Ok so I'm workin on breaking in my new gears. I borrowed an IR temp gun from work today so i could see how hot my differential case is getting. What i have come up with is about 112 degrees F after 5 miles, 125 Degrees after 10 miles. That was the rear. The front was 100 both times. So here is my question. How do these numbers look? is the rear getting too warm? i checked my trans am diff cover when i got home from work today and it was 145. but that is a completely different vehicle. Oh btw the temps are all taken from the center of the rear end. right about the same hight as the fill plug.

thanks
Adam

 

Doesnt sound abnormal to me.

My transmission cowl will get pretty warm to the touch (from inside the cab) and the dif will get warm enough to almost not be able to keep your hand on it. Normal.

As long as your oil levels are fine that seems fine to me!

Your front differential shouldnt get hot at all if its not engaged.

 

alright well i just wanted to make sure that i dont over heat my new stuff! cause that would really suck. Do you think i should keep runnin it for more than 10 miles and see if it still increases in temp? the front is only turning cause i have the hubs locked but there is no power through it.

 

just drove it again. The temp seems to level off around 130 or so degrees. Does this sound about right? too hot? or am i just paranoid... haha im going to guess its probably the latter.

 

Well, actually, when breaking in gears you kinda want it to get hot. The better use for the IR gun would be making sure it's cooled COMPLETELY before driving the truck again. You want to go through a couple of those heat/cool cycles right after you put the gears in, then go easy until you have about 500 miles on them, drain the gear oil (it will appear very black - that's OK) and replace (with synthetic IMHO) and then you can 'wheel, tow, whatever.

 

alright thanks for your help. I think they are doin alright, and i always let them cool off for quite a while before driving it again.

 

Find a nice flat dirt road and put it in 4 high. Drive 10 miles out, varying your speed and RPM, but being somewhat easy on it. After 10 miles, turn around and drive back. Park it and let sit for several hours to cool. Repeat 2-3 time and your gears are broke in!