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View Full Version : Help breaking in 3.73....

clg82
06-09-2008, 06:47 PM
Next weekend I am going to drive a couple of hours to get my new gears installed in my A4, they are 3.73 gears. The problem is I am driving a couple hours away to have them installed. Will driving so far back with them installed hurt them in anyway, and if so how can i counter this?
OreoLt1
06-09-2008, 07:37 PM
It's not reccomended to drive that far just after the gears are installed. The ideal break in is to warm the gears up with easy driving for 20-30 mins. then allow the to completely cool down. Then repeat the previous process untill fully cooled, then after that easy driving for the next 500 mi. or so.

I have used this process on many vehicles that I have rebuilt including my own and have never had an issue with them unless the gears are in a 10 bolt with good tires and more than OE HP! A lot of guys will know EXACTLY what I'm talking about w/10 bolts!

hope this helps
stephen02ws6
06-09-2008, 07:50 PM
if you drive home right away on them they will be a little noiser. i had mine put in about an hour away and had to drive home after. they were noisy by the time i got home.
clg82
06-09-2008, 09:46 PM
if you drive home right away on them they will be a little noiser. i had mine put in about an hour away and had to drive home after. they were noisy by the time i got home.

Did the noise go away after sometime? I really don't want to damage the gears by driving home with them freshly installed......it is mostly highway driving as well, if that makes a difference.
WSICK
06-09-2008, 10:06 PM
best way to do it is in cycles just like oreolt1 said. drive it between 20 -30 minutes then let it cool down completely, repeat the steps between 4-6 times and you should be good
clg82
06-09-2008, 10:49 PM
best way to do it is in cycles just like oreolt1 said. drive it between 20 -30 minutes then let it cool down completely, repeat the steps between 4-6 times and you should be good

How will i know if they are completly cooled down or not? i'm sure i could mark some landmarks on the way home every 2 hours lol:sillyme:
JoshieDoom
06-10-2008, 12:38 AM
Feel the diff cover and see if its hot?




:hide:
clg82
06-10-2008, 01:37 AM
Feel the diff cover and see if its hot?




:hide:

I am actually having a new TA cover installed as well, does that make a difference?:help:
stephen02ws6
06-10-2008, 07:12 AM
no the noise didnt go away they still whine
OreoLt1
06-10-2008, 02:56 PM
10 bolts are always going to have a little gear noise(the housing and the driveshaft also affect how loud the noise is)on acceleration or decceleration but the way you break it in and take care of it will determine how loud they will be and how long they will last!

As long as they are shimmed and installed correctly!
spider
06-19-2008, 07:36 AM
I have been out of the car business for a while and am getting back in now. The last time I was working the cars was with the Grand National Buicks. Don't know what every one is running in the rear ends but after a rear end change I found that running a synthetic kept it much cooler during the break in. Some posi/limit slip rears are not compatable with synthetic fluids (ie they disolve the disc) so check with the manufacturer. 2 cents from an old guy.