How (if there is a way) is the best way to check gear for wear? Can you check tooth thickness, or can it be checked like a ring gear, like you check backlash (might have worked if I had checked it when new, like a benchmark)?

Just look to see how deep the wear is on the gear. A collar the dist shaft spaced a few grand up from the gear will help slow the wear down.

Pop the cap and move the rotor,that is a strong indication how much wear there is.Also with the timing light if the timing is jumping around that points to a worn gear.

Just for clarity...its Bronze, there's a difference

On mine the teeth just get thinner over time. Takes quite awhile.

Bronze, point taken.

Just pull the gear.. its easy.. mark your timing
and see where the gear is pointing.. pull the
gear and see if you would replace it.. put it
back together and check your timing

Wear pattern marching up or down the tooth surface = bad.

They get sharp on the ends. When they get sharp and obviously worn just replace it. You will always have a little bronze in the filter running these.

Typically the outer edge of the gear thins out. I have seen some you could shave with. Good filtration will help keep the nasties out of the oil.I had an interesting deal happen one time when a customer neglected to replace the block bushing while using one and his motor burned one up in record time. The teeth on the timing chain were showing bronze being transferred to the teeth to the point it "looked" like the billet steel gear was wearing out according to him....

I only got a year out on mine? And Not many miles on it

How bad is it?

X2. Same here, the teeth get thinner over time.
I usually use the Mopar Performance drive, and they seem to last pretty good. Have one around here with 10,000 miles on it. I'll take a photo if I find it.
Put a 440 Source one in the 505, but don't have many miles on it to see how durable it is?

I was talking to a Crower Tech the other day and he said oil pressure affects gear wear a lot. He recommends 20 psi at idle and 60 on the high side.

Too much end play kills the gear

Found the MP drive with around 10,000 miles on it, turning HV pump.