Should I Gear Up?

[TheTrueMoron]

I've read through the other topics, but I still can't figure out what will fit my needs. My truck has the stock 3.42 gears and it accelerates pretty well. I was just wondering if I should get different gears? I'm pretty sure I want different gears, but I want other opinions first before I spend most of the money that I have. I currently have 33" tires and when it comes time to replace them, I want to go up to 35's. I live in what might possibly be the traffic light capital of the world, but I spend about 10 minutes on the freeway on my commute to school every day. I also don't want to change to a gear size that would torture my drivetrain because my truck needs to last for another 10 years. Oh, and about every other week I go up to my lake house, which is about 30-40 minutes of driving through hilly terrain and my truck frequently downshifts going uphill. What's the best gear ratio for my driving needs?

[Wingnut]

Mostly city and hills with 35's?

 

I'd say 4:10's...Maybe even 4:56's.

 

But I like low end grunt

[Norseman]

Mostly city and hills with 35's?

 

I'd say 4:10's...Maybe even 4:56's.

 

But I like low end grunt

 

Welp there goes yer fuelmileage

[svensk]

I would drop to a 30" tire and get 4.56 gears...but that's just me

[Wingnut]

Mostly city and hills with 35's?

 

I'd say 4:10's...Maybe even 4:56's.

 

But I like low end grunt

 

Welp there goes yer fuelmileage

 

 

You don't think that shorter gears will help with 35" tires in stop and go/city traffic?

[Wingnut]

I would drop to a 30" tire and get 4.56 gears...but that's just me

 

Wheelie time!.

[thecraft]

Mostly city and hills with 35's?

 

I'd say 4:10's...Maybe even 4:56's.

 

But I like low end grunt

Definitely. At the very least you'd want 4.10's

 

I would drop to a 30" tire and get 4.56 gears...but that's just me

Get a dump truck axle... 9.76 to 1... wholly shiite!

[TheTrueMoron]

I hate to keep this thread going, but I've gotten confused. I've heard of differentials that are geared to 3.42, or 4.10 or whatever. If I gear up, do I have to get a new differential that has a 4.10 gearing or do I just need to get 4.10 ring and pinion gears? Also, how do I know what axle I have? I've cleaned on both sides of the differential and I still can't find any numbers.

[asilverblazer]

Which ever is cheaper. Getting a whole rear axle and front differential can likely be done in your driveway. If you buy just the ring and pinion it will have to go to a drivetrain shop for the install.

 

Ring and pinion plus labor($) to install

-or-

Axle and diff with your time (Mines pretty cheap for me)

 

Well lookey there I passed 2,000 posts a while ago. Sorry everyone.

[bryanhunt]

If you have a good mechanic you know and trust (with a lot of experiance) they can just get it up on the hoist and do it right there. It can be fast (because you don't have to fight with rust welded spring packs, etc) and easy.

 

On the other hand you get a lot of other benefits to a new or remaned axle.

 

 

(BTW make sure to do your front diff too if you have 4wd)

[pm26]

If you really do not want to "torture" you drivetrain, stop installing tires that were never meant for this truck. It is more than just gears that are strained when going to moster size tires. Axle shafts, bearings, etc see increased stresses and their life will be markedly reduced. Fuel economy will be adversely affected. My advice: 31 inch tires, and leave the diferential alone. Going from 33 inch to 31 inch will effectively lower your gearing to 3.73:1 equivalent from what you have now.

[Wingnut]

Which ever is cheaper. Getting a whole rear axle and front differential can likely be done in your driveway. If you buy just the ring and pinion it will have to go to a drivetrain shop for the install.

 

Ring and pinion plus labor($) to install

-or-

Axle and diff with your time (Mines pretty cheap for me)

 

Well lookey there I passed 2,000 posts a while ago. Sorry everyone.

 

Del City Pickup Parts quoted me over a GRAND for the rear axle assembly a couple of weeks ago. WTF? They used to be more like $200-$300.

 

 

Don't apologize for 2,000 posts...I screwed around so much, I've now got more than EVERYBODY. I'm the one that should be apologizing

 

If you really do not want to "torture" you drivetrain, stop installing tires that were never meant for this truck. It is more than just gears that are strained when going to moster size tires. Axle shafts, bearings, etc see increased stresses and their life will be markedly reduced. Fuel economy will be adversely affected. My advice: 31 inch tires, and leave the diferential alone. Going from 33 inch to 31 inch will effectively lower your gearing to 3.73:1 equivalent from what you have now.

 

Where's the fun in THAT?