I searched and found nothing.... so....

What are your opinions on buying used ring and pinion gears? I'm going to 4.56s and want to do it as cheaply as possible, but of coarse, having them burn up in 10k miles isn't an option either.

Also, if you think used R&P gears are okay, how many miles would you consider too many on them?


Thanks
Brett

I'm no expert, but I would think it would be ideal to have the pattern marked on the gears before they were pulled...that way you could try to match it as closely as possible in the "new" housing.

Thats what I would want anyway...

Personally I would just buy new, and install em myself that way I know it was done "right" and there is no nagging question in the back of my head.

If its a beater rig go for it...if its a DD could go eiter way I guess.

MJ

Damn near impossible to get the same wear pattern.

It would wear quickly. I'd buy new.

dont worry about it. i buy used gears all the time and no breakage yet...

I should mention that this is a daily driver seeing probably 15k miles a year.

save your coins. go new cause i'll be wheelin with ya when the used ones break. ;) you can never match the pattern exactly and like was said before, they'll wear fast in your DD. not my .02, just the facts.:D

New gears aren't that expensive, but if you can find a good deal on a good used set go for it. There is no significant problem re-setting used ones up and it is done all the time, like when replacing bad bearings.

I would worry more about setting them up yourself. It is not rocket science, but it is the type of thing that you tend to screw up the first time. If this is your first time, you might as well take your chances with a used set.

Well, I'm just going to suck it up and go new. And yes, I will be installing these myself. Well, maybe with some help, but I definetly don't have the money to get it done by a shop. The reason I am confident doing it myself is that I have over 6 months to do it. I won't be swapping this rear in until next spring, so I have plenty of time.

From what I understand, setting gears isn't all that hard, but it is time consuming and easy to just say "good enough". I won't let this happen because anytime I get frustrated, I'll just let it sit till the next weekend and give it a shot then.

Thanks guys... I'm sure I'll be posting gear patterns for everyone to critique one of these days :flipoff2:

I've done lots of axles on lots of vehicles (yes they were drivers too) that way- especially when I was younger and cash was short and I was hooked up with a good 4wd junkyard. And before someone suggests it- I was not doing the same axle over and over because I kept puking the install.

just inspect the set to verify it has a good pattern and no wear from a goofy (incompetent) install.

Re- creating the pattern exactly is not as important as just plain having a good pattern. Think about it- when you install new gears for the first time are you sweating about replicating the exact set-up used to machine the gears? No- you are just looking for a good pattern. Same logic. Used gears may even have some benefit with regards to being "seasoned" and to a point work hardened.

How many people buy and install new gears of the same ratio when they are changing bearings, adding a locker etc? Not too many. They just take it apart and put it together to have a good pattern.

I'd install used gears in a heartbeat if they came from a good home and it put cash in my pocket. :D