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Axle swap, new gears, is a 500 mile service really necessary?

2K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  bengr 
#1 ·
I was just reading through the install manual for the terraflex front I had installed about a month ago when they referred the jeep for me. It says at 500 miles they suggest

(New gear sets and bearings need me to break in. Proper gear break in procedures should be followed to help ensure years of quiet, trouble free opera on.
Do not go over 60 mph for the rst 100 miles or so. A er the rst 20 miles, stop and let the di eren al cool before driving again. This cycle should be repeated a few mes. Avoid towing or heavy use for the rst 500 miles. When towing a heavy load for the rst me, the same 20 mile drive/cool cycle should be followed. Change the oil a er 500 miles to remove any metal par cles from the ini al break in. This is an excellent me to inspect the gear set to catch any poten al problems early on.)

When they say change the oil do you all think they mean all the oil in the axle? And how would you check the gears without pulling the front of the axle off. Seems extreme for a checkup if all is driving smoothly, but maybe this kind of thing is standard?


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#2 ·
They pull the covers on the diffs, re-inspect the backlash, and make sure everything looks OK. Yes, it's the gear oil that gets changed, and yes you should do it between 500 and 1000 miles
 
#5 ·
Yep. It's good to look things over. You also want to change the oil because breaking in new gears produce some fine metal powder as they rub together and start to mesh properly. That metal powder stays mixed in the oil (with some of it being stuck to the magnet in the drain plug) until you drain it. Putting fresh oil in reduces the long term wear of the bearings because there's less "grit" swimming around in it.
 
#11 ·
There really isnt a reason to pull the cover and check backlash, as long as the job was done right. I did my own gears so I know it's right, I have not opened a diff since. If the backlash is good on assembly, and everything was put back together correctly, it's going to be good after 500 miles.

I am also not a believer in "gotta change the fluid after 500 miles"

When was the last time you brought a brand new car back to the dealership after 500 miles to have the fluids changed?
 
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