D36 3.75 failed
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 1
From: Webster Texas
D36 3.75 failed
After about 10k miles the pinion on my 3.75 Richmond gears failed miserably. it's been replaced by Strange gears now, we'll see how they hold up. The supplier here said they won't even carry the Richmond gearset now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 1
From: Webster Texas
I was doin' 20mph in stop and go traffic when it let go! The sound was pretty ugly. Was able to drive it the next couple blocks to my destination fortunately. If it hadda cratered 5 mins before , I was doin' 80 on the beltway-coulda been bad. R
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1
From: Jasper Texas
my dana with 3.73s popped a while back at 48 mph (1-2 shift at WOT). That was just nasty...took the governor gear with it, neighbors were running outside to see what the bang was! 
Good luck eric...you could always go with a d44 like I did...
Good luck eric...you could always go with a d44 like I did...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,348
Likes: 2,728
It sounds as if your pointing fingers to the vendor "Richmond"! The gear set isn't generally the cause of a "catastrophic" failure. The build, the "breakin" and the other components in the build all contribute to "failures"! Your snapshots if they were to display the damage need to be done with something other than a "phone"!
You mention the shop won't sell "the brand" any longer! That's unlikely, to make the sale most will offer up what's available and what's asked for. There's a difference in "not recommending" and "not selling"! It's a sale and a profit!
You mention the shop won't sell "the brand" any longer! That's unlikely, to make the sale most will offer up what's available and what's asked for. There's a difference in "not recommending" and "not selling"! It's a sale and a profit!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis Mo
I have to agree..I'd be willing to say 90% of aftermarket gearset failures are from an improper install.Yours may be the exception to the rule though.I'd make sure I got the gearset back..send it to Richmond and see if they can tell you what happened,tell them your shop said it was a materials failure.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
I would agree with the last couple of posters. Richmond is not a fly by night outfit. All it takes is one small piece of metal between the ring and pinion and it's all over. It can be difficult to figure out exactly what started it all because the carnage is usually pretty bad.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
Yeah, there isn't much meat on those dinky little gears.
I don't know what kind of a ride the OP has or what he does with it, but there's a point where you get past the ability of a normal gear to withstand the shock load. For a race only application there are spools and high nickel gears which are inappropriate for street use.
I know there are a LOT of folks on here who like to really build up their cars and take them to the track on weekends. Having been bitten by that bug in my younger crazier days I know what it's like. It's tough to make a car do double duty and still be reliable.
I don't know what kind of a ride the OP has or what he does with it, but there's a point where you get past the ability of a normal gear to withstand the shock load. For a race only application there are spools and high nickel gears which are inappropriate for street use.
I know there are a LOT of folks on here who like to really build up their cars and take them to the track on weekends. Having been bitten by that bug in my younger crazier days I know what it's like. It's tough to make a car do double duty and still be reliable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
I have 3.73 Precision gears in my D36 and I am putting down plenty of power with a ZF6 manual....no problems at all....I run street tires of course and that helps...I am more suspicious of who set up your gears for you... Richmond as been around a while, but I also have heard getting after market gears for the D36 is getting harder to do..setting up a rear end is something that should be done a highly trained mechanic who has all of the proper gauges/tools...the backlash has to be right, break in, etc......
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Richmond makes a pretty good gear and is used by MANY racers. Not to say that a fluke does not come by every-now- and -again, but its unlikely the failure was caused by the gears. If you really want to know, take the gears to a lab that can check hardness values. If you can prove they were not Heat Treated/processed correctly I am sure RIchmond would give you a full refund or replacement.
I am leaning towards the failure being something else. I would have your Dana housing inspected very good as something might be cracked or allowing the gears to spread under load.
I am leaning towards the failure being something else. I would have your Dana housing inspected very good as something might be cracked or allowing the gears to spread under load.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 1
From: Webster Texas
It sounds as if your pointing fingers to the vendor "Richmond"! The gear set isn't generally the cause of a "catastrophic" failure. The build, the "breakin" and the other components in the build all contribute to "failures"! Your snapshots if they were to display the damage need to be done with something other than a "phone"!
You mention the shop won't sell "the brand" any longer! That's unlikely, to make the sale most will offer up what's available and what's asked for. There's a difference in "not recommending" and "not selling"! It's a sale and a profit!
You mention the shop won't sell "the brand" any longer! That's unlikely, to make the sale most will offer up what's available and what's asked for. There's a difference in "not recommending" and "not selling"! It's a sale and a profit!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,695
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
I have 3.73 Precision gears in my D36 and I am putting down plenty of power with a ZF6 manual....no problems at all....I run street tires of course and that helps...I am more suspicious of who set up your gears for you... Richmond as been around a while, but I also have heard getting after market gears for the D36 is getting harder to do..setting up a rear end is something that should be done a highly trained mechanic who has all of the proper gauges/tools...the backlash has to be right, break in, etc......
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
The point of the post was simply to share an experience. As for "pointing fingers": Richmond was the gearset, never said everything they make is crap, just shared what was shared with me. As for the set up and so forth , it was properly done. The car is driven almost daily, and that rear had around 10k on it. It broke. i never slagged Richmond, just shared my experience and what the vender and a couple of local builders shared with me, 2 in retrospect. As for sharing that I went back with USA Strange gears, that is simply to let folks know there is an alternative that is a recognized mfg also. I was fortunate it happened close to a friends shop, so we were able to get it knocked out overnight. Yes the D36 is somewhat fragile, so i avoid sticky tires, my PeteK built stall converter also helps take some of the shock off the rear. I take care of my ride and am very careful that anything done to it is done right.
how many hours did it take to get it fixed?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 1
From: Webster Texas
Around 7 hours or so real time. had to wait for the gears , shims, bearings and stuff. Mike has experience setting up the rear ends so i got really lucky. he's got a LTx powered S10 and has a 69 El Camino project right now. I was only a couple blocks from the shop when it cratered, as i was dropping in to visit.