Gearing 308 VS 342 What?

Willyone · October 25, 2016

What's the difference between the 308 and 342 gearing? What makes the 342 more desirable?

Thanks in advance !!

2004lebanshee · October 25, 2016

3.42 is lower rpm power. Higher tow raiting and ease of pulling.

DanMan_S · October 25, 2016

What's the difference between the 308 and 342 gearing? What makes the 342 more desirable?

Thanks in advance !!

Leverage. The higher the numerical gear ratio, the higher the torque reaching the road, resulting in more acceleration. The downside is higher cruising rpm's, worse gas mileage and a shorter time spent in 1st gear, haha.

Willyone · October 25, 2016

Ah ha... thanks for the schooling!!

Donstar · October 25, 2016

Leverage is a good word to use. A 5.3 V8 with 3.08 gears has a lower trailer pulling rating than a 4.3 V6 with a 3.42!

truckguy82 · October 25, 2016

What's the difference between the 308 and 342 gearing? What makes the 342 more desirable?

Thanks in advance !!

3.42 has significant increase in acceleration with seemingly the same mpg. I've paid close attention to everybody's mpg posts, and I see no difference in the 3.42 compared to other ratio's.

I was surprised how much of a benefit it was, if I was ordering a new truck it would absolutely have 3.42

speedbump · October 25, 2016

Easier to burn the tires off with the higher ratio.

mookdoc6 · October 25, 2016

Leverage is a good word to use. A 5.3 V8 with 3.08 gears has a lower trailer pulling rating than a 4.3 V6 with a 3.42!

Really! I did not know that....I bet that 4.3 is stout too.....Probably more reliable than a 3.5 Twin turbo gadget over at FERD! I have always like the 3.42's it's about perfect IMO but would go higher if pulling on hills was my daily use though

amxguy1970 · October 25, 2016

3.42 has significant increase in acceleration with seemingly the same mpg. I've paid close attention to everybody's mpg posts, and I see no difference in the 3.42 compared to other ratio's.

I was surprised how much of a benefit it was, if I was ordering a new truck it would absolutely have 3.42

It isn't significant, it is about as proportional as the mpg. Case in point, C&D tested a 4x4 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 as well as a Sierra 4x4 5.3 and 3.08 (both loaded crew cabs). Silverado was 4 tenths(0.4) faster and 1 mph quicker through the 1/4 mile but 2 mpg behind in testing. 1 mph on the big end after a 1/4 mile isn't significant and neither is 4 tenths (roughly a truck length or truck length and a half depending on who you ask).

I always crack up when people say the 3.08's are a dog, bet you blind fold them and do a full out acceleration they would not be able to tell a difference between the two.

Tyler

truckguy82 · October 25, 2016

It isn't significant, it is about as proportional as the mpg. Case in point, C&D tested a 4x4 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 as well as a Sierra 4x4 5.3 and 3.08 (both loaded crew cabs). Silverado was 4 tenths(0.4) faster and 1 mph quicker through the 1/4 mile but 2 mpg behind in testing. 1 mph on the big end after a 1/4 mile isn't significant and neither is 4 tenths (roughly a truck length or truck length and a half depending on who you ask).

I always crack up when people say the 3.08's are a dog, bet you blind fold them and do a full out acceleration they would not be able to tell a difference between the two.

Tyler

I think it effect's 0-60 a lot more than 1/4 mile, 0-60 is more important to me because it's legal and safe on public roads. I used to think the same way you did and the mechanical engineer inside me says it shouldn't matter much. That was until I saw people complaining about their 0-60 times and their rear end ratio.

dorkweed · October 25, 2016

It isn't significant, it is about as proportional as the mpg. Case in point, C&D tested a 4x4 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 as well as a Sierra 4x4 5.3 and 3.08 (both loaded crew cabs). Silverado was 4 tenths(0.4) faster and 1 mph quicker through the 1/4 mile but 2 mpg behind in testing. 1 mph on the big end after a 1/4 mile isn't significant and neither is 4 tenths (roughly a truck length or truck length and a half depending on who you ask).

I always crack up when people say the 3.08's are a dog, bet you blind fold them and do a full out acceleration they would not be able to tell a difference between the two.

Tyler

Hitch up a decent sized trailer, and you'll change your tune in a hurry!!!! If'n I towed any heavier, I'd have gotten the 3.73's in the max tow package.

Mark Diedrich · October 25, 2016

Hitch up a decent sized trailer, and you'll change your tune in a hurry!!!! If'n I towed any heavier, I'd have gotten the 3.73's in the max tow package.

Mark Diedrich · October 25, 2016

I agree 100% dorkweed....Tyler I think you would change your mind if you were ever to drive them both, the difference is night and day..... I've pulled plenty with both rear end ratios.

Heck, my 11 year old can even tell the difference!

So yes, they are a dog for pulling!!!

crushNchowda · October 25, 2016

I agree 100% dorkweed....Tyler I think you would change your mind if you were ever to drive them both, the difference is night and day..... I've pulled plenty with both rear end ratios.

Heck, my 11 year old can even tell the difference!

So yes, they are a dog for pulling!!!

It is substantial, I first got a '14 truck right when they came out (car was paid off & giving me issues so I was in a rush) turned out the dealer nor I realized it had the paltry 3.08 gears (not sure if they changed it, but the 3.08 came up as optional on the build sheet so at first glance the window sticker makes it seem like a 3.42) - long story short after 5000 miles I simply couldn't handle it anymore the 3.08's w/ the 6 speed tranny were so wrong for a big crew cab half ton truck the dealer found a '14 trucked equipped how I wanted & literally allowed me to "swap" the trucks for essentiallly the difference in MSRP despite the 5000 miles (long story).

Now I have a 2015 6.2 truck - after putting 43,000 miles on my '14 5.3 w/ the 3.42's it was totaled in an accident. SO - having owned multiple GM trucks now (including an '07 5.3 w/ 3.73s) I can tell you w/ confidence that the difference in not just power, but day to day around town driving characteristics, is more significant between going from a 3.08 to 3.42 (let alone 3.73 max tow) is more to me than 5.3 up to 6.2 In other words I could live w/ not having a 6.2 V8 so long as I had a 5.3 w/ 3.42's, E85 compatible, 3.73 wouldn't even be a question.

I couldn't stand having a 3.08 truck out there knowing how much better a truck w/ 3.42 or 3.73s drives....deal breaker was taking it up north to white mountains - HORRIBLE in hills.

Honestly I'm sure I'm wrong on paper, but I would have preferred my 315hp 2007 model w/ the 3.73's over the '14 w/ 355hp & 3.08's

NoProblem · October 25, 2016

It isn't significant, it is about as proportional as the mpg. Case in point, C&D tested a 4x4 Silverado with the 5.3 and 3.42 as well as a Sierra 4x4 5.3 and 3.08 (both loaded crew cabs). Silverado was 4 tenths(0.4) faster and 1 mph quicker through the 1/4 mile but 2 mpg behind in testing. 1 mph on the big end after a 1/4 mile isn't significant and neither is 4 tenths (roughly a truck length or truck length and a half depending on who you ask).

I always crack up when people say the 3.08's are a dog, bet you blind fold them and do a full out acceleration they would not be able to tell a difference between the two.

Tyler

Totally agree.

I test drove the 3.08, floored it up to about 70 mph - then I got out of the 3.08 and into an identical truck with the 3.42 and drove it the same way. No difference in acceleration whatsoever. I bought the 3.08 and have no regrets.

Us 3.08 guys can brag about how when passing, it gives an increasingly nice pull after 60mph, all the way to 100 if you let it.