dumb question of the month

[suicide jockey]

After driving for 15 years 11 of which in a truck (as in 40,000 plus pounds) I have never checked to see how hot the rear diff gets. Today after having the gears set up in the rear of my blazer I drove it hunting 15 miles averaging 50 miles an hour. When I stop at the gate I check my rear end and put my hand on it, It was hot but you could keep your hand on it for about 20 seconds. No temp gun but probably 150 degrees my question is how hot does one get when just cruising and not pulling a load. 4" lift 35's 4.56 gears in a 12 bolt Flame on

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

If you can keep your hand on it its running cool.

 

[suicide jockey]

all right it was justone of those things I have never looked at

 

[B_to_C]

The only tractor cab I've ever been in had "axle temp" gauges for each drive axle. I assumed it was normal (and cool), it seems to make sense for long-haul heavy load driving.

But apparently not

 

[Chevy305]

If you just put in new gears, they require a break in period. Like a 10 min drive, let cool, 10 min drive, let cool, 10 min drive, let cool, then you're good to go. In the break in period the gears do generate more heat than normal. But under normal driving conditions the diffs do generate heat.

 

[suicide jockey]

thanks all, I pulled the cover today and you can see the pinion is wearing on the heel of the ring gear too much so back to the mechanic so he can fix it. And after making the same drive today in my pickup, I checked it and it was just warm so there is a problem.