4.10 gear install

[LT1Blackbird]

Thinking about getting some 4.10 gears this spring and having the rest of my rear checked out (it's got 157k on it). It's an M6 and I have a Ram HDX clutch with about 5k miles on it. Mixed highway and city driving. It's a daily driven car in the warmer months. Car has never been on a track, and if it does in the future, may only pass a few times for sh*ts n giggles only.

What brand gears does everyone here recommend?

Also, what else do I need to purchase along with the ring and pinion set to bring to the shop to have them installed? And how much is the average going rate to have a rear gear change done and have the rest of the rear checked out (have bearings and stuff looked at)?

What should I be aware of when I bring it in to a shop to have the rear checked out? Should bearings and/or any seals or other stuff be done while it's open?

Thanks

[PipesTA]

Go with GM/Motive gears. Also, get an install kit along with your gear set, they're not that much more money. If they're in there I'd hope they check the axle bearings/seals and replace if necessary. With that many miles, I'd probably just have them swap in some axle bearings while it's apart.

[96LT1355Z28]

^^Agreed X2 for Motive and new seals and bearings for the axles and carrier aren't that much more.

[firehawk238]

1 more for GM/Motive gears with the extra bearings and seals. definately worth a few more dollars now rather alot of money in the future. another good place to spend a few dollars is to buy the bearing cap stud kit from ARP. just a lil more insurance to keep any flexing from occuring. some people are big fans of the rear axle girdles, but i dont really see where they pay off. i have one on my car, and to be honest it has yet to save gears from being grenaded by large amounts of torque. one more thing to be aware of with a 4.10 gear is that there are more teeth cut in the ring gear making each tooth slightly thinner than they would be on a 3.73 gear resulting in slightly weaker teeth on the 4.10s. if you do decide to take it to the track with the 4.10 gears in, dont attempt any clutch dumping launches or you have just baught yourself a trip back to the shop. on the street and on street tires the 4.10 gears will give you a good advantage over other street cars while coming off the line, but you have to be careful with the throttle and flirt with the line between a brisk take off and a tire spinning frenzie. FWIW

karl

[Speed Inc.]

I agree with the above info. I would also like to suggest a new carrier or a lower mileage unit. The posi at this point has to be getting pretty worn.

or instead of investing all this in something that is prone to break look for a used 12 bolt, 9" or S60

[YZF]

Good answer Larry.

[KissMyWhtSS]

Good answer Larry.

We have a Thank You system for this.

I wouldn't cheap out on gears, they are priced pretty comparably and also the weak point of a 10 bolt, so by a quality brand. That, not wanting to invest anything into a 10 bolt, and killer highway fuel economy is why I've kept the stock gears in my car.

[LT1Blackbird]

Cool. Thanks for the replies, guys.

Decisions...decisions...

[richardson]

I went with U.S. Gear with Ratech bearings and seals. I had a Motive 4.10 ring and pinion and it was REALLY noisy. Got rid of them and had a U.S. Gear 4.10 installed by the same shop and it has no whine whatsoever. just wanted to give you my two cents.

[firehawk238]

i had US gears and they lasted all of about 1200 miles and grenaded the whole unit! my GM/Motives are quiet as ever and have several thousand miles on them. ive went through 5 sets of gears in my 10 bolt and so far the two sets that have lasted the longest have been the GM/Motive gears. richmonds are cut too steep and make excessive noise while being prone to breakage, the US gears were LOUD and lasted no time, and the GM/Motives have served the best so far. keep in mind i have gone through 5 sets of gears and now have an S60 on the way, so in my opinion spending money on a 10 bolt is a waste however if you never launch it hard, nor take it to the track you will be fine.