Gritty hardened gears

[Farabomb]

I put in the underdrive hardened set and they seem very... Gritty for lack of a better term. I can kinda expect a little initial roughness before the gears wear in. I ran half a pack through it and it feels no better.

I have the shafts off because I'm making new upper links so it's not the trans. I checked all the bearings when I installed the ring and pinion so it's not that. Stock dingo kit diffs with the lockers. I believe the pinion is seated as far back as it can go.

I may pull everything since it's half apart and replace the pinion bearings with bushings because I have them from my wraith and see if that improves it.

Any ideas on what I may have done wrong?

 

[OTHGbronco82]

Might need shimming or grease. That's all that I can think of.

 

[Farabomb]

I used some finishline ptfe when installing so there is lube. Shims were another thought. It's not going back together tonight as I need a tubing cutter to cut the SS tube for the links. I can use the dremel but I have the right tools at the shop.

Could it be the questionable tolerance in the stock diff housings? I do see some runout in the stock front diff. HR spools were an idea later but if it would fix the runout the $30 would be worth it.

 

[OTHGbronco82]

It's probably just the difference in the tolerances between the two gear sets. I doubt it, but there might be dirt in there too. Try shimming it and go from there.