luck.

-Drew

 

[yyc_tbird_sc]

I know I'm gonna take it for this but....when I changed the gears in the tbird last summer (from 2.73's to 3.55's): I bolted it all together, drove to the race track, and let her rip after a good cool down. The gears were previously used, and the traction loc was repacked with new and extra clutches, as well all the bearings were new.

To this date, there has yet to be a problem. Just my .02.