Blemished Gears - Install or scrap?

Hey gang. I have a set of 5.29s I'm looking to install. Problem is, the rear ring and pinion are blemished and I'm second guessing what I was advised.

I purchased a front and rear set of Nitro 5.29s and full master install kits a while back with the intention of installing them later. When I received the order, only the install kits and front ring/pinion were delivered. I reached out to SDHQ and they promptly helped get the missing parts sent over. The rear ring/pinion were sent in a generic box with Nitro Gear packing tape to seal it. The problem is, the packing wasn't done well and the parts got blemished.

I was concerned and sent images to SDHQ who responded with this:
"Slight chipping is normal and is meant to be de-burred. However some of these blemishes are on the verge. Let me get these images over to Nitro and see what they say. I'll be in touch ASAP."

A few days later, I received a follow up:
"Nitro got back to us and it's nothing to worry about! I'm going to email you the response from my personal email as the images are not attaching to this ticket properly."

I was hesitant, but since I have no experience in the matter and didn't have immediate plans to change anything, I took their advice and sat on it. Now I'm ready to do the work but second guessing everything I was told. Was I dumb for not pushing more or acting sooner? I also want to be clear that I'm not bashing SDHQ as their customer service was very responsive and helpful in getting the parts. Now that it seems Nitro is no more, I'm not even sure I can get just a replacement set.

Sorry for some blurry spots and the cardboard dust, but the marks are visible.

 

If you decide to use it, try filing the edges down. Certainly not acceptable if you bought them as new parts.

 

I think they should be ok. Like 2020dc said, just file the edges down. Most of the damage seems to be limited to the top and bottom corners of the teeth. They don't contact each other there. It is pretty damn annoying that you got them like that though. I would not have accepted that explanation if I bought new gears. Who are you going to get to install them? Ask for the gear shop's opinion.

 

Hell, I'd use them, but I'd be ticked if they didn't try to knock a few bucks off for good measure.

 

Nope. Not acceptable. I dgaf what a vendor or manufacturer says, no gears should be sent loose packed or arrive damaged. I would tell them to send a shipping label and either send a new set or give a full refund.
No way in hell would I install those in my vehicle. Who the fuck sells and ships gear loose packed.

 

At first I thought hell no, but I’m on your bus, the gears don’t mesh anywhere near the outside edge where the damage is.

 

If you don’t want to risk it, you could get in on the extremely cheap gears Motive is dumping on Amazon for peanuts. Many of us have. Mine have not been installed yet as I gather parts, but I got them polished and they’re looking pretty nice!
https://www.tundras.com/threads/extremely-cheap-5-29-gears-motive-gears-ok.149056/

 

I wouldn't install them. I also don't like to pay new money for beat up crap. I would have them replace these with new, non-damaged, properly packaged ones.

 

Holy crap, those are cheap

 

They seem legit, they shipped direct from Midwest truck which is the parent company of Motive gear. They were also well packaged.

 

I'd pass on that deal but that's me. Too much work (money if you pay to install) just to have to scoop out metal should they blow apart in the pumpkins.

 

To each their own I suppose. It’s clear as day to me, unless there is somehow a fraudulent Midwest Truck that is also conveniently located in Crown Point, IN.

 

It's your call. From what I see it's not bad. The toe areas aren't in a contact area on the drive side face. I'd smooth out those areas. Hopefully you got a partial refund as the shipping packing is bad.
As suggested have an install shop look em over for peace of mind.

 

I would not install it. Damage in gears is not acceptable in my mechanical engineering opinion.

 

Those Amazon Motive gears are a good deal. Could just get the rear set. Some Gear installers and car forums like Motive above Nitro.

 

I’m honestly tempted to buy more of them just to have for any possible future tundras I may own if something happened to mine that it needed to be replaced.

 

If you are able to file them they are totally worthless. Properly manufactured gears are hardened to the point that a file won't touch them.

Dan

 

And because of the hardness, they are brittle. I would suspect this damage introduced defects that will eventually result in the gear developing cracks and failing altogether.

 

This is how Nitro shipped my first gear set to me, just loose in a box. WTF! Luckily they were the wrong ratio so I got to return them and get a new properly packaged set. I would insist that Nitro replaces them or refunds and just buy the motive ones.

 

@zach_attack4 since your putting them in your 2021 then just get a new rear set. Will give you peace knowing there is no issues.
I would still try to get SDHQ to give a refund. You have the correspondence where you raised the issue from the start.
Good luck!

 

Yea, we’ll see. Again, this is all a few years old at this point. By now, the money is gone and it is what it is. Live and learn I suppose. Ideally, I think I’d like to locate just a rear ring and pinion set from Nitro since literally everything else is perfect. It would bother me to mix brands. I didn’t realize Nitro had changed ownership and gone downhill they way they appear to have done.

Anyone have a hook up on a rear set before I start calling around?

 

On another note, if I do need to find other gears, I guess my install kits with bearings and all that will still be useful.