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gear break-in question

  • Thread starter Thread starter cooter_11
  • Start date Start date Mar 4, 2008
C

cooter_11

Member
Apr 22, 2005
138
0
16
GA
Mar 4, 2008
#1
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #1
how bad is it to drive for an extended amount of time on the highway with newly installed gears?

I just installed my 3.90's last weekend and haven't been able to put many miles on them and I gotta drive from Savannah to Key West this weekend. I can't see how this could be healthy for them. If I put a couple hundred miles on them before I go, think I'll be alright?
 

04YELLOWGT

Active Member
Jun 29, 2005
1,135
2
39
Indiana
Mar 4, 2008
#2
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #2
They should be fine, allot of people talk about breaking in gears and I never did. I had 4.10s and was doing WOT runs within 10miles and my 3.73s the same. I had my 4.10s in for over 20k miles with no hiccups and my 3.73s for maybe 3k miles. I also drove for 2hrs straight @ 70mph the day after the 3.73s were put in.
 

fobra559

At least it's more erect and not floppy anymore.
Nov 1, 2007
721
0
0
Lindsay, CA
Mar 4, 2008
#3
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #3
Same here, when I got my 3.73's the first time I was at WOT a couple times and never had a problem with them. Some say you need to break them in and some don't. So it's however you feel really. Enjoy the gears though, they are fun
 

blkhorse

Founding Member
Oct 30, 1999
345
1
18
Mar 4, 2008
#4
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #4
I have put in a lot of gears my self. I run them thru two warm-up/cool down cycles and beat the hell out of them(I tell this to all the people I put gears in also),never had a problem,never noisy. that being said...There is a recomended procedure,can't remember cause I do the above
 

fobra559

At least it's more erect and not floppy anymore.
Nov 1, 2007
721
0
0
Lindsay, CA
Mar 4, 2008
#5
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #5
blkhorse said:
I have put in a lot of gears my self. I run them thru two warm-up/cool down cycles and beat the hell out of them(I tell this to all the people I put gears in also),never had a problem,never noisy. that being said...There is a recomended procedure,can't remember cause I do the above
Click to expand...

I think the guy who installed my gears did that same method you do. So I guess it works I did beat the hell out of them on my way home
 

BennyBlown2v

New Member
Dec 9, 2004
1,233
1
0
Carmel, INdiana
Mar 4, 2008
#6
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #6
Get them up to operating temp (helps new bearings if you let them heat up fully) - then beat the crap outa it if you want
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
24
58
Mar 4, 2008
#7
  • Mar 4, 2008
  • #7
I drove mine for probaly 8 miles or so, let it sit a few hours, drove another 8 miles maybe, let it sit overnight and the next morning I beat the ~~~~ out of it.

They whined from the second they got installed, and they still whine now, no damage done!!! lol.

But to answer your question... I have heard at LEAST 1 complete heating/cooling cycle before you beat on them.
 

propellerhead

New Member
Apr 13, 2004
1,541
0
0
"but what's with the but shots?"
Mar 5, 2008
#8
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #8
I bought my car new. It had 4 miles on the clock. I did not do any break in procedure then. When I got gears, I drove 50 miles home. No big deal.
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
Mar 5, 2008
#9
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #9
My shop says 200 miles. But I usually give it a tank of gas, which is roughly 200 miles, and let her rip.
 

04GTMustang

New Member
Feb 28, 2006
348
0
0
Stafford
Mar 5, 2008
#10
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #10
yea you will be fine man. I was going to break in my gears for 100 miles like some guys recommended to me but that didnt happen lol. left the shop nicely then a mile down the road said screw this and nailed on it. its been about 40000 miles since the install and they are doing perfectly fine no whinning or anything.
 

fobra559

At least it's more erect and not floppy anymore.
Nov 1, 2007
721
0
0
Lindsay, CA
Mar 5, 2008
#11
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #11
04GTMustang said:
yea you will be fine man. I was going to break in my gears for 100 miles like some guys recommended to me but that didnt happen lol. left the shop nicely then a mile down the road said screw this and nailed on it. its been about 40000 miles since the install and they are doing perfectly fine no whinning or anything.
Click to expand...

Just couldn't wait could you.........................neither could I
 
C

cooter_11

Member
Apr 22, 2005
138
0
16
GA
Mar 5, 2008
#12
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #12
Sweet...Thanks guys!!
 

topless98gt

Adhesive Feces
Mar 31, 2005
182
0
17
Arlington, TX
Mar 5, 2008
#13
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #13
I broke my gears and clutch in for 500 miles each. They are both fine.

This is just what I did, not what I am suggesting to you. We have living proof that it's OK to not break these gears in, so go let'r rip.
 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member
May 20, 2006
1,421
4
39
UCSD/La Jolla
Mar 5, 2008
#14
  • Mar 5, 2008
  • #14
Motive's aren't heat treated like FRPP's. Yes it's not going to break the gear, but possibly warp it to make noise from altered lash in the future? Maybe
 

shallowreef

New Member
Nov 3, 2005
0
1
0
illinois
Mar 6, 2008
#15
  • Mar 6, 2008
  • #15
Sorry to hijack but what do you guys mean about "whine"? I am getting ready to do gears and i am confused about what "whine" means?
 

04GTMustang

New Member
Feb 28, 2006
348
0
0
Stafford
Mar 6, 2008
#16
  • Mar 6, 2008
  • #16
shallowreef said:
Sorry to hijack but what do you guys mean about "whine"? I am getting ready to do gears and i am confused about what "whine" means?
Click to expand...

you would hear them whining in the rear end. some say it sort of sounds like a supercharger whining when you are accelerating. I myself have not listened to it before but i am sure you would know if your gears are whining cause it would be pretty audible im sure.
 
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