Ask them if they've done it before.

If they say no, leave.

If they say yes, ask them how many times.

If they give you a number less than 5, leave.

Bonus points if they've done it before on a Toyota 8" rear end.

**This method is especially useful if you're good at picking out liars. A good way to test their knowledge is to ask something only a person who's done it before would know. What that something is, I have no idea.**



Follow that and the rest of the before and after procedures listed above and you'll be fine.

 

I respectfully disagree with your statement and Zuk's site.

It is 100% true that 5.29's and 5.71 can break under load.

While a proper setup IS CRITICAL, even the best setup 5.29's can and will break under hard useage. I've gone thru 4 sets of 5.29's since 2001- the longest a set lasted was about 28000 miles, the shortest less than a week. I've had the pinion break, I've had a ring gear break, I've broken a front and rear set, and two rear sets fail. I'm spooled front and rear after blowing up my last set of gears on front Detroit. Yeah, even the weak link Detroit held up when the gears blew.

While I do "get it" on occasion, the majority of my wheelin' is in the 3.5 (1 to 5 scale) and below range. Perhaps once a year I'll run a 4 or 4+ trail, but frankly I'm tired of fixing the rig after every run. to much $$$. The truely hard core guys break Toy thirds pretty routinely, and most of them have moved on to heavier axles or lighter rigs.

If I had it to do again I'd run 4.56's or 4.88's and deeper t'case gears to make up the difference on the trail.

 

Wanted to update your statement. Anything can and will break.

My experience says otherwise. As i said, over 100K miles on a set from my old 'Runner What brand gears are you using? That makes a HUGE difference.

 

very true

 

check my thread titled:

Who/What is to blame?

 

Well of course ANything can break. And lockers is a great way to test ALL the parts in the axles...
I know a guy who breaks the stock 4.10s on regular basis, so does that mean they're too weak?

Certainly it is a fact that the higher numerically the ratio gets the weaker the gears get. But if the question is should you avoid them in the average rig, I think the simplest answer is that are tens of thousands of them out there doing just fine.
If your trail rig, rock crawler, big engine rig, or even personal driving habits are causing breakage (of any drivetrain part) then you need to analyze what to do stop that - generally beefier parts, maybe a different setup, but sometimes it might be simpler like learn to not dump the clutch while the tires are wedged between a rock and hard place...

Once again the real answer is "it depends."

 

Your right on that but the point I'am making is just because they are 5.29's and supposed to be thinner teeth doesn't mean that is the reason why they break. People break Rockwells too! Doesn't mean they are weak.

James

 

i dont do too hardcore of 'wheelin. most of its mudding, hill climbing, and trails. nothing that will put too much strain on the gears. i think i'll go with 5.29's, and 35's. wha cha cha cha! too bad i cant get them until i have put my hy-steer and allpro long travel on my truck. theres about $1800. then i have to save up for the gears and install. and then my dad will probably buy me tires