Find answers to the most asked questions about your purchase, order or shipping
Most products sold by RANDYS Worldwide Automotive, Inc. are warrantied by their original manufacturer. Warranties vary between manufacturers. For warranty information on a specific product, please contact the manufacturer directly.
For specific information regarding Yukon Gear and USA Standard Gear warranties please visit the pages below.
Yukon Gear Warranty
USA Standard Warranty
For products assembled by us, RWA warrants the original retail purchaser that these products will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year for parts and ninety (90) days for labor following the date of sale. RWA makes no other warranty of any kind, express or implied. All other warranties, including but not limited to an implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, are excluded. This warranty is offered provided that the RWA product has been installed and maintained in accordance with RWA instructions, and that it has not been subject to modification, accident, abnormal use (including off-road or competition use, or the use of tires greater than the maximum size approved by RWA), or misuse.
Upon notification of a warranty claim, RWA shall investigate the claim of defect, and, in the event of a verified defect, shall, at their sole choice, either repair the defective product or replace it.
This warranty does not cover, and RWA shall not be liable for, incidental or consequential damages, including loss of time, road service charges, labor charges, inconvenience, loss of vehicle use, loss of revenues, or loss or damage to personal property (including loss or damage to vehicle parts due to the failure of the RWA product). In addition, this warranty does not cover, and RWA shall not be liable for, any undertaking, representation, or agreements made by dealers or other third parties selling RWA products, except where such agreements are within the provisions of this warranty statement. Also, this warranty does not cover damage to the product caused by or facilitated by failure of a non-RWA component.
This agreement offers you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
The carrier, or carrier case, is the unit which the ring gear bolts to and axles slide into. The carrier case transfers power from the ring gear to the axles.
A C-clip is a semi-circular retaining clip used to hold semi-float axles in the housing. With the cross spin shaft removed, the axle can be pushed into the housing far enough for the C-clip to be installed into a groove on the end of the axle splines. The axle is then pulled back outward until the C-clip seats into a groove in the side gear. The cross pin shaft is then installed, preventing the axle from moving inward and the C-clip from falling out.
A device that disconnect one front axle shaft from the differential via a splined, sliding collar. This system only works with open differentials and it still allows the differential side and spider gears in the differential to rotate.
AKA Final Drive Ratio. The maximum multiplied lowest gear ratio, to include first gear, transfer case low range, and axle ratio. If there is another gearing device that ratio is also added.
This is a commonly used term for the ring gear.
A dropout is a type of differential housing in which the gear case assembly can be removed from the housing. Other differential housings simply have inspection covers which are removed, allowing you to work on the differential inside the housing. The advantage of a drop out style housing is the ability to work on the differential on a bench.
Numerically low gear ratios. Generally speaking, ratios from 2.50:1 to 3.54:1 are considered “high”.
Numerically high gear ratios. Generally speaking, ratios from 4.10:1 to about 6.13:1 are considered low gears. Lower than 4.88:1 is “super” low while ratios from 3.54:1 to 4.10:1 are regarded as moderately low.
A limited slip differential is a type of carrier case where the spider gears are preloaded and prevented from turning easily via a friction surface. Once enough power has been applied to the spiders, which is called a breakaway point, the spiders can turn. The preload and friction can sometimes cause noise or “chatter” when negotiating a turn.
The lowest temperature at which a specific gear oil will pour.
The pinion yoke attaches to the pinion gear to the driveshaft.
The pinion gear turns the pinion gear, transferring power from the driveline.
The input drive for the differential, a shaft with a small gear attached. The “spider” gears in an open differential are also called pinions.
The ring gear bolts to the carrier and is driven by the pinion gear.
A device that connects the two axles directly to the ring gear.
The spider gears are a set of four to six gears which install into the carrier. The rotation of the spider gears allows one axle to spin faster or slower than the other.
The side gear fits into the housing and has splines on the inside which accepts the axle splines. Side gears are part of the spider gear set.
A third member is a type of differential housing in which the gear case assembly can be removed from the housing. Other differential housings simply have inspection covers which are removed, allowing you to work on the differential inside the housing. The advantage of a drop out style housing is the ability to work on the differential on a bench.
All new gear sets require a break-in period to prevent damage from overheating. After driving the first 15 or 20 miles it is best to let the differential cool before proceeding. We recommend at least 500 miles before towing. We also recommend towing for very short distances (less than 15 miles) and letting the differential cool before continuing during the first 45 towing miles. This may seem unnecessary but we have seen many differentials damaged from being loaded before the gear set was broken in.
Changing the gear oil after the first 500 miles is also recommend. This will remove any metal particles or phosphorus coating that has come from the new gear set.
Get more info in these blog articles Proper Break In Process – Keeping Gears Cool During Break-In – 12 Tech Tips For Proper Differential Assembly & Setup
Spider gears are also known as satellite gears, they rotate around the side gears in the differential carrier. Side gears may also be referred to as axle gears or planetary gears. The spider gears are the ones with the cross-pin shaft going through them. This array of spider and side gears take the rotational energy from the driveshaft and help redirect it outwards to the axles and on to the wheels. They also play a key role in allowing the wheels to rotate at different speeds when the vehicle is turning.
For a more in-depth look, view this installation video from our Resource Center.
Lockers produce 100% lock-up where all the power is directed to both tires all the time when the unit is engaged. Lockers are tougher. Limited slips direct torque to both tires and when slippage occurs the unit directs torque to the tire with the best traction. LSDs do not generate 100% lock-up. Limited-slip diffs do not require activation from the driver. Their engagement is mechanical, a reaction to driving conditions, namely load and wheel slippage.
Learn more about the features and benefits of different Yukon and USA Standard Gear traction devices by checking out our “Which Traction Device is Right for You?” video.
Using non-synthetic 80W-90 GL-5 will produce optimum performance in our Dura Grip clutch-type units.
Learn more about LSD oils, and drivetrain lubrication in general, by watching our “Tech Talks, Oils and Additives” video.
Transfer cases use a combination of Drive, Housing, and Shift Types.
Drive types:
Gear driven transfer cases use a set of gears to send power to the front and rear axle. While gear driven transfer cases are more durable, they are also louder and less practical for smaller vehicles because of their weight.
Chain driven transfer cases use a chain in place of a gear set. Though most chain driven cases only drive one axle, there are case systems designed to drive both axles with a chain. Chains are lighter and quieter, but weaker than gear sets.
Housing types:
Married transfer case housings are bolted to the transmission, often between the output shaft and the main driveshaft. Some married transfer cases share their housing with the transmission.
Independent housings are installed separately from the transmission casing and are connected to the transmission output shaft with another driveshaft.
Shift types:
Manual Shift On-the-Fly (MSOF) transfer cases are controlled with a lever on the driver’s side floor of most vehicles. These transfer cases have two automatic sealed front axle hubs or two manual front axle hub selectors. High 4WD settings can be engaged at low speeds, but low 4WD settings must be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the transmission is in neutral.
Electronic Shift On-the-Fly (ESOF) transfer cases have a dash-mounted selector, usually a switch or set of buttons. These cases have sealed automatic locking front axle hubs and a transfer case motor. High and low 4WD is engaged in the same ways as a MSOF transfer case.
Yes. Your ride will drive better than ever because both wheels will receive traction. When things get hot the Spartan Helical LSD will limit wheelspin across the drive axle by permitting the axle shafts to spin at different speeds while continuously trying to balance the application of torque between the two axles. This results in transferring more power to the wheel with the best traction. This improves vehicle control and performance. Mashing the throttle, taking a tight corner aggressively, or working through loose gravel or challenging sections of trail will actuate the unit’s gear array to increase your traction.
Get for more information on the Spartan Helical LSD and LSDs in general in our Stengths & Advantages Of The Spartan Helical LSD blog article.
When traveling in a straight line where wheel speeds are identical on both sides, all LSDs continuously provide equal traction to both tires. The difference between LSD types has to do with how this occurs and what happens when additional traction is needed.
In a clutch-type unit, the spring array applies pressure to the side gears which puts pressure on the clutch packs in the outer part of the carrier. Both axles get equal pressure and both tires get equal traction. When a tire starts slipping, the clutch packs are engaged with different resistance. The clutches work to maintain synchronization between the tires, transferring more torque to the tire that has the best grip while reducing torque transfer to the tire that has less grip.
A gear-type LSD has no frictional surfaces to initiate torque transfer. It uses floating helical-cut worm gears that operate in pockets and mesh together. Under normal driving conditions this type of LSD acts like an open diff. When acceleration or wheel slippage occurs, axial and radial thrust is applied to the helical gear pinions in their pockets. Under these loads, more torque is transferred to the tire with the best traction in a progressive manner as torque is withheld from the tire that is slipping.
To see the Carrier Break points of popular differentials, check out this article from our Resource Center.
Variables to consider include tire size (especially if it’s changing), transmission ratio, rpm at cruising speed, the stock gear ratio, and the intended usage of the vehicle. The tradeoff here is off-the-line acceleration versus freeway-speed performance.
Re-gearing serves two purposes. It can re-gain lost drivability in daily driven vehicles that have bigger tires installed or custom tailor performance for a dedicated off-roader that doesn’t put as much emphasis on daily driving.
If you’re adding big tires, technically you’re already re-gearing your ride because the increase in tire circumference changes the final drive ratio. Think about it this way… if you’re running a 3.73 gear, the pinion gear rotates 3.73 times to turn the ring gear one full rotation. On the road a bigger tire will take more rotations to get up to speed (slower) but require a lower engine rpm to maintain a highway speed. In some cases, bigger tires can create profoundly adverse driving characteristics and a reduction in fuel efficiency.
To figure out what your rig is doing and how to pick the right ratio you need to know your gear ratio and tire height in stock trim. These factors can be used to determine your engine rpm at a given vehicle speed. Our homepage has easy-to-use calculators that compute gear ratio and tire height. Then you take those numbers and feed them into our RPM calculator.
Use your stock set-up as a baseline to see what your stock vehicle speed to engine speed relationship is. If your rig is a daily driver you’ll want to gauge performance at freeway speeds. If you’re dialing in a dedicated off-roader, freeway speed performance will be less critical so you may want to evaluate slower vehicle speeds. Once your baseline is established, enter your new tire diameter and adjust the gear ratio to best match the stock numbers for daily drivers or the desired performance of a dedicated off-roader.
The term “thick gears” refers to a ring gear that is thicker than stock to maintain proper meshing in a carrier that is being upgraded with a numerically higher gear ratio. When increasing gear ratio, a smaller diameter pinion gear is employed and the thicker ring gear makes up the difference by moving the gear teeth ‘higher’ so the two gears mesh properly.
Get more info on Yukon ring and pinion gears by watching our “Unboxing Yukon Ring and Pinions” video.
The pattern refers to how the ring gear and pinion gears mesh. There is a process used when reassembling a differential that optimizes ring gear and pinion tooth contact. The procedure involves changing the pinion position via shims in the carrier and repositioning the carrier. Dialing in the tolerance between the gears will ensure a smooth-running, long-lasting differential.
For more info on reading gear tooth patterns, check out this video from our Resource Center.
Whirring noise only while decelerating at any or all speeds is most likely caused by bad pinion bearings or loose pinion bearing preload, and almost never by bad ring and pinion gears.
A howl or whine during acceleration over a small or large speed range is usually caused by worn ring and pinion gears or improper gear set up.
Rumbling or whirring at speeds over about 20 mph can be caused by worn carrier bearings. The noise may change while turning.
Regular clunking every few feet may indicate broken ring or pinion gears.
Banging or clunking only on corners can be caused by broken spider gears, lack of sufficient positraction lubrication, or worn positraction clutches.
Rumble while turning may indicate bad wheel bearings.
A steady vibration that increases with the vehicle’s speed can be caused by worn u-joints or an out of balance driveshaft.
Clunking only when starting to move or getting on and off the gas might be loose yokes, bad u-joints or worn transfer case or transmission parts.
It’s all about math… and counting teeth. Simply count the teeth on the ring gear and divide that number by the number of teeth on the pinion gear. Be aware that you may have to round off the number. (45 divided by 12 = 3.75… rounded to 3.73). The ratio itself refers to how many times the pinion gear rotates to turn the ring gear one full rotation.
Size, as it relates to strength and ease of installation. The smaller Spartan Locker, also known as a lunchbox locker or an insert-type unit, is easier to install because it replaces the spider gears. Since the Spartan Locker is installed in the carrier it relies on said carrier for strength. The Grizzly Locker, sometimes called a mechanical locker or automatic locker, is bigger and significantly stronger. It replaces the entire carrier assembly and has more clamping force, forged internals, and a forged 8620 low-nickel alloy steel case that is much more robust than the OE carrier it replaces.
Gain more insight into lockers by checking out our “Installing a Spartan Locker,” “Unboxing a Spartan Locker,” and “Yukon Grizzly Locker” videos.
We predominantly use five metal types; 4320, 4340, 8620, 9310, and 1541H.
4300-series is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy, i.e. chromoly, that’s low in carbon content. 4320 is used for the internals in our line of Yukon Dura Grip LSDs. We use 4340 in the manufacturing of forged gears, pinion gears, high-performance axles, Super Joints, and more. 8620 is a low-nickel alloy steel generally used in the manufacture of forged camshafts, crankshafts, and fasteners. We use it in gears and cases. 9310 is an alloy steel with more nickel and chromium than 8620. 9310 can better endure high shock loads without failing and we use it in Spartan Lockers. 1541H is a high-grade carbon steel used in our replacement axles and u-joints, and similar products. A caveat here, heat-treating plays a definitive role in a given alloy’s hardness and other properties that impact their performance in automotive drivetrain applications. We use advanced heat-treating techniques to fine tune our alloys to their intended usage.
Some are, some aren’t.
Clutch-type LSDs, like our Dura Grip, can be rebuilt. Rebuilding involves replacing the clutches in the unit. The clutches can be replaced to bring the unit back to its original performance level, or non-stock clutches with different friction characteristics and springs with custom compression rates can be used to fine tune the Dura Grip’s performance to better match the style of driving/racing you are doing.
Gear-type LSDs, like our Spartan Helical, do not require rebuilding because there are no clutches to replace, there is nothing to rebuild. The unit’s internal worm gears should last the life of your vehicle.
It is the measurement from the base of the housing to the gear teeth. This mounting surface within the housing changes to accommodate the smaller pinion gears that are used when swapping to numerically higher gear ratios. A taller deck height maintains proper contact between the ring and pinion gear teeth by moving the ring gear farther ‘up’ in the housing.
We do all the thinking. Each kit contains all the parts needed to complete the job from start to finish so you know you’re getting all the right stuff the first time. The kits include a ring and pinion and all the bearings, seals, and small parts in one simple part number. Some kits are configured to address one axle, some cover both, and some include a Dura Grip limited-slip differential. A Yukon Pro Kit features a premium Yukon Gear & Axle gear set and uprated hardware to meet the demands of wheeling, off-road racing, track racing, street driving, and performance diesel. USA Quick Kits are affordable, general repair options when stock performance and reliability are the prime concerns.
First, this product is for clutch-type differentials only, not gear-driven limited slips like our Spartan Helical LSD. Friction modifiers are all about chatter. They guard against abnormal clutch engagement and/or disengagement (source of the chatter), ensuring the proper friction characteristics between clutch discs are maintained.
Yukon offers warranties against manufacturing defects for terms from one to 10 years, with some products carrying limited lifetime coverage. Further, the warranty on selected Yukon parts can be upgraded to a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty with our Yukon Extended Service (YES) plan. For a full rundown of Yukon warranty information click here.
High stress driving will repeatedly increase the temperature of your transmission, eventually breaking down the stability of the gear oil in your car. If you regularly tow, drive in low traction conditions, or drive in mountainous regions, you will likely need to change your gear oil every 30,000 miles, or potentially even less.
In normal driving conditions, most cars can travel up to 80,000 miles before needing a gear oil change. However, this number is a maximum, and most manufacturers recommend changing your gear oil between 50,000 and 60,000 miles.
Other conditions that require a gear oil change can develop under unusual circumstances. For example, if your transfer case, differential component, or transmission has experienced submersion in water or another foreign fluid, your gear oil should be replaced. Contaminated oil can seriously damage your gearbox, transfer case, or differentials with inadequate lubrication.
You should also replace your gear oil if your transfer case or differentials recently had a leak repaired. A leak could signal contamination or low levels of gear oil. Most mechanics will replace your gear oil after repairing a leaky component, but this is sometimes forgotten during home repairs.
Lastly, if you or your mechanic finds dirty gear oil during a checkup, it should always be replaced. Old or dirty oil leads to destabilized viscosity and poor lubrication, which will prematurely damage your gearbox, transfer case, and/or differentials.
Replacement driveshafts are direct-fit units built to or beyond OE specifications. Quality replacement driveshafts also address OE issues like under-sized u-joints that are often the cause of wear and/or imbalance. Upgraded aftermarket replacements, like those from USA Standard Gear, have gone through in-depth testing and have eliminated any vulnerable parts to produce a driveshaft that will last as long as you own your vehicle.
Learn more about USA Standard Gear replacement driveshafts by checking out our “Installing a USA Standard Gear Driveshaft” video.
Yukon Gear & Axle Spin Free Kits replace the failure prone and expensive factory unit bearings with tapered bearings and races. The result is not only a design which is easier and more economical to service, but one that offers significant increases in fuel efficiency because there are fewer rotating parts in the drivetrain for the engine to turn. Less work equals better fuel economy.
Check out our “Yukon Spin Free Kit Installation Walkthrough” video to learn more about these highly effective kits.
Performance driveshafts, like those from Yukon Gear & Axle are engineered for extreme conditions. They use premium materials at every juncture, double cardan joints, high-strength steel, and superior manufacturing techniques to handle the increased articulation to accommodate lifts, reduce vibration, and improve durability on the trail, the track, or the open road.
See what makes Yukon driveshafts special by watching our “Yukon Performance Driveshafts | Engineered for Ultimate Performance” video.
Yukon Performance Driveshafts | Engineered for Ultimate Performance
Stretching. A tow strap is designed not to stretch, which makes towing a vehicle at a constant speed easier. A recovery strap is designed to stretch so the rescue vehicle can get a little momentum before the strap goes taut and pulls the stuck vehicle free.
USA Standard Gear offers a generous warranty program. Get more details and check out our Warranty By Product chart by clicking here.
Gearheads have their own vernacular so knowing the lingo will help you communicate with your mechanic. We’re talking about gear ratio. Tall gears produce a lower numeric ratio i.e. 3.08, 3.73 (or lower), while short gears or deep gears refer to higher numeric ratios i.e. 4.88, 5.29 (or higher).
Numerically higher gear ratios produce more torque, are quicker off the line, and deliver a lower top speed. Conversely, lower numeric gear ratios produce less torque, are slower at launch, and deliver a higher top speed. For more on how to pick the right ratio, check out this video.
The "GL-5" designation identifies how much Sulphur-based friction modifier is present in the oil. This chemical modifier helps the oil function under extreme pressure… like in an LSD. Note: Because of its Sulfur content GL-5 oil is meant to be used on hypoid gears in differentials only; it is too corrosive to be used in transmissions, which require a milder GL-4 formulation.
Pinion bearing preload is related to the amount of force the pinion nut exerts on the pinion and its bearings. Axle builders generally measure the pinion’s preload by rotating the pinion gear by its nut with a pound/inch-graduated torque wrench. Crush sleeves or shims are generally used to set pinion preload. The proper torque ratings for new bearings can be found in the front of the installation manual on the Set Up Specifications page or by way of the chart below. Note: Measurements are for the use of new (not used) bearings.
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GEARS | SET UP - What is the break-in procedure for a new set of gears?
GEARS | SPIDER GEARS - What are spider gears and what do they do?
DRIVELINE | AXLES - What are the differences between a semi-float axle and a full-float axle?
DIFFERENTIAL | LOCKER - What is the difference between a locker and a limited-slip differential?
DIFFERENTIAL | LIMITED SLIP - What gear oil do you recommend for limited-slip differentials?
DRIVELINE | TRANSFER CASE - What are the different types of Transfer Cases?
DIFFERENTIAL | SET UP - How much torque is needed to crush a crush sleeve?
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