Quality of Aftermarket Gearsets

[Taco Supremo]

Hi all. I'm looking for some feedback from folks who have gone to 4.88 gears regarding any reliability issues going from OEM.

I'm about to drop a down-payment on gears/e-lockers next week and it's making me nervous! I value the reliability of the platform but am leaning towards the 4.88 over the OEM 4.3 solution as I'm going to 37's and will be towing a medium sized travel trailer (5000 lbs?) at some point in the near future.

@MTKID mentioned that he had used a cryo and also a surface treatment on his to improve durability. Has anyone else done similar?

Can anyone provide any feedback on their experiences with 4.88? The shop I'm using is a Nitro rep, fwiw.

PFA! Last fall on the Whipsaw Trail!

 

[Taco Supremo]

Has anyone ever used cryo freezing treatment or shot peen on theirs as per this article...

Bulletproofing a Ring and Pinion Gear - Page 3 of 4 - MotoIQ

, Most aerospace shotpeening job shops will know exactly what you are talking about when you specify this but if they blink and look at you blankly, find another place. …

motoiq.com

 

[MTKID]

Has anyone ever used cryo freezing treatment or shot peen on theirs as per this article...

Bulletproofing a Ring and Pinion Gear - Page 3 of 4 - MotoIQ

, Most aerospace shotpeening job shops will know exactly what you are talking about when you specify this but if they blink and look at you blankly, find another place. …

motoiq.com

When I chose to add those 3 treatments, it seemed like a small cost considering the overall cost of the gear & lockers being installed.

Zuk, who assembled mine, already had a local shop that he used for Cryo treatment and was a supporter of that portion, but mine had to be sent to California for the other two treatments, if I remember correctly and the shipping cost on such packages is an additional minor cost as well.

HTH

 

[kcjaz]

Here is a thread on the topic of cryo:

Interesting article (if you are a geek) on cryo treatment of gear steel and thoughts from an engineer with access to Google

So, in my typical SOP manner, I am diving deep down a rabbit hole on cryogenic treatment of gears set off by my intent to regear. I am no metallurgist but I am a mechanical engineer and what I do know is that metallurgy and heat treatment of alloys is more art than science. In my professional...

forum.ih8mud.com

I went Nitro and did not pursue cryo treating.