Breaking in front gears


94rangersplash

94rangersplash

15+ Year Member

Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
38
Points
3,101
Vehicle Year
1994
Transmission
Manual
I have a d35 and 8.8 and i just did a 4.56 gear swap. The paper work with the gears says i need to go through a break in period with the gears. Ok but how am i susposed to do that on the front gears i cant lock it in and drive 15 to 20 miles then let it cool down and all that and do it again till i have about 100 miles on it. Point is what is the best way to break in the front gears after a regear.:icon_confused:
 
I've never had to deal with this, so some one else kick me if I'm wrong,

but if you don't want to use 4 wheel drive on the road while braking in the front gears, you may be able to pull your rear drive shaft, lock in the front, and rock it in FWD.

I've run around in FWD before and the steering is a tit bit odd, but very doable.
 
I've done it before after breaking a rear u joint - as long as you don't get crazy with the go pedal, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work just fine.
 
Never thought about that might have to do it
 
Lock your front hubs in, but leave your tcase in 2WD, the hubs being engaged will turn the gears and you can break them in that way, thats how I do all my gear swaps
SVT
 
RangerSVT said:
Lock your front hubs in, but leave your tcase in 2WD, the hubs being engaged will turn the gears and you can break them in that way, thats how I do all my gear swaps
SVT
Click to expand...

I've always been under the impression that doesn't do anything because it is riding on the coast side of the gear and not the drive side? Would it even heat up enough?
 
it doesn't matter if its on the coast side or the drive side, its still making contact and has is causing resistance, in turn causing the gears to heat up. No, its not an equal substitute for actual driving the gears, but in 4wd you are not going to get the full load of the truck on the gears because of the rear axle, so it works just as well. Also keep in mind you are not putting constant high speed usage for long periods of time on the front gears, so they are not subject to high heat conditions like the rear gears are.
SVT
 
RangerSVT said:
it doesn't matter if its on the coast side or the drive side, its still making contact and has is causing resistance, in turn causing the gears to heat up. No, its not an equal substitute for actual driving the gears, but in 4wd you are not going to get the full load of the truck on the gears because of the rear axle, so it works just as well. Also keep in mind you are not putting constant high speed usage for long periods of time on the front gears, so they are not subject to high heat conditions like the rear gears are.
SVT
Click to expand...

But it still doesn't polish and work-harden the gear teeth. You MUST have a load on the gears to do that, otherwise you're doing nothing at all but just breaking the bearings in.

Go find a graded dirt road somewhere that has some gentle grades, stick it in 4WD and drive about 10 miles or so in 4WD. That should be enough to break them in enough for normal use.
It is correct that the front axle doesn't see near as much stress and heating as the rear axle.
 
Last edited:
Ok thanks thats a little better idea than drivin with the rear shaft out
 
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