Quote Originally Posted by ramsey rider View Post
well iv got the sierra1500 w/8.5 rearend .tonight i was getting into it a little really not much ,but iv got a real hard 2nd gear i hit second i heard a pop and it sent me side too side ,i slowly proceeded too my next red light and it bassically went into neutral even though i was in drive .i put it in 4 hi and drove it too my mechanics shop and left it .im assuming i BLEW MY REAREND OUT ! iv already got an eaton posi unit for it my question is which name brand gears would be the strongest for this rear unit.my mech says if you build it like a race rearend ill wipe it out in no time in the street,idk,but if you buy softer gears theylle go again probably .i just want a few opinions before i have him go ahead and order something im going too regret.any opinions would be great please im going too have too order tomm its my work truck.thanks ahead of time .
You state you drove it home...most times, you will not be able to because the gears bind up and make a meat grinder out of the pumpkin...If this guy knew how to install gears, he would not have stated it to you this way. When you install gears, you get the pinion depth correct, as well as the side to side measurements/with shims which insures a good wear pattern on the gears. Racing or street, you don't set them up tight or loose.
Again, if you drove it...it may be something else unless we aren't getting the whole story. I'd either tear it down myself and take a look (rear-end covers arent difficult to remove/reseal/reinstall) or take it to another shop, this guy wants to sell you 'sets' of gears...
Just my .02