Who's Gears?
 

Which gear manufacturer of choice these days, would like to hear what brand you guys use? 12 bolt/9inch.

Last set of US Gear howled badly in my 12 bolt, perfect pattern, new timken bearings, set pinion preload to 19 to 22 inch pounds.

Im hearing many are made in china, Korea, Italy, got to be some one making good gears these days... :hairpullout:

Rich

I used Chevrolet factory gears in 1979 Z-28 RS pro-touring Camaro . I has a 500 HP plus supercharged small block Chevy with a 4 speed. And it is quite well be haved . I would do the same on a 12 bolt. I have not delt with 9 inches much so I would n`t know.

For street use I've been using summit gear sets. They set up real nice. Funny thing is, I've asked 2 techs, on 2 different orders "who manufactures your gear sets?" They both replied "I have no idea".
For a performance gear go with Richmond. Period.

I've ran Motive (who makes the gears for strange) and I've run Richmond both good

Unfortunately ... Richmond no longer makes gears.

The Richmond factory is closed. Motive bought the company ... kept the name ... and disposed of all the ancient manufacturing equipment.

You can still buy the Richmond brand. But it is a Motive gear at a higher price. Most Motive gears are ok. They're all made overseas. You can buy the same Motive gear set for about $20-30 less in a Motive box.

US Gear is the only gear manufacturer left in the US. I'm heartbroken to hear their quality is not up to snuff. Would love to hear what other US Gear users have to say.

There are "some" quality gears made overseas ... but it's hard to sort out which is good & bad. Welcome to the new global marketplace. :(

I have tried many different aftermarket gears in several different builds- 8.2,8.5, and 12 bolts. They all had some level of whine. I then tried a set of used GM gears. And then another set. Both were quiet. I have a couple guys I try to buy from that deal in rear ends. So far so good. I plan on trying to find a used set for my next build. Just another option.

Running REM finished gears from C&R in my Nova. Pretty happy so far, I can just hear them, but would not call them noisy at all.

Really disappointing to find out everything is overseas.

I believe C&R is REM superfinishing motive gears.

Probably just go with Motive, even talking with guys at Moser, they are telling me that certain ratio's are worse than others. Of course the 390s are of the noisiest, murphy's law always smacks me around.

If any one has info on how to obtain new GM car 3 sieries 12 bolt gears in either 373 or 390, Im all ears. Not sure if they ever did these ratio's.

Thanks for the input.
Rich

X2 :thumbsup:

I've always bought my gears from Drive Train Specialists. They sold me a higher line of Motives, I think called Motive Performance, made in Italy I believe. I think it might have been $50 more than the "regular" Motives, which if I remember correctly are made over across the other sea. I don't have the car driving yet but the tooth contact was great at set-up, not always even possible with cheaper gears and they've always done me right in the past.

My Moser rearend didn't make it 1 mile without me knowing that the gears were so loud you couldn't even talk inside the car. They said a little whine is normal and wouldn't stand behind it because I had it a year before running it. Took it to Pyle Brothers (specialty is differentials) they put 2 different sets of gears Motives and a set Hoosiers. Both sets made noise. Ended up with a used set of GM off ebay. So far they are the quietest.
Go to Randy's ring and pinion they sell a set that is made by the same company that makes them for GM. They are twice as much but claim to be the best.
I will not by a bolt from Moser again. Its funny how they say a little whine is normal but there are millions of new vehicles that are whisper quiet.
I have been told that the Moser housings are made in China and the quality of the housing contributes to the gears being noisy.