What is everyone's opinion on using used rear end gears? I would think that reusing rear gears would be safer than reusing a camshaft since the tolerance aren't as critical. Thanks.

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Randy Johnson
70 Chevelle
454
12.449@107.80
1.766 60 ft.

Thats all I've used in my cars. Swap meets is where I do a lot of buying. Just have to look them over good before you buy them.

Used gears are a little harder to set up because you can't get a good contact pattern on the drive side. You have to rely more on the coast side when setting them up because there is less wear on that side. It is easier if you can remove the gears from the original rear end so you can check the backlash before taking them out. That way you know where to set the backlash when putting them back in. It is hard to tell if a used set of gears is good by looking at them. The wear pattern can be very hard to read, unless it is worn very bad.

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'69 RS/SS396 Pro Street
427 4 speed 9"
Byars Performance
High Performance Drivetrain Parts & Service
www.lubedealer.com/biggearhead (http://www.lubedealer.com/biggearhead)

Make sure that the ring gear and pinion are make for each other. When you buy gears they come as a set the ring gear and the pinion. They are made for each other. I don`t think it makes a ton of difference but its somthing to take into canciteration.

I have used many used R&P sets over the years. Also, I agree with all of the above. When I examine a used R&P, there is one particular place that I look for wear. On the sharp corner of the pinion teeth, there is a small triangular area of the tooth which never makes contact with the ring gear teeth, thus, no wear. Compare the depth of wear on the rest of the tooth to this small area of non-wear. If there is no noticeable ridge between the wear area and the non-wear area, or, if the ridge is very small, then the gear set is probably good to use.

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Tom Parsons