The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

What're folks thoughts on REM polishing for skipping breakins? SDHQ and my local shop are 6+ weeks out with REM polishing but ECGS can ship today, I'd just have to suffer the break in. The break in is a little rough since my truck isn't my daily driver -- it's only ever used to wheel and shuttle mountain bikes to some out of the way trailheads. But ECGS told me they don't think REM helps and I should break it in anyways. If I really should be breaking it in anyway I'll bite the bullet and order from ECGS, I guess.

 

The break in procedure is no big deal. I vote no REM polishing.

 

I did REM polishing because gear legend ZUK sold me on it. It did not affect my lead or turnaround time & IIRC “it can really strengthen and smooth out the gear contact”. I personally would never skip a break-in even though I was told I could. Break in will be over before you know it and only takes a minute to flush the rear diff. It’s one of the easiest tasks in all of Tacoma mods. My vote would be for rem polishing because of increased strength and durability

 

My truck is also my DD and also mtb shuttle truck at times. Break in isn’t a big deal, man. Just vary the speeds you drive and take it easy - don’t sit at certain speeds too long. Basically - stay off freeway interstates or whatever. It’s fine

 

I'm all about "increased strength and durability", but when ECGS tells me it doesn't do anything (they said the same for cryo) AND they're putting their money where their mouth is with a 5 year warranty, I'll skip it.

 

I think this is where I've landed. I'll suck it up and do the breakin and skip the REM/cryo.

Thanks all!

 

That’s kind of like saying RCV axles don’t “do anything.” The science is there.

At the end of the day most gear failures aren’t covered under warranty anyway. All they do is document the setup and as long as it’s documented in spec, they are covered.

 

There's also a difference in lab testing to prove a strength/durability increase and how that plays out in real life situations. Models and equations don't always encompass all of the pertinent variables.

From what I hear ECGS is very good about honoring their warranties.

 

Yup and cryo and REM plushies be have proven themselves in real world applications.

Know anyone that has had a warranty replacement from them??

 

No, not personally. I also don't personally know anyone who has had a failure with ECGS gears or anyone who had a warranty claim denied. You?

This is all anecdotal anyhow. You claim that these treatments have been proven in real world applications, but I imagine it wasn't an actual study but rather a sample size of one that some guy did on his own. How was the control group handled? Again there likely wasn't one.

 

I have only seen warranty's denied in general with either manufacturer blaming the setup or the shop blaming the manufacturer. In either case it's us as the consumer that is screwed. REM and Cryo are mainstays in multiple industries to include but not limited to airfact production, rotorcraft, motorsports/racing, Ship and boat production and much more. (i.e. high friction items)

Like all things it's slowly made it's way to the general consumer market, (e.g. Uniballs are designed specifically for racing, viton seals are for racing but people still buy them to mall crawl)

To your point has there ever been a study around Ring and Pinions in Tacomas, no but you don't need to when other major manufacturers like L3, Lockheed, Sikorsky etc who have already done the testing. Theres plenty of available evidence online.

It's proven science, arguing about it just makes you appear foolish. Just like RCV axles, there are situations when parts are put to the limit but the extra room in material, cryo etc prevent failure.

Chromoly axles are 20% stronger than standard axles, this is proven in torsional testing, does that mean it wont break? No it just means it can handle 20% more load. Same thing applies to Cryo, doesnt make it unbreakable, just makes it more tolerant to loads or loads that would otherwise shred a tooth.

Companies like 300 Below guarantee 200% brake rotor life as an example, it does more than "nothing." Post #1 points out the misconceptions in this and while ECGS is great at assembling diffs, they aren't forging them.

 

No shit ECGS isn't forging their own gears bro. No one thinks that.

The question isn't "do REM/cryo treatments make the gears stronger?", it's "is that extra strength actually necessary for my application?". ECGS clearly says it isn't, and they back it up with a 5 year warranty.

Sure RCV axles are stronger, but wouldn't you rather break a CV than grenade your front diff? I don't think cryo is going to prevent chromoly axles from making your diff the weak point.

 

For your application sure, but we arent talking about you or even generically around you. Cryo and REM have their place but your paying less than 10% of the overall cost to boost the strength and reduce risk.

An RCV axle is $1000+. You can actually rebuild a diff for less

 

The "application" I was referring to were Tacomas in general, but I see your point.

 

hmm thats a tough one, I've seen Tacomas break ARB carriers on Fordyce. How do they define application? A Tacoma on 33s mall crawling?

 

Pretty sure the only restrictions I saw on the warranty were completing the break in period and tires limited to 35"

 

Fair enough

 

x2 on this.

 

@riz_atx had a warranty claim. ECGS did him good.

 

good to know but moot for the sake of the argument.