Gear Swap

[ZZebes]

Ok here is my question, i have a 2006 ex. Cab Short bed with the 5.3 and i have 3.23 gears and absolutesly hate them, they are a dog. (I can get 25mpg on the highway at 65) BUT i want at least a 3.73.

 

First: Cost, I heard the Ring and Pinion Set were $110 and the install kit is $150 and install is around $200, are these numbers correct??? and how much will the stealership charge me to change it in the PCM.

 

Second: Warranty, will i void my GM Warranty at all or will it be ok???

 

Third: Is it worth it???

[pm26]

Ok here is my question, i have a 2006 ex. Cab Short bed with the 5.3 and i have 3.23 gears and absolutesly hate them, they are a dog. (I can get 25mpg on the highway at 65) BUT i want at least a 3.73.

 

First: Cost, I heard the Ring and Pinion Set were $110 and the install kit is $150 and install is around $200, are these numbers correct??? and how much will the stealership charge me to change it in the PCM.

 

Second: Warranty, will i void my GM Warranty at all or will it be ok???

 

Third: Is it worth it???

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

If you have it done by the dealer, the warranty will not be affected if they use genuine GM parts.

 

A cheaper way to effective reduce the gearing is to use lower profile tires. You may not like the idea, but it is a fact that if you mount low profile tires that are 20% less in circumference than the original tires, you will effectively have 3.73 gears.

 

 

I am amazed how difficult it is to find a new truck with optional gear ratios. It seems like only about one out of 20 trucks or less have optional gear ratios.

[ZZebes]

yeah i know the tire thing, but i already have 245's so a lower profile tire is not an option, i actually want 285's with my leveling kit. since 245 tires look really stupid with a leveling kit

[rmreid]

Your figures look to be about right... in comparison a member on the Avalanche board I belong to just did a swap out on his 5.3 AV and his total cost was close to $600.00. He had new gears installed to compensate for the larger tires he's running w/his 3" body lift.

[GTUSN2006]

If you do it at the dealership expect 2k plus. Buddy had the rearend go out on his 2002 Firebird and the dealership wanted $2,200 plus tax. Don't see why a truck would cost any less. (They also quoted 4 quarts of gear lube to refil the 10 bolt with a 7.5" ring at like $25 a quart, since my truck with the 14 bolt and I think 10.5" ring only took 2.5 - 2.75 quarts, I am thinking ripoff artists)

 

Also, if you want to rear gear using gm gears, you might have to change the carrier, which will cost more money.

 

He ended up taking it to a local shop, got it rebuilt and regeared for $600.

[ZZebes]

i dont have to change the carrier because i already have the G80 and the RPO is available from the factory.

[dewfpo]

I am amazed how difficult it is to find a new truck with optional gear ratios. It seems like only about one out of 20 trucks or less have optional gear ratios.

 

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Look at who's ordering the showroom trucks for the dealers ...... it's not folks like us.

 

DEWFPO

[pm26]

yeah i know the tire thing, but i already have 245's so a lower profile tire is not an option, i actually want 285's with my leveling kit. since 245 tires look really stupid with a leveling kit

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Another option would be getting a complete axle with the proper gear ratio from a late model wrecked truck. You can find out what the gear ratio is form the RPO codes in the glove compartment. Rear axles are typically not damaged in a front collision and you could find the whole axle for maybe $ 400 or so. It is a bolt - on item, much easier to change that out than to rebuild a differential.

 

And the nice thing is that you will still have your rear axle to sell or even trade with the wrecking yard, so that your final cost could be surprisingly low. In fact, I think that you could easily trade for about $ 150.

[fossil]

Now lets's read the start of the thread along with some common sense. This is a new 2006 model year truck. I really don't think it's an option to go to a junk yard and put in a used axle and thereby voiding the warranty on that truck. The only option to retain the warranty is to have a dealer install the upgraded gearset using OEM parts.

[nhproxr]

i dont have to change the carrier because i already have the G80 and the RPO is available from the factory.

 

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What he meant was that sometimes when you change gear ratios drastically the carrier needs to be changed. I know the old 12 bolts used to have 2 diferent carriers....one for gears higer then 3.73 and one for gears lower then 3.73.

[ZZebes]

oh ok, well i hope that i dont have to change carriers cause that would really blow my budget

[ZZebes]

well screw the budget, i went to the stealership today and the ring and pinion set is $1100 HOLY CRAP

 

So there goes the idea

[rmreid]

well screw the budget, i went to the stealership today and the ring and pinion set is $1100 HOLY CRAP

 

So there goes the idea

 

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[torx]

 

 

I am amazed how difficult it is to find a new truck with optional gear ratios. It seems like only about one out of 20 trucks or less have optional gear ratios.

 

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I know how you feel and it was only a $100.00 option, why add the d**n tow package/trailering equipment and not get the 3.73 option

 

only thing I didn't get that I wanted as an option in this truck (sigh!)

[larry arizona]

Just do the ring and pinion swap at a reputable shop (not the dealer) get the computer reprogrammed for MPH and screw the warranty,

 

You should get at least a 12month 12,000 mile from the shop and the likelyhood of a rear ring and pinion failure in 3/36 is rare at best. Plus you are only at risk for $600 in repair worst case.

 

Chances are the aftermarket Ring and Pinion are far superior to the junk that GM is selling for $1100. Try a Richmond or Auburn ring and pinion.

 

Good Luck.