Woohoo! I just put down the deposit to order 4.56's... I have an 02 SCrew with 3.55's - it had a 3" body lift and 33's when I bought it and I went to 35's soon after. It's bogged like crap on the 2nd gear shift ever since and I'm stoked about doing this.

The only thing that's throwing a monkey wrench in the arrangement is that it's my only vehicle and I have a road trip to take in a week and a half. They would probably get the gears and have them in before Friday the 24th, but then what do I do about break in? The guy at the shop that I've been talking to seemed to know his stuff and he thinks I might be able to use the trip as their recommended 500 mile break in, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't just wait until after the trip to have them installed.

He says they suggest going easy on acceleration and not doing any towing - basically keeping the load off the new gears for 500 mi. Opinions?

 

The basic idea is to heat-up and cool down your new gear several times to harden them. If you get the gears to hot before this hardening takes place you can destroy them. Towing and hauling create extra heat in the axle so you should not do it until your done. The best way to harden your gears is to take several short trips letting the gears cool down completely in between. The shop that installs them should provide you with break-in instructions. A week and a half of around town driving should be plenty of break-in before a long trip.

 

I would wait. With how much money they are, you'd be better off installing em after the long trip. Just for precautions. My two cents.

 

Looks like it's going to be a non-issue anyway. I got a call back from the shop and the rears are on a nationwide backorder. WTH?? Oh well, I'm in no rush as long as it gets done and gets done right.