They suggest drive 30 to 40 minutes easily and let cool for 2 hours to properly beak in ring and pinion. also drive up to 500 miles before really getting on it hard. How would you guys suggest properly breaking in the front. It isnt necessary to actually drive 500 miles with front gears locked in is it before going crazy in 4wd??

 

see ttora

 

If you have manual hubs, lock them.

I would plan a easy 4WD trip for the first one, just to make sure everything is OK.

 

Check that - saw a much better idea on the TTORA thread. Leave the hubs UNLOCKED and drive in 4WD.

 

I did about 200 miles in FWD to break mine in (rear driveshaft removed):
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ml#GearBreakin

 

20 minute drive in 4 wheel drive on a dirt road. Let it sit and cool. Repeat 2 or 3 times. Take it easy on the gears for the first 500 miles. Drain gear lube and refill with new fluid. Enjoy!

 

The advice straight from the guy who did my gears, was to just wheel it. He's done many, many gear installs, and the only failures were user error (like swapping drive flanges after the fact).