Well I opened my rear end up today to see if I could figure out the humming noise coming from it. I found I have a 3/42 gear, but how can I tell what carrier is in it ? Also I found what I will describe as metal mud around the magnet. I had this rear end installed in 2004 and have only put approx 10,000 miles on it since. every thing I can see looks fine with no weird wear patterns on the gears or anything. Should I be concerned ?

 

I have "heard" that Richmond gear sets are almost impossible to make quiet. Do you know what was put in in '04?

 

Bumb me I never asked when it was installed, Thats also the reason I wasn't sure of the gears untill I opened it today.

 

Do the gears have any uneven wear patterns on them? If they do then they were not properly set up. The "metal mud" is something that would concern me a little, but not so much that I would let it bother me just yet. Besides, whats done is done.

 

I didn't see any uneven wear patterns. How can I tell what carrier I have in there, I hear people on here talking about series 2 or 3 and is there any way to tell what spline axiels I have without removing them and counting? This is on a 87 with drum brakes.