I've got a question for the consensus: Let's say I've got a 7.625" 10-bolt with 3.42 gears. Will any 3.42 ring gear go with any 3.42 pinion or do they have to be matched? It seems logical to me that the OD would be the same and that they should match up. Thanks guys.
Ring and pinion should be matched. New ones are sold as matched sets with the optimal distance from the ring gear marked on the pinion. It becomes even more critical with used sets that have developed wear patterns on each other. Gears from different pairings will physically work, but will wear quickly and most likely be noisy.
