Regearing

apd123 · July 4, 2008

I have heard both sides of this and I cant figure out what is better I have stock 3.43 gears in my 1500 with 33 bf all terrains and im prob goin to go back to 35's will it benifit me to regear it to like a 4.10? I oly do around town driving in this truck I rarely go on the interstate with it?????

merlin5577 · July 4, 2008

4.10 gears will give you more power on accelleration and more RPMs at higher speeds, lowering your fuel economy.

apd123 · July 4, 2008

yea i knew that but i figured if i was only gonna be around town in it that it would help my gas milage cause my motor wouldnt be workin as hard to turn the 35's but i wasnt sure so even around town it will hurt my fuel milage?

merlin5577 · July 4, 2008

Most of the fuel an engine burns is accellorating. So if you only go very slow (under 30) the lower gears should help, but with bigger tires comes more rotational mass and that requires more energy to move. Its a tough call. Bottom line, if you want to save money, keep the money you where going to spend on the gears, accellorate slower and keep the smaller tires.

apd123 · July 4, 2008

Got ya thanks

Chevymetal · July 5, 2008

I have lifted and regeared several jeeps and few of my own vehicles and the results have varied. if you go from a 31 in tire to a 35, then you would prob see better gas mileage with lower gears. But going from a 31 to a 33, gears wont too much for your gas mileage. Usually the idea is to keep your final drive ratio as close to stock as possible for the best mileage. It does take more gas to turn a bigger tire while going down the highway. But if you regear your at a higher rpm, probably a little closer to your torque peak.

In your case, I would be willing to bet that any gains you could make by regearing could easily be attained by a lighter foot as well. But if you regear AND still keep your foot out of it, that might be the best mpg. Hard to tell till you do it.

WHERE you drive plays a big part too.

My vote, regear. I think youre usually better off running down the road a little below the rpm where your torque would peak if you were at WOT.

My biggest problem was that I LOVE torque. And after you regear, that extra torque is oh-so-tempting. I also have no will power, but thats me.

Hope I helped.

2000DV4.8 · July 5, 2008

The main reason to re-gear is not for fuel economy, (it'll take a long time to make back the money you spend on the gear swap), but to increase the driveability of the truck, and to take extra stress off of the transmission.

With 35s and 3.42s, your transmission will be working very hard to turn those big meats, which generates a lot of heat, and we all know that heat kills transmissions. The truck will also be a dog off of the line, and going to 4.10s (or even 4.56s) should increase your fuel economy over 35s and 3.42s.

I vote re-gear, not to save fuel, but because it will make the truck much better as a daily driver, and your transmission will thank you later on down the road.

merlin5577 · July 5, 2008

The main reason to re-gear is not for fuel economy, (it'll take a long time to make back the money you spend on the gear swap), but to increase the driveability of the truck, and to take extra stress off of the transmission.

With 35s and 3.42s, your transmission will be working very hard to turn those big meats, which generates a lot of heat, and we all know that heat kills transmissions. The truck will also be a dog off of the line, and going to 4.10s (or even 4.56s) should increase your fuel economy over 35s and 3.42s.

I vote re-gear, not to save fuel, but because it will make the truck much better as a daily driver, and your transmission will thank you later on down the road.

To ad to DV's quote. If you do decide to regear I would suggest a transmission cooler. As pointed out, the bigger tires require more energy to move, more energy is more heat. Heat kills transmissions. Good luck with whatever you do.

Chevymetal · July 5, 2008

The main reason to re-gear is not for fuel economy, (it'll take a long time to make back the money you spend on the gear swap), but to increase the driveability of the truck, and to take extra stress off of the transmission.

With 35s and 3.42s, your transmission will be working very hard to turn those big meats, which generates a lot of heat, and we all know that heat kills transmissions. The truck will also be a dog off of the line, and going to 4.10s (or even 4.56s) should increase your fuel economy over 35s and 3.42s.

I vote re-gear, not to save fuel, but because it will make the truck much better as a daily driver, and your transmission will thank you later on down the road.

Very good point. I completely forgot about that aspect.

I do my own gears and its still pretty pricey. But still cheaper than a tranny, even if you pull the tranny yourself and then bring just the tranny to the shop.

apd123 · July 5, 2008

The main reason to re-gear is not for fuel economy, (it'll take a long time to make back the money you spend on the gear swap), but to increase the driveability of the truck, and to take extra stress off of the transmission.

With 35s and 3.42s, your transmission will be working very hard to turn those big meats, which generates a lot of heat, and we all know that heat kills transmissions. The truck will also be a dog off of the line, and going to 4.10s (or even 4.56s) should increase your fuel economy over 35s and 3.42s.

I vote re-gear, not to save fuel, but because it will make the truck much better as a daily driver, and your transmission will thank you later on down the road.

Ight and i wanted to because It is a dog off the line and i need a little better pick up with out having to floor it i think im gonna go ahead and regear it thanks

apd123 · July 5, 2008

I have lifted and regeared several jeeps and few of my own vehicles and the results have varied. if you go from a 31 in tire to a 35, then you would prob see better gas mileage with lower gears. But going from a 31 to a 33, gears wont too much for your gas mileage. Usually the idea is to keep your final drive ratio as close to stock as possible for the best mileage. It does take more gas to turn a bigger tire while going down the highway. But if you regear your at a higher rpm, probably a little closer to your torque peak.

In your case, I would be willing to bet that any gains you could make by regearing could easily be attained by a lighter foot as well. But if you regear AND still keep your foot out of it, that might be the best mpg. Hard to tell till you do it.

WHERE you drive plays a big part too.

My vote, regear. I think youre usually better off running down the road a little below the rpm where your torque would peak if you were at WOT.

My biggest problem was that I LOVE torque. And after you regear, that extra torque is oh-so-tempting. I also have no will power, but thats me.

Hope I helped.

Thanks for the advice I think i wil go ahead and spend the money i need better pick up and I think i will like having more torque just cause i like power well who doesnt haha thanks

2000DV4.8 · July 5, 2008

Ight and i wanted to because It is a dog off the line and i need a little better pick up with out having to floor it i think im gonna go ahead and regear it thanks

Good choice. If you can't afford to do both front and rear at the same time, it's no big deal, just don't put it in 4wd.

apd123 · July 5, 2008

Ight and i wanted to because It is a dog off the line and i need a little better pick up with out having to floor it i think im gonna go ahead and regear it thanks

Good choice. If you can't afford to do both front and rear at the same time, it's no big deal, just don't put it in 4wd.

yea I was origianally gonna do it that way and then i became friends with a guy that owns a 4 wheel drive shop and he needs some body work done to an old cj that he wants to restore and fortunatly i do body work and resoration and he told me we could work some free stuff and the amount of work needed for the jeep is well over the price of gears and installation

Chevymetal · July 6, 2008

Ight and i wanted to because It is a dog off the line and i need a little better pick up with out having to floor it i think im gonna go ahead and regear it thanks

Good choice. If you can't afford to do both front and rear at the same time, it's no big deal, just don't put it in 4wd.

yea I was origianally gonna do it that way and then i became friends with a guy that owns a 4 wheel drive shop and he needs some body work done to an old cj that he wants to restore and fortunatly i do body work and resoration and he told me we could work some free stuff and the amount of work needed for the jeep is well over the price of gears and installation

Very nice. I love he barter system. The last gear swap I did was in my buddies 99' wrangler and he gave me a brand new set of 31x10.5 BFG's. We were both happy.