so i got a 1991 pickup wiht 36" tires and i put 5.29 yukon gears in it about 6 months ago and for 3 of those months the truck hasnt been insured. So i insured it a couple weeks ago and i noticed a loud noise coming from the truck which sounded like it was comin from the diff so i take it out and find that it broke a tooth off the ring gear which doesnt say much for one of the "toughest" gearsets available seemings i only 4x4 it a couple times and that was before i reinsured it. I and btw the pattern is near perfect everything is set rite so it just doesnt make and sense.

 

Did you break them in or tempered gears?

 

well i drove them around for about 500miles then replaced the oil for break in

 

Send them to Zuk for an autopsy ...

Did you drive short trips, letting the diff cool in between?

 

How certain are you that the initial backlash was set up properly?

 

That's what I was thinking...Improper setup? Yukons are some of the best available from what I've read...

 

A good gear install involves alot more than just a picture perfect pattern...
1-BL
2-PPL
3-CBPL

Back in 1992, my first 10 gear installs for myself and friends were crap. But I didn't know much back then and I was on the low end of the learning curve so I had no idea how much I sucked. I'm near the top now and I can understand why so many gear installs break to pieces. ZUK

 

Little help Zuk - BL=Backlash, PPL=Pinion Preload, CBPL=Carrier Bearing Preload?

 

Zuk, your site rocks! It helped me a ton when i installed my Detroit Truetrac in the rear. My buddies dad is a 30yr+ master mechanic and double checked my work and said it was perfect, but i give that credit to YOU and your helpful site!

probably 5-6k miles on the rear end and everything is still as i installed it.

Wish i had the right SST to tighten the carrier nuts (bearing preload) .. Screwdriver and hammer worked but left knicks on it. Any suggestions for where to get one, or really how to make one? I dont have a welder.

 

After scanning the site i had to bookmark it. Lots of good info i can use when attempting my first gear instal in my truck.


Wait after reading about it i may be contacting you to throw some gears in there and a front locker.

 

tc said:
Little help Zuk - BL=Backlash, PPL=Pinion Preload, CBPL=Carrier Bearing Preload?
thanks...and correct.

drew303 said:
Zuk, your site rocks! It helped me a ton when i installed my Detroit Truetrac in the rear. My buddies dad is a 30yr+ master mechanic and double checked my work and said it was perfect, but i give that credit to YOU and your helpful site!

probably 5-6k miles on the rear end and everything is still as i installed it.

Wish i had the right SST to tighten the carrier nuts (bearing preload) .. Screwdriver and hammer worked but left knicks on it. Any suggestions for where to get one, or really how to make one? I dont have a welder.
Glad it was helpful.....although even with my site as a reference, I think it's asking alot to be certain the gear install was 100% right. Insight comes with years of such installs. But your install may be better than most 4x4 shops
Randys sells such a tool.

vwfastg60 said:
After scanning the site i had to bookmark it. Lots of good info i can use when attempting my first gear instal in my truck.
Wait after reading about it i may be contacting you to throw some gears in there and a front locker.
talk to me in January....after I get back from a cruise in the Caribbean....here I come Saint John's....

ZUK

 

well my father is a 25yr heavy duty mechanic he's been replacing gears for a long time and he and I did the swap and everything was setup dam near perfect and still is setup perfect except for the broken tooth. Im just upset becuase yukon gears are supposed to be some of if not the best gears on the market and mine broke with just regular street driving and maybe 2 times 4x4.

 

Contact Yukon? Or the place you bought them?

The world aint perfect, the gears were still made by humans, somehwere, even if they were only operating the machine that made em ... Theres still crap in every pile of diamonds.

 

Sounds like improper break in or bad set up. Most gear failures early in the life of the gearset are due to bad set up or bad break in. User error. Bad batches do happen but are pretty rare and I tend to bet against it.

 

This is what I use, from snap on for about 50 bucks.....



Part Number A176