used gear horror stories??

[trailblazr81]

So recently my li'l bro got a '85 5.0, kinda like a Christmas gift and he needed a ride. It was purchased from someone Ive been friends with for 10 years, so I know alot about it. I helped him out by putting on a better exhaust when we got it. It is pretty much stock and original with a rebuilt 8.8 in it and a fresh t5. The 2.73 gears are terrible and I told my brother we should swap in some 3.73's and convert to 5 lug. I have SN95 rotors and calipers from my 2000 GT since I upgraded to 13" Cobra's. He could also use my stock 17x8's since I have Cobra R's now. Since we are trying to do this on a budget I was wandering if slightly used gears would be OK, or because of wear patterns cause problems? I usually spend the $$ to do things right but my brother doesnt have much of an income and was trying to find a less expensive way to do the gear swap. I have payed to install gears on 3 different vehicles in the past and want to start doing it myself. I know what tools I will need, and seeing I can pretty much do any other work on a car/truck am up to the task. Sorry for the long rambling....

 

[RYC CUKR]

I would think that you would be ok. I have had a few friends go that route and none have yet to have any probs. Just make sure that the ring and pinion gears were used as a set. Meaning that they were both in the same car not a ring gear from car A and a pinion gear from car B.

 

[86bluecobra]

i don't see why that wouldn't work. aslong as you inspect the gears and pinion for wierd wear or cracks. if there isn't any then go ahead and install. afterall peeps usally don't wreck gears in cars. trucks with lifts and huge meats now thats a different story.

 

[352Ford2]

I use nothing but used gears, I laugh at people that pay for the new stuff . Unless your making wild power you don't need the streagth of aftermarket gears (if you are making that kind of power I would ask why you are still running a 8.8) I spend 15 bucks to get most my gear sets at the local junkyard (yes you can get anything fron 2.73-4.10 out of factory cars for 8.8's) I just do all the measuments (run out, wear pattern, look for broken teath, etc) before I get them.

just make sure you get a ring and pinion as a set, don't mix and match,. expecialy non-hunting sets.
remember if you want a 31 spline posi just look in the broncos and trucks

 

[bill302]

i don't think there are too many horror stories out there unless you used an unmatched set or you did'nt inspect gears before install, or inproper install. i have a used set of 3.08s with 120,000 miles with practically no wear.and i have a used set of 3.73s in my stang at this time with no problems to date they looked new at install. if used gears have excessive wear,cracks or breaks don't use them alot of times after cleaning you notice any flaws right off the bat. i think the biggest problem arises when people reuse shims,bearings,seals and i also seen people reuse crush sleeves and wonder why there gears whine.

 

[old_blue]

I have a set of used gears in my car now. A friend (latamud) got them for me a year ago. we installed them ourselves with no issues at all.

 

[86bluecobra]

My car has a used rear end from a mustang that was totaled. It had factory 3.73 gears in it. the guy musta ordered the 5.0L that way. I have had 0 problems with the gears. Now the axles are a different story. a 4 grand dump on nitrous at the drag strip say fit to twist a axle out for me. oh well.