Flat towing a TJ after re-gear

Rut Row

Rut Row

Geezer in Training
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North of Keedysville, MD
This weekend I'm putting 4.56 gears in my TJ. In mid-April, a group of us are going to Uwharrie and I'll be flat towing my TJ down the interstate to get there. I've read all the posts I can find on regearing and had several emails with Revolution about break-in procedures. I'm comfortable with what to do and that I can get the minimum 500 miles done (with oil change) before my trip.

What I haven't found was any references to flat towing the TJ at 70 MPH constant after break-in. There will be very little load on the gear whilst being flat-towed. But I'm concerned about a constant speed for 6-7 hours of driving. Should I vary the speeds? Should I stop periodically to let the gears cool and if so how often?

What would you do?

Pic to show how it will be towed. For any trip over 4-hours, I tow it.

Jeep in Tow.jpg
 
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Make sure you fill the axles with a conventional gear lube and fill them again with a conventional gear lube at the 500 mile break-in change.
 
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What is the theory on why will syn gear lubes create higher diff temps than dino oils which Ive read here several times. Higher film strength creating less void between parts perhaps?
 
Gilaguy23 said:
What is the theory on why will syn gear lubes create higher diff temps than dino oils which Ive read here several times. Higher film strength creating less void between parts perhaps?
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No clue why other than it happens and aftermarket gear and axle manufacturers started recommending conventional gear lubes years ago, especially during aftermarket gear break-ins. I was told about it by John Currie years ago at a big 4x4 show.

It's ok to run a synthetic if you want to for the factory gears as they are already lapped (broken in) when installed. It's also ok if you want to run a synthetic with aftermarket gears but only after they are completely broken in.

Personally I chose to stay with a conventional gear lube after my R&P gear break-ins were completed.
 
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Rut Row said:
@Jerry Bransford I assume you don't see any issues flat towing immediately after the 500 mile break-in?
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Hmmm, I dunno but probably not if they were properly broken in during those 500 miles. I am just nervous after having had break-in problems on two different regears. One caused by a bad gear setup and the other from running a synthetic during the break-in. I'm so nervous about it I dunno if I'd survive another new set of gears. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Had mine regeared last July and flat towed ~5 hours to camp for an elk hunt in September and then the same distance/time home afterward. Other than the 500 mi break-in, the TJ may have been driven another 500 miles before I towed it. No problems whatsoever. I didn't make any effort to vary speed any more than simply adjapting based on the road conditions and traffic I was traveling through.

I'd say you should be fine as long as you break in properly and follow the owner's manual instructions for proper flat towing.
 
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