Trail Gear gears?

[orangefj45]

running thru mud like that does not put that much strain on the gears since the tires continuously turn at the same rate. abrupt axle/wheel speed chages are what kills gear sets.

[sine80]

sankyoo, sankyoo.

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by agent orange

I just ordered some 4.88 sierra gears from cruiser outfitters which were a good 75 dollars cheaper than almost everyone else, and i was asking myself the same questions. The response i got from kurt was volume and lack of name brand associated costs. It very well could be that because trail gear seems to have a high volume/low cost sales style that that could be a big part of the reduced cost.

-Matt

I can't speak for Trail Gear (as I don't speak to Trail Gear ), but my costs are proportional to our sales... the more we sell the cheaper we get them. We have been with the same differential wholesaler for nearly 15? years, nothings changing around here, and definately not bringing in Chinese gears.

Originally Posted by 65swb45

Which begs the question of where BOTH of them buy their gears? If they're both Chinese, there may even be a connection. How deep do you really want to dig?

Keep digging Mark, you know where my allegience stands! I'm offended you thought otherwise That and you havn't replied to my PM on PBB yet either . While I don't have an issue with Chinese goods as a whole, some are made to higher standards than US specs stuff, its all relative. In the case of gears, I havn't put my hands on a set of TG ones so I can't comment.

Originally Posted by Isotel

anyone else have some input on this? ive always read that R&P's get weaker the deeper the gearing due to the pinion getting smaller! most of the hard core Yota guys run 4.11's because of the strength issues with lower gear sets

From an engineering standpoint, the higher the gear (numerically), the weaker it gets to some point. The number of teeth on the head decrease, simple fact. BUT, it is VERY important to note where MOST Landcruiser Ring and Pinions fail... at the pinion flange, more specifically where the pinion splines terminate, hence why course spline designs are inherintly (sp?) are weaker. We arn't talking about 8" 3rds here (ring gear deflection on 4cyl 3rds is common resulting in ring gear failures. I'de say I've seen 10 pinion failures for every pinion/ring gear failures I've seen... likely more than that??? Most of these case are actually axle wrap rather than true torsion failure, but it can happen. Still, I recommend most stick with the 4.88's, the seem to offer the best comprimise for strength versus gearing.

Another factor that will slowly come to light... wear. The higher numerical gears have less contact... it will be interesting to see how they are looking after 100k, 200k. I've pulled OE Cruiser diffs apart @~300k that still had a good pattern and clean gears... will the higher gears hold out that long? I don't have any in service that I know of over say 100k. For that reason alone, its hard to say which are stronger.

Originally Posted by agent orange

I want to say that he told me they were made in italy, but i might be wrong. Im pretty positive the sierras are not chinese. Maybe kurt will chime in and inform us.

Yup, Antonio Maisero (sp?), an Italian manufacture, reboxed as Sierra. They also have a "value line" gear (just as Randys Ring and Pinion does) that are likely made in China, but to date I've only sold 1 or 2 of those and that was with the customers 100% consent when the Sierras and Yukons were on backorder.

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by bkg

There is more to strength than pinion tooth count. Contact surface is just as important, like you mention, but setup (and brand) is important also. I've seen more 4.10's go than 5.29's. I've also seen more 4.88's go than 5.29's - both of which were in street and mildly wheeled rigs.

Sure - if you throw a healthy V8, heavy right foot, low gears and 40+ tires at a Toy axle, you're going to have problems, regardless of the ratio, but a blank statement that 5.29's are weak is inherently inaccurate.

Are we talking about course pinion flange 4.10's??? 30 year old units... I know there aren't any 5.29's in service that are older than say 10 years. Too boot there are thousands of 4.10's out there versus the rather limited number of 5.29's. 4.88's are that much more common than 5.29s... its all relative.

5.29s are weaker than 4.88, the engineering proves that. While it may be misleading in "application", the true science behind it is true. I too know of plenty of 5.29's in service, but I know of broken ones too

[Mace]

Kurt.. I thought this was aboutr 8" stuff. hy pinion 5.29???

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by Mace

Kurt.. I thought this was aboutr 8" stuff. hy pinion 5.29???

SMACK!!!! I'm an idiot.

Regardless, many of my experiences still fit... and some don't

The 4cyl 8" 3rd doesn't have anywhere near the "ribbing" and case strength that the HP 80 3rd does, so I still don't think ring gear deflection is a major cause of issue. In this case (front HP 3rds) I've rarely seen broken pinions (at the flange), zero axle wrap and all fine-spline. So, all things considered its all about the size of that pinion head... BUT, I'de bet in many cases where a 5.29 fails, a 4.88 would also fail and vice versa

[Mace]

It's always about the size of the head...

[alkaline747trio]

It looks like I would be completely fine with the TG 5.29s, but I am more likely to break something if my driving style got any more aggressive. I think I'll just suck it up and save up more dough for better gears.

[greenfox]

Some good tec in this thred

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by greenfox

Some good tec in this thred

Lots of bad spelling in this thread too.

[Domek]

Charles it's not about the grammar or spelling, it's about the content.

Kowboy keeps telling me about my gammar not getting any better. Ja! Ja!

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by Domek

Charles it's not about the grammar or spelling, it's about the content.

Kowboy keeps telling me about my gammar not getting any better. Ja! Ja!

Kowpoke may not think your grammer is getting better because you're not as dumb as all of them "white trash" guys.... Need to learn more redneck slang....

[Domek]

I am actually a White Trash member, but I look like a Mexican or Mes' kin as he calls me, and to tell you the truth I don't understand their redneck slang.

[fj40charles]

Originally Posted by Domek

I am actually a White Trash member, but I look like a Mexican or Mes' kin as he calls me, and to tell you the truth I don't understand their redneck slang.

Does that make you a Mexican Redneck? I've been called an Asian Redneck a few times....

[Domek]

I guess so.