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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Gear Break in...umm this is new..??

  • Thread starter Thread starter whyask
  • Start date Start date Feb 8, 2007
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Saleen4971

New Member
Mar 26, 2003
664
0
0
Setauket, LI
Feb 9, 2007
#21
  • Feb 9, 2007
  • #21
i did no break in procedure on mine. they whine BARELY once in a while. but i blame that on the hackjob shop that did the install

mustang magic FTL
 

Mike97gt

it doe snot
Founding Member
Jan 26, 1999
10,633
7
89
the people's republic of massachusetts
Feb 10, 2007
#22
  • Feb 10, 2007
  • #22
lexluthr69 said:
Sounds like everyone's an expert here on gear break in, because they ripped on their new gears and didn't break anything. LOL

Here's a good rundown by Amsoil on why it's a good idea to "break in" your gears.

http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/differential_maintenance/

To me, it's saying that the break in period is the highest temps your axle will see. That's enough for me to not want to see what stress the gears are capable of, when I haven't even had a chance to set the wear pattern on 'em.

Every gear set I've ever bought and installed, I've broke in. /shrug
Click to expand...

I agree that it's not a bad idea to change the diff fluid as part of maintence and it's not a bad idea to take it easy on new gears but 99 percent of the time improper install is the reason I see failures.

I have never seen anybody change the rear end fluid after the cars break in period also I have never seen a bearing or ring and pinion failure in a factory setup rear with under 30k mile on it. every failure I have come accross in a new car was due to a bad setup done durring a gear install..

8.8's even from the factory do suffer from pinion bearing failures but this is in higher mileage cars and trucks.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,259
17,943
224
Massachusetts
Feb 10, 2007
#23
  • Feb 10, 2007
  • #23
whyask said:
"All new gear sets require a break- period to prevent damage from overheating. After driving the first 15 or 20 miles you MUST let the differential cool for 30-40 minutes before proceeding. Drive the first 500 easy miles and then change the oil after the first 500 miles."

This is a new one, Ive had gears in all 4 stangs Ive owned and this was the first time Id seen this...
Click to expand...


That's nothing new. It's been around for a while. I'm more surprised that you are on your 5th gear change and just finding this out.


Gears need to be heat cycled. All that does is releive internal stresses. That;s why you are supposed to drive it easy and then let it cool down. You are not "wearing" anything in together, you are heat cyling them which will physically make the gears slightly stonger since there are no more internal stresses.

I would consider that important enough to pay attention to
 

blackfang

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
1,290
1
39
Richmond, Va
Feb 10, 2007
#24
  • Feb 10, 2007
  • #24
My GT i did go easy on them, but for the past 2 Cobras I have had getting 4.10's and now 4.30's in this one, I got on it sideways leaving out the door

Not the best way to set them in, but damn was it fun. 5 years later, no issues.
 

whyask

New Member
Apr 4, 2005
735
1
0
Sacramento
Feb 10, 2007
#25
  • Feb 10, 2007
  • #25
so is it recommended that you change the oil after 500 miles..I did it on the last couple of gears........so YES/NO..???
 

blackfang

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
1,290
1
39
Richmond, Va
Feb 10, 2007
#26
  • Feb 10, 2007
  • #26
I did just to be safe. After work I just put the car on a lift real fast and changes it
 

TorchRed04GT

Member
Nov 28, 2004
56
0
6
MI
May 9, 2008
#27
  • May 9, 2008
  • #27
my break in lasted from the parking lot of the shop to the street. Once I turned it was full throttle...lol never had any problems, no whine of anything.
 
K

K'Dash

New Member
May 14, 2007
58
0
0
California
May 9, 2008
#28
  • May 9, 2008
  • #28
Question: Do you break in the gears on a brand new car and change the gear oil after 500 miles?

Answer: No.
 

jivepepper

Founding Member
Jun 19, 2002
776
5
18
Under a Sombrero. in WV.
May 9, 2008
#29
  • May 9, 2008
  • #29
I bought used ones for 35 and smoked the tires leaving the parking lot.
 

Mossberg

Active Member
Jul 21, 2003
0
1
36
ATL, Shawty
May 9, 2008
#30
  • May 9, 2008
  • #30
Add me to the "Gun it out of the parking lot" club. No issues after 3 years.


This thread is old as chit.
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
24
58
May 9, 2008
#31
  • May 9, 2008
  • #31
Damn I posted in this thread BEFORE I even had my gears...

I drove easy on them, let them cool for probaly 6-8 hours, drove easy on them again, sat for a few more hours... next morning gave it effin hell!!!
 

the_rooster

New Member
Jul 12, 2006
32
0
0
philadelphia pa
May 10, 2008
#32
  • May 10, 2008
  • #32
I dont mean to hijack this thread but i just had blew my rear and got a used one with new gears. so my question is what do i need to do to get my speedo corrected? is it a tune or a gear somewhere that i need changed. its a 96gt. thanks
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
24
58
May 10, 2008
#33
  • May 10, 2008
  • #33
For a 96-98 car it is a manual speed sensor that corresponds to the gear ratio. You can look around online to find the right application for yours. I think www.50resto.com sells them.

99+ Stangs are electronic and can be adjusted with a tuner electronically.
 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member
May 20, 2006
1,421
4
39
UCSD/La Jolla
May 10, 2008
#34
  • May 10, 2008
  • #34
I've heard the same process, it's common advice. For heat treated gears like FRPP's it's not worth doing in the slightest, for Richmond/Motive i'd proly do it besides changing the fluid.
 

eliteJAE

Member
May 29, 2007
0
1
16
Stanford University
May 11, 2008
#35
  • May 11, 2008
  • #35
svttech has spoken .....i'd still break it in just cuz im superstitious like that tho
 
B

BobHyatt

New Member
Aug 7, 2007
378
1
0
May 11, 2008
#36
  • May 11, 2008
  • #36
whyask said:
Ya it seemed a bit extreme..I can understand about the changing of the gear oil, that makes since and its true...but the 15 minutes and cooling..ya NO..mayby with 4:50+
Click to expand...

Just install a new set, drive for 30 minutes, then crawl under the car and put your hand on the differential cover. Be prepared to remove it _quickly_ as it will be hot. _very_ hot. The reduced driving up front prevents damaging the differential oil. After a hundred miles, things are seated better and the temp drops way down. You can eliminate some of this by installing with a little more backlash, but then it will be a bit noisier. circle-track drivers use 2x the backlash we would normally use...
 

Flghtmstr1

Member
Mar 31, 2005
572
4
19
Springfield, PA
May 12, 2008
#37
  • May 12, 2008
  • #37
CobraRed_96_GT said:
I've heard the same process, it's common advice. For heat treated gears like FRPP's it's not worth doing in the slightest, for Richmond/Motive i'd proly do it besides changing the fluid.
Click to expand...

+1

The shop that installed mine will only do the install on FRPP gears. I asked them about break-in, and that is what they told me.
 
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