What brand of gears are best? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMJimmy · 11-17-2015, 09:53 PM

I'm planning on a gear change for my 68 SWB FS and have decided on 3.42's. I need a posi carrier as well. It's been a long time since I bought gears and U.S. Strange is what used to be good but I'm not sure which brand of gears to buy these days. The posi unit I'm thinking of is an Eaton clutch style or the truetrack? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Wizo · 11-17-2015, 10:53 PM

i used Yukon gears. 3.73:1 I already had a good GM 12 bolt posi locker.

**biketopia** · 11-18-2015, 09:08 AM

Any of the eaton posi's will do you good. I've got a set of richmond gears in my truck. Any of the big name guys will be just fine, and in all honesty if your your just cruising the truck really any set you feel comfortable with will be ok. Use quality bearings for the install and get the gear pattern right and you should be good to roll.

Shaky · 11-18-2015, 03:06 PM

I went with Richmond. Seems to be working out OK.

GMJimmy · 11-18-2015, 08:54 PM

Looks good! What gears are you using?

Shaky · 11-19-2015, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMJimmy

Looks good! What gears are you using?

That's actually the 5-lug 12-bolt I built for my '66 C10. I went with 3.08 since I have a Richmond 5-speed with a low first and 1:1 fifth.

GASoline71 · 11-19-2015, 02:53 PM

Richmond... period.

You'se gets what's ya pays for.

Gary

hugger6933 · 11-19-2015, 09:22 PM

I would say Richmond they have been the gear guys for a super long time. I will say that the Summit branded gears [I don't know who makes them for that label]I have had great success with them. I had several sets used in farm trucks and they held up well. For some reason I ordered a set for one guy and then the next thing I knew was 5 or 6 guys were dropping by my shop wanting me to order those gears for them. I told them they could load their credit card as easy as I could

. So that being said I know that the Summit AND Jeg's branded gears are pretty dang good as well. I also know that the major diff[no pun intended] between the 2 wheel drive rears and the Z71 rear for the 99-04 rears were the posi and 3:73 gears. [you could order the 2 wheel truck with posi] but the 4x4's got the 3:72 gear. The 2 wheel rear at one time were bringing $750 while the Z71 rears would bring $1500[they still bring good money but not that much] I know a lot of the salvage yards would have a real high core charge so they could get out the posi, and order a new set of gears [like the store named above] and then turn a $500 dollar 2 wheel rear end into a $1500 buck 4X4 rear.[pretty sneaky]

GMJimmy · 11-19-2015, 10:08 PM

Thanks everybody for the help and suggestions. After reading several posts on this site and others I decided on the Yukons. I know there are other brands that guys are using and have had good luck with and I've also learned that not all of these vendors make all of their own gears. Even Yukon! I'm a little anal about quality and Yukon SEEMS to be the gear of choice by several of the shops that install them. One thing I made sure of is that it wasn't just the profit margin that made this choice for them because these gears are more expensive than most. I also bought an Eaton posi so I'll be busy for the next couple of days.
Thanks again!

11-17-2015, 09:53 PM	#1
GMJimmy Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 164	What brand of gears are best? I'm planning on a gear change for my 68 SWB FS and have decided on 3.42's. I need a posi carrier as well. It's been a long time since I bought gears and U.S. Strange is what used to be good but I'm not sure which brand of gears to buy these days. The posi unit I'm thinking of is an Eaton clutch style or the truetrack? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Last edited by GMJimmy; 11-17-2015 at 10:09 PM.

11-17-2015, 10:53 PM	#2
Wizo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 274	Re: What brand of gears are best? i used Yukon gears. 3.73:1 I already had a good GM 12 bolt posi locker. __________________ 1970 3/4 ton long box GMC !968 C10 short stepside (Papa's Old Lorry) 2006 2500 HD Silverado Duramax/Alison

11-18-2015, 09:08 AM	#3
biketopia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Warrenton VA Posts: 1,067	Re: What brand of gears are best? Any of the eaton posi's will do you good. I've got a set of richmond gears in my truck. Any of the big name guys will be just fine, and in all honesty if your your just cruising the truck really any set you feel comfortable with will be ok. Use quality bearings for the install and get the gear pattern right and you should be good to roll. __________________ 71 c-10 Long Bed, under the knife for a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Chassis Pack and coil over static drop. 07 Silverado Classic 2wd 95 Camaro 427SBC/TH350

11-18-2015, 03:06 PM	#4
Shaky Six in a row makes it go... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vacationland: Maine Posts: 1,346	Re: What brand of gears are best? I went with Richmond. Seems to be working out OK. Attached Images __________________ 67 C20 long step resto: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342086 66 C10 long step build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3814790 CT to Alaska in a 67 C10: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399224 “The height of sophistication is simplicity." - Clare Boothe Luce

11-18-2015, 08:54 PM	#5
GMJimmy Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 164	Re: What brand of gears are best? Looks good! What gears are you using?

11-19-2015, 09:22 PM	#8
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,277	Re: What brand of gears are best? I would say Richmond they have been the gear guys for a super long time. I will say that the Summit branded gears [I don't know who makes them for that label]I have had great success with them. I had several sets used in farm trucks and they held up well. For some reason I ordered a set for one guy and then the next thing I knew was 5 or 6 guys were dropping by my shop wanting me to order those gears for them. I told them they could load their credit card as easy as I could . So that being said I know that the Summit AND Jeg's branded gears are pretty dang good as well. I also know that the major diff[no pun intended] between the 2 wheel drive rears and the Z71 rear for the 99-04 rears were the posi and 3:73 gears. [you could order the 2 wheel truck with posi] but the 4x4's got the 3:72 gear. The 2 wheel rear at one time were bringing $750 while the Z71 rears would bring $1500[they still bring good money but not that much] I know a lot of the salvage yards would have a real high core charge so they could get out the posi, and order a new set of gears [like the store named above] and then turn a $500 dollar 2 wheel rear end into a $1500 buck 4X4 rear.[pretty sneaky]

11-19-2015, 10:08 PM	#9
GMJimmy Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 164	Re: What brand of gears are best? Thanks everybody for the help and suggestions. After reading several posts on this site and others I decided on the Yukons. I know there are other brands that guys are using and have had good luck with and I've also learned that not all of these vendors make all of their own gears. Even Yukon! I'm a little anal about quality and Yukon SEEMS to be the gear of choice by several of the shops that install them. One thing I made sure of is that it wasn't just the profit margin that made this choice for them because these gears are more expensive than most. I also bought an Eaton posi so I'll be busy for the next couple of days. Thanks again!



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