JayStyles662

I must admit I did not see the group buy but hey that seems like a really good deal. I posted this because I have seen comapnies like Js Racing charging 1000+ just for the ring and pinion. I believe all the Kia Gears are made by Mazda. I also believe the motor Klasse gears are Mazda`s that have been cryotreated for extra stregnth but do not quote me on that.

JayStyles662

Ricks is a custom gear that is made to be stronger than the 4.77. On a side note if I stay NA I will be purchasing these gears from him. I believe this is a very well made gear. If I go Forced Induction I will most likely stay stock or purchase a 4.44

HARDtoTOP

I believe they are all made the same. But that's just me. Also I am very skeptical of how one gearset can be sold for $330 and the vendor surely make a profit and another gearset sells for $800. That's a huge ammount of coin to lower your cruising RPMs by a few hundred and lose mech. advantage compared to the cheaper 4.77 as well.

When ppl first started doing the gears a few years back, no one knew that the 4.44 and 4.77 could be sourced from Mazda for a third the price. As soon as the word got out, the prices dropped to where they are now. I understand that vendors are in the game to make money, but it sounds like we are just buying over priced parts from other vehicles. Sooner or later, someone will figure out what vehicle the 4.56 or 4.57 gearset originaly comes from.

Again, this is just my opinion here and I am skeptical of everything

Stratocaster

I wanted to add something.

They are not all made the same. That is like saying all cars are made the same because they are cars. Too broad of a statement. With that said, gear are by design made using the same tools. But the metals they are made from differ. Also the manufature may learn a thing or two about how to make them better and stronger. So unless all gears in the world are made by the same manufature, then they are surely not the same.

The Mazda gears are marked by the manufature, and these marks have been found on the same raito gears sold under other names.

You can get any ratio you want made. It only takes $$ to get it done. When we started to talk with Richmond, it was to make us a 4.44 gear set as the world wide supply of 4.44 gears had dried up and the demand for them was strong. (If you search, you can find a thread we posted back then) We posted what ratio since there was about 100 gear sets installed that we should have made. 4.56 came back as the ratio that would be in the sweet spot between 4.44 and 4.77. Many felt that the 4.77 was too much for a daily driver. So we had them made. So you will not find a 4.56 ratio available made by anyone other then Richmond that fits the S2000. It was custom made just for us.

The last time I check on the price of the Mazda gears, I was quoted 900 for a set wholesale. So cheap they are no longer.

HARDtoTOP

So what you are saying about the manufacturers marks that were found on other gearsets means that someone sold them as "brand-X" gearset when they were actualy a Mazda piece? That is shady.

Is the 4.56 manufactured solely for you company? If so, I stand corrected and appologize for my blanket statement.

Stratocaster

It is not shady. It is simply capitalism. It is that simple. Supply and demand. Buy it for one price and sell it for another.

Yes, Richmond makes them for us. Other have called and tried to buy them direct from Richmond, they refer them to us. We paid for the tooling to have them made. We also have to buy them more (alot more) then one at a time.