Do you have to break-in a new differential?
All new gear sets require a break-in period to prevent damage from overheating. Any overloading or over-heating will cause the gear oil to break down and cause undue stress to the ring & pinion gears.
How long does it take to break-in a new differential?
On initial run, drive lightly for 15 to 20 minutes then stop to allow differential to cool completely for 20 to 25 minutes. Avoid towing and heavy acceleration, as well as vary speeds every 5 to 10 minutes while driving on highways.
How long does it take to break-in new rear end gears?
At Currie, we recommend the initial break-in to start by driving normally for 15-20 minutes (no bun outs, hard starts, or highway driving), then letting the vehicle rest for 30-minutes, never going over 50 miles without letting it cool. Towing and high speeds should also be avoided until after break-in (300-500 miles).
Why do I need a break in for my differential?
All new gear sets require a break-in period to prevent damage from overheating. Any overloading or over-heating will cause the gear oil to break down and cause undue stress to the ring & pinion gears. Please follow these guidelines to insure proper break-in:
Can you burn out a new car differential?
And no, it’s not by doing burnouts. If you replace a differential on your car, you shouldn’t proceed to drive away immediately as if nothing’s new. Engineering Explained’s Jason Fenske lays out the break-in procedure for a new differential in his latest video.
When to stop for a diff break in?
If you plan to do any towing following the initial 500 miles, then tow for a short distance (about 15 miles) and then stop to let the differential cool for 10-15 mins. Then resume your trip as planned. If you’ve already put in over 1,000 miles on the new differential, then the diff is already broken in. Feel free to tow as normal.
What’s the best way to drive a new differential?
For the first 500 or so miles of driving on a new differential, you’ll want to drive gently. Fenske says that the goal here is to make sure the differential doesn’t overheat—that means no aggressive shifting, no launches, and you guessed it, no burnouts.
