Rating Ring & Pinion Gears:

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The most frequent question that we receive is "What is the difference between all of the gear brands that you offer?" We try impartially to evaluate them here using the several criteria that we know affect pricing and quality - NAME/BRAND, STRENGTH & WEAR CHARACTERISTICS.

MANFACTURER NAME - The manufacturer's years in the aftermarket industry can affect the sale price, as being considered a popular brand in itself allows it to market its products at a higher price than others. On the other hand, newer companies will usually be a little less expensive.

BRAND LINE - Manufacturers can offer up to 5 different brand lines. Each is targeted to the uses that the parts are intended for. Stock replacement lines are the least expensive, and specialized lines such as gears for competition drag racing and reboxed original equipment gears will be much higher.

STRENGTH - A stock replacement gear is adequate for most uses. Use a standard replacement gear for anything that you would use a stock gearset. Use a higher quality line for higher shock-load and torque output requirements. Use an intermediate gear for applications that you are unsure if a standard gear will be reliable enough.

WEAR - Stock replacement gears are "heat-treated" very hard, similar to factory gears, and are designed for excellent wear over many miles. Competition gears are not heat treated in the same manner, which is designed to allow some flex under extreme loads while not fracturing or breaking teeth. The downside is that a competition gear wears extremely rapidly, and would never survive in a daily driving vehicle.


Ratings of 1-10 are our opinion based on experience. These are considered "streetable" gears. Most can be used for recreational competition and offroad use, when used within their intended use by the manufacturer. Several of the manufacturers also have competition lines designed for drag racing that we will not offer recommendations for as people involved at this level have contingencies and other experience that should know what they need to use.

PRECISION GEAR - Premium Aftermarket - Street/Strip/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 8 - WEAR 7

MOTIVE GEAR - Professional - Street/Strip/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 8 - WEAR 7

RICHMOND GEAR - Standard Aftermarket - Street/Strip/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 7 - WEAR 9

DANA/SPICER - OEM Manufacturer - Street/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 7 - WEAR 8

YUKON GEAR - Standard Aftermarket - Street/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 7 - WEAR 7

MOTIVE GEAR - Standard Aftermarket - Street/Offroad Use
STRENGTH 7 - WEAR 7

MOTIVE GEAR - OEM Style - Street Use
STRENGTH 6 - WEAR 8

RICHMOND GEAR - Sportsman Series - Street Use
STRENGTH 6 - WEAR 8

ACCU VALUE GEAR - Standard Aftermarket - Street Use
STRENGTH 5 - WEAR 7

AGAIN, any manufacturer that disagrees with these ratings is free to offer us suggestions to support the contrary. We reserve the right to change these listings at any time.

Questions on this or any other topics? E-mail for technical assistance tech@accuautoparts.com