Extremely Cheap! 5.29 gears. Motive gears OK?

The speedmaster is $1k and was less with the black Friday deal. The Powertrax can be found for less.

 

The Auburn is well built and works great as long as you use 80w90 Dino gear oil and don’t like to do burnouts around corners. That will roast it quick. Mine has 140k miles on it. Its a bit clunky for a few reasons but still provides positive traction.

That said, I’m changing it out soon. IMO, a helical gear type LSD will work better for my needs. Deciding between the Powertrax and speedmaster. The auburn was the only thing available when I installed it and I got my monies worth out of it. If you keep up on maintenance and friction modifier the Auburn works as advertised.

 

It’s been like Tokyo drift around here lately with the Powertrax and winter cinders on the roads. Can’t help it…

 

Still digging my 5.29 Nitros and Powertrax Grip Pro. Many, many thousands of miles with zero complaints or issues.

I change oil annually, which is 25,000-27,000 miles.

Unless you want to use it in all its glory, I usually forget that the real LSD is even back there. Sure is fun to hammer on it though…

 

Yea it's snowy and icey by me so it would get used in the winter.

 

So far looks like Nitro and Powertrax is on top, and that what ECGS offers. Wish I had the balls to try it myself but no way. I'll see what the difference if I drop front and rear and ethier ship it out or drive the 8 hrs each way.

 

I'm really liking the speedmaster lsd. It really hooks up fast, must be the preload.

 

Ok so I spoke to ECGS regarding regearing and added LSD.
I asked a couple questions like the following.
- Do you offer Rem polishing
Answer: It's our opinion that the REM polish makes a ring and pinion much more difficult to setup. That is mainly because it's very difficult to read a pattern on a highly polished gear. Best way is still following our break in progress.

- Do you ship front and rear clamshell
Answer: Yes we can both diffs which we charge a core fee and free shipping one way. Your responsible for return shipping within 30days. We can provide shipping label and use our shipping discount.

- What gears do you use
Answer: At this time we our still using Nitro until we run out of stock snice Nitro is not currently operating. Once we run out we will be switching to another vendor.

- What LSD do you recommend
Answer: The quote I received they added the Powertrax

- Is it fully rebuilt
Answer: We do go through a full rebuild procedure with new bearings and seals in both differentials

My quote for front and rear with LSD installed is $4430.

If I where to have it shipped to me $3440 that is already subtracting the both core fees. Also includes a rough estimate of shipping charge to return the cores.

 

To hell with you dealing with a PITA break in procedure and filthy break in oil marring up your bearings, it’s easier for THEM to install in a timely fashion is how I read that. Seems like a lousy excuse to make their job easier while ignoring the benefits or consequences for the customer.

Not that it matters, if that is your best option then breaking them in the old fashioned way is probably not a deal breaker.

 

I'm not aware of other options in my area or somewhere i can drive 8 hrs or so to get the work done.

It would be great if I could buy all the parts and have a legit place install everything.

 

Using the AC Delco yellow gear pattern paint it shows up great. Look at Zuk's patterns on polished gears...shows up pretty darn well too.

 

Hope to get off my duff and do the front gears! Got 600 miles plus on the rears. Doing quite well. Gear oil didn't look too bad. I placed some heavy duty magnets in the used oil and only saw very fine particles.

 

So im guessing the best option is buying all the parts and sending them to REM and finding someone to install everything correctly.

 

I call BS on this.

 

I'm open to better options. Hopefully someone will chime in with a legit shop near NJ that is knowledgeable working on tundra diffs.

 

You should be able to find a competent gear shop. Especially that will go back in and do adjustments if any issues arise. That would be a high priority as sometimes it can need a slight adjustment.

 

That's also another reason I want someone local.

 

So, so far so good with the speedmaster? Did they state of a break in period or need to flush the oil after a certain mileage/usage? Just doing the lsd, so no gears for me.

Looking to get installed in January with 85/140 Lucas like suggested.

 

I'm only following along with no real dog in this fight, but I am curious as to what ECGS' experience is to form their opinion. While I appreciate the knowledge in this thread, they are a reputable, for profit business who could likely very easily offer the REM service as an add-on, but have chosen not to. I wonder if it is a manufacturer warranty issue and if that is the reason they are saying to break them in the traditional way or if there is something else in the way (could be as simple as not wanting to deal with third party services interfering with their own deliverable). I'm not sold that one is better than the other, but I'm also surprised ECGS put that opinion in writing and it makes me curious about seeing if they'd expand upon their statement.

 

Yes that is a great point but unfortunately I highly doubt we will ever get that answer.

 

I believe it comes down to manufacturer warranty. I can't find it but read an article that it could weaken by not going through an initial heat stage with the surface...something or other. I'm not certain and didn't get my metallurgy degree.

 

I vaguely remember that, too, actually. That was too many years ago for me to remember many details, though. It was def interesting to see their response, though, and it opened up more questions. The convenience is def there for REM, so I'm not knocking it.

 

I’ve never had a set of gears REM polished, so can’t speak to the pros or cons associated with the process. I can say that of the half dozen vehicles I’ve had gearing done, I’ve not had a single issue with a standard break in procedure. This is on anything from a daily driven Tundra on 35s to full blown rock crawlers on 42s. A few more basic trail rigs on 37s mixed in between…

For me, I’m fine with saving the REM and breaking them in per manufacturer’s recommendation.

 

Was just thinking that same as what would be the % of guys doing the REM and standard break in. The REM polishing I believe the only plus is the break in process. ECGS is pretty knowledgeable I believe in gears and have great reviews.

My OCD makes me over think everything and just likes overdoing things.

 

I think it’s one of those things that it will work well either way, but we all know one of them probably is better. If you could buy the same gears for the same price and have them in the same amount of time and had to choose polished or unpolished, I don’t think many people are picking unpolished.

 

Split the difference and polish them up with Flitz before install

 

If we're trying new things, studies have shown that soothing music and talking helps plants grow better. Maybe it's the same for gears

 

I’d agree with this. If I had the option, with no lead time or cost difference, you bet. But, I’d still probably do an oil change after a short interval to ensure all is well in there. Necessary? Dunno. Prudent? I believe so.

So, if a fella thinks like that, what is the REM polishing really saving me?

Certainly not trying to talk anyone out of this service! Just curious how we determine the value.

 

Pretty much what I was picturing