gear break in

[sloth69mustang]

so i am installing my 8.8 on friday and i am going to break the gears in all weekend. my buddy needs me to pull his car monday. so i guess i need to know what i can do at what mileage.

i keep reading all kind of different info about break in. my plan as of now is 10-20 miles then cool down and do that for the first 100 miles. does speed matter? i know light acceleration but wasnt sure about speed. then light towing after 500? and fluid change at 500. then heavier towing at 1000? and maybe heavy wheeling at 1000?

 

[4x4junkie]

I'd go 5 miles first, then cool once.
Then 10-20 miles at a time until you get to 100 miles (cooling each time).
Somewhere between 500-1000 miles, change the oil.
After 1000 miles you should then be good to go for full use (towing, etc).

 

[sloth69mustang]

ok so kind of what i had in mind. what about speed during the first 100 miles? i am doing this tomorrow i hope someone can respond tonight lol

 

[-Nathan-]

speed doesnt matter. What does matter is 'the cool down'. When I say cool down, I dont mean wait 10 minutes and go again. You need to let the diff fluid coll back down to nothing. This is important, as the heat cycle "treats" the gears so to speak. I'd make sure you have at least 500-1000 miles of LIGHT driving, no hard accelerating.

 

[sloth69mustang]

yeah i was planning on that for cool down and acceleration. but someone tried to tell me i had to go 25 for the first 100 miles which would have taken forever. but knowing the speed isnt a issue this will make the gears a little easier. i can probably get the rear gears broke in today. there will be lots of driving but i will get it done. finally my truck will have 4x4 again for the first time in over 2 years!!!! oh i miss it lol

 

[4x4junkie]

Well, I wouldn't go immediately hopping on the freeway and doing 65+...

Drive it around in town at first. Then once you get over 20 miles or so, start extending your intervals a little bit each time.

 

[sloth69mustang]

yeah i was planning on doing that. thanks junkie. once i cant find some damn u-bolts. i called 4 part stores yesterday and nobody had a 1/2 x 3.25 x 10-12. so annoying. but i got a couple more places i am going to try today. i have everything hooked up except for the u bolts lol truck just sitting on the lift at work right now.

but i wasnt going to touch freeway til after 100 miles.