Composite gearbox/bulkhead in XL?

[MikeK1981]

I bought my XL before they had the bulletproof diffs in them from the factory. I probably have the regular gearboxes also, right? How would I tell if they are regular or composite. I stripped my front diff but have not disassembled it to figure out exactly what happened yet. I want to upgrade to the bulletproff diffs and was thinking about getting the composite gearboxes too. Are they really necessary if I'm not running a flux or modded nitro mill? Or should I just get the B.P. diffs, shim them properly, and save the money on the gearboxes? What do you guys think?

 

[MikeK1981]

Nobody????

 

[88gtanotchback]

i say save your money. the composite bulkheads are quite expensive and i cant imagine it makes that big of difference. Only the flux comes with them factory. Ive only heard on bad asz having problems with plastic ones but he blew so many other parts up at the time, so who knows if the composite ones would have been any better.

 

[MikeK1981]

Thanks for the advice! I had my LHS order the diffs for me today, already, and decided to wait on the gearboxes. Is it just me or has it been slow around here?

 

[ScooterB]

I upgraded to composites with the new diffs and found them on ebay for around $30 shipped complete with gears removed from a flux. Thats less than just the gears from my LHS. The big upgrade you are looking for is the new larger bearing on the carrier. These are the weak link. The small bearings were not designed to handle the side loads that the ring gear puts on them. When you replace the gears definitely get the set for the flux as the bearings are much stronger. As for the composite bulheads. Save your money for now and see how it works for you. The composite housing is stiffer.

 

[88gtanotchback]

just to keep this going a little further, and to touch on mikes question, how do you tell the difference between the "plastic" and the "composite"?:dunno:

 

[frddyj]

The small bearings were not designed to handle the side loads that the ring gear puts on them.

While i agree the 8x16 is a better bearing than the 10x16 they usually stand up fine if the diffs are properly shimmed & maintained.

When i have seen them fail, there had either been no shimming at all or not done correctly.

just to keep this going a little further, and to touch on mikes question, how do you tell the difference between the "plastic" and the "composite"?:dunno:

the part # pretty much caz they're both composite plastic construction.

 

[Bankrupter]

While i agree the 8x16 is a better bearing than the 10x16 they usually stand up fine if the diffs are properly shimmed & maintained.

When i have seen them fail, there had either been no shimming at all or not done correctly.



the part # pretty much caz they're both composite plastic construction.

+ 1 to all this only diffs I have had fail were do to the 10x 16 bearing failing