Best Bay Area shop for gear install, differential work, and also REM?

I drove to sac to re-gear. I paid $1k labor I got my own ring & pinion. The owner said I can re-used my bearings(under 10k miles). This is my 2nd re-gear from them I had a wrangler before the taco. He quoted me $1650(installed with mini kit re-use factory bearings) with nitro or revolution 5.29’s whenever they are back in stock. I end up finding 5.29 gears myself.

Rivercity differentials ask for Sean!

 

Huh, that’s interesting.
They brought that up right away when we were talking about the break in period.

 

What about those guys in Castro Valley - Pete's?

 

So I got the truck back about a week and a half ago, Rearend took much longer than expected (week and a half from when I dropped it off) but considering one of their guys had been out with a new baby, and another had a cast on his arm, I don't fault them. Definitely seems like it feels better especially post-tune to account for the 4.88's, but may be too soon to really tell. My gas mileage will hopefully creep back up too, just filled it up so we'll see.

However... while I'm only about 200mi into the break in, I do notice a minor, high pitched whining noise, especially while coasting around 60-65. Don't really hear it below about 55. It's a consistent tone, no grinding or vibrating or anything like that, and I have to have the radio off and windows up to really hear it. Wondering if this is normal, either just part of the break in process or common after a regear regardless? I trust the guys at that shop, they clearly knew what they were about and specialized in this particular work, and they switched out all my bearings etc at the same time, since I had the entire master kit. Just want to make sure it's not a problem. Have been super gentle with it so far, and used the heavier weight oil that many recommended (80-140 iirc). Any experience with this or does it sound like a potential issue; or I guess the better question would be, what does a bad diff sound like?

 

A low hum is common in that speed range; if the range spreads then there’s cause for concern. For example, if after the break in period there’s a steady hum from 50-70mph there could be a bearing preload issue.

Quick plug for The Rear End Shop of Livermore. Barry is the owner, super knowledgeable in Toyota regearing with honest and fair pricing. He uses a local supplier, Sierra Gears (from Korea just like Nitro), with available cryogenic treatments. If the gears are purchased through him, it’s a 36k mile warranty on work and equipment. I paid $2400 for parts & labor, this included all new bearings. Even though the truck only had 2000 miles, Barry advised against ever reusing bearings as that’s where harmonic problems often come from.