Gears & Axles - New Motive Gears Break In Period??????

Not happy with the results from my set up with the stock 3.23 gears, I picked up a set of Motive 3.90's. This should better utilize my powerband and get me closer to my <10.99 sec goal. The instructions state a "500 mile non highway drive break in"...hell I do not drive the car 500 miles in a months time. Is there another method for break in's on gears, or is this a standard across the board? Gears are going in Saturday, at that rate it'll be September before I race again.

Pretty standard from what I've seen. At minimum get 1-200 on there and change the fluid before you hammer on it.

The 500 non highway miles are driving 50 miles,let them cool and repeat. You can do it before work and after. Then in five days change the fluid and have fun.

What I learned in school, and what I've done for every gear swap I've done: Drive long enough for fluid to get hot, check temp. Get on the highway and listen for whine(to cross check paint patter/pinion depth setting). Drive the car however you want, hammer on it as you please. Change fluid after 100-150 miles. break in complete.

I've always done 500 miles. Its alot of work to redo them if you don't heat cycle them properly. It sucks, but it doesnt suck as bad as installing another set 2 weeks later...my results...lol

Well I spent 2 hours driving Saturday night around Dallas, and another 2 hours Sunday for a total of 197 miles. I am going to change the fluid and call it done. I will follow up and let you guys know if there are any ill effects of cutting the break in 300 miles short. Really, I was thinking F*$% This!!! Break in over. I will be heading to the track hopefully with some 10 sec passes on the mighty 10 bolt. The guy that installed them for me stated "ahh break in...hit that motherf*^%$er"...as bad as I wanted to, I didnt.

You'll be fine bro. As long as you see the wear pattern developing all right, that's all that matters.

my experience.. (applicable or not). First set of 3.73's I put in my 94Z28, I didn't bother with a break in.. I didn't beat on it either, but I did get on the highway some. first night at the track with 3K miles on them, the pinion was destroyed, and 5 teeth were eaten off the ring gear. next set, 3.73 motive.. all city for 500 miles, allowed them to warm up and cool down several cycles. Never did break that set at bolt on LT1 power levels behind a T-56 with a 4 puck clutch disc :) (whether is was the difference in brand or the heat cycling I couldn't tell ya lol)

I chagned the fluid today, there was a little bit of shaving on the magnet....a very small amount. I rotated the ring 360* and there was no gouging or scrape marks on the ring or pinion. I know that doesn't mean alot, but all looked well. After filling the housing with heavy duty Lucus gear oil, I put the car in drive, put my stethoscope on and held it to several places on the rear end and listened for "abnormal" noise. All clear. Lowered the car from the jack stands and gave her the business. Strangely, since I have a 3600 stall, I didn't really feel that SOP feeling I was looking for. She hooked hard and I ran her to 6700 from first to midway up third. Honestly I was expecting a drastic change from 3.23 to 3.90. Again, she pulls but not like I expected. Maybe when I spray her at the track I will get the gain (feeling) I was looking for. And yes, I flashed the pcm for the new ratio (Jet Dynamic Spectrum)

Gearing will never really give you a "drastic change"

More or less, the main reason to change gearing in the first place is to get your rpm/mph right in the quarter mile.

;16389352']Gearing will never really give you a "drastic change"

More or less, the main reason to change gearing in the first place is to get your rpm/mph right in the quarter mile.

Yeah, good reminder. I made the change to better utilize my powerband.....but after reading all the "WOW, my gears are amazing" post, I was expecting a little more. As long as my ET reflects the change I'm good.