I found a HP D30/29-spline 8.25 locally w/ 4.10 gears. They are the same axles I already have, but I'm on the factory 3.55 gears still. Currently running 33x12.5 15s. My conundrum, I can get the new axles w/ 4.10 gears for more than half of what gearing my current axle to 4.56 would cost and I could continue to run my current axles while building up the 4.10s w/ disk brakes, possibly truss, etc.. I don't have a shop I trust to do gears here and the place I was going to have do it is telling me $200 more than they initially quoted me. It would be cool to have that extra money regearing would cost (at least a grand to regear, probably more) to throw at other parts of the Jeep. What to do?

 

4.10s would be fine if you get a good deal on the axles.

 

Axles are sold, so the original question doesn't matter anymore.

The guy I'm having do it said he recommends yukon gears, cheap gear can be noisy. That adds hundreds more to my gear cost. Anyone have any experience using cheaper gears? Looking at US standard gears from RWKhaus supply.

 

You can buy VG quality gears from Rustys for under $500 for a complete set D30/Chy 8.25 with good master install kits included

 

that doesn't include the new carrier for that price though, right?

 

Or tools/setup/install/shop misc..

 

Heres what you wanna do, I did it with mine. Find an 8.8 out of an Explorer with 4.10 gears, buy it on the half off sale at your local Pick n Pull for $80 or so. Scour the yard and piece together the perfect axle, fresh brakes from one, correct gears from another, and two passenger side hoses. Torch the old brackets off and weld on new ones, $100 or so. Stronger axle, disc brakes, easy swap. Then regear your front axle in the garage. Easy work once you wrap your mind around it and buy the tooling. Maybe $100-200 for tools, depending on what you currently have. Buy the gears, carrier, and overhaul kit. On Advance Auto's website using the $40 off $100 purchase code (broke up into 3 purchases), cost about $200. I used motive gears, I've put about 2000 miles on them now, quiet.

 

Nope, getting ready to finally re-gear myself. I have found that most "master" install kits don't include all parts needed, such as oil slingers. I have extensive experience in rebuilding industrial gearboxes, plus have a full shop at my disposal. After buying all necessary parts, and a cheap pinion depth gage I'm looking at around $800-900 total to do the regear myself with either USA standard or revolution gears with koyo bearing kits.

 

He probably recommends Yukon because it's what he sells, or what he can make most money on, or maybe it's cheaper for you. Not sure why. However, I don't trust Yukon gears or anyone who recommends them.

I used Yukon gears in an LJ. I wouldn't make that mistake again. Yukon repackages random brands and also has some gears made in China. You never know what your getting with Yukon. The Yukon gears I had were very noisy and poorly made.

You want quality gears? Buy gears made in USA, South Korea, or Japan. South Koreans, Japanese, and Germans take pride in their work. Probably also USA workers too.

Chinese workers are just trying to make a buck. Pride in their work is not part of their culture. Chinese made products (by various brands) vary in quality from poor to good, and everywhere in between. With Chinese products quality is very dependent on supervision from the parent company.

Here is a source for many brands of USA made gears http://www.differentials.com/products/ring-and-pinions

There are also several good brands of South Korean made gears that are excellent quality and reasonable prices. Nitro gears is one of those. There are many sources for Nitro gears.

My 99 XJ has Dana OEM gears in front, and Nitro gears in rear. It runs very quiet. Just like OEM. I'm running 3.73 gears to be ideal for 30" tires on my hilly highways. Works great.

To add to the awesome, I had my Nitro gears REM polished at a polishing service before installing them. The Dana OEM gears didn't need REM polishing because they were already pretty smooth. My Dana and Nitro gears ran quiet from day one. No break-in period was needed (in part due to REM polishing of rear Nitro gears). I still changed diff oil after 500 miles, but it didn't need it because it was still clean as a whistle and no metal shavings.

Compare that to my Yukon gears, which were very noisy for 500 miles, and still semi-noisy forever. The diff oil was changed at 500 miles and it was filthy with Yukon's breakin phosphorus and metal shavings from their unpolished. My Yukon gears worked and never broke, but they were noisy and crude. My Dana and Nitro gears are much better.

 

The REM polishing of ring and pinion is a $125 cost that was well worth it. It does such a good job that there is no break--in period needed (with good installation). You can install them and drive as hard as you want the 1st day, though I wouldn't. I still drove easy for at least 100 miles.

The REM service advertises that you can install them and race the same day. No break-in period required. I believe that. Also, they say no need to change oil after 500 miles. Just change it at normal change intervals (which is what? 30K or 100K?). I changed my diff oil at 500 miles to be sure all was good. It was good. The oil didn't need changing.

That was with my REM polished Nitro C8.25 gears. My Dana 30 HP OE (OEM) gears got installed without any REM polishing because it wasn't needed. They also were quiet and no break-in period was needed. I didn't need to change diff oil and 500 miles, but did anyway to be sure. The D30 oil was clean as new.

You can find Dana 30 HP OE (OEM) gears in 4.10 and I think maybe 4.56 too, and Nitro gears almost any ratio.

There are so many other good gear brands of gears. The brands made in South Korea or USA are all likely to be good brands. I would avoid any brand made in China.

Chinese gears that I've seen are less polished or unpolished, which makes for a lot of noise and wear. Korean made gears I've seen were much better polished out of the box, but would still benefit from additional polishing, which is why I sent them to REM polishing service. USA made gears have a good reputation for being at least somewhat polished by the manufacturer. The only USA made gears I've seen were my Dana OE gears and they were nicely polished right out of the box (no REM polishing needed).

P.S. - Dana OE gears are made in USA and are excellent quality polished OEM gears, but Dana SVL gears are cheap Chinese made gears. I would avoid SVL.

 

I got the Motive gears for mine. Super quiet so far. I think I only have 75 miles on them though. If you end up doing the swap yourself and need the special tq wrench and adjuster tool (for the rear), let me know and you can borrow mine (shipping shouldnt be too bad). Trust me when I say I had no faith in doing the gear swap but with the help of a friend, it turned out to be super easy. Just very time consuming.

 

easier said then done, fresh brakes in a junk yard ? you cant be serious.

 

I think most Motive gears are made in South Korea and some maybe in Italy. As I said earlier, South Korean companies and workers take pride in ther work. Apparently the Italian made gears are also good.

Motive has a good reputation for making decent quality gears for bargain prices. You certainly can't beat their prices, IMO. The prices are especially good if you buy Quadratec or Summit brand gears, which were made by Motive (last time I checked anyway).

I've had really good luck with Quadratec and Summit brand items. I've never bought their gears, but their other items I've bought (floor mats, wheels, shocks) have good quality for excellent prices. Nothing to complain about, IMO.