03-15-2004, 08:51 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: Boston
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Question about Rear Axle Ratios
I'm thinking of buying a new truck and i have the option of a 3.55 Axle Ratio, Limited Slip Rear vs. a 3.73 Axle Ratio, Limited Slip Rear
Basically this means nothing to me, so any info would help. At the moment all that I will be pulling is an ATV (which will be in the bed). Which would provide more "umph"/power? or speed?. Thanks for all your help!!!
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03-15-2004, 09:01 PM | #2 (permalink) |
!?!No hay pantalones!?!
Location: Indian-no-place
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The larger the rear end ratio, the more the eninge has to spin to turn the wheels the same speed.
A higher ratio will get you marginally faster 1/4 mile time, and the ability to pull a heavier load more easily. BUT A higher rear end gear will get you less gas mileage on the highway. Honestly, there isn't much difference between a 3.55 and a 3.73. Now if you were comparing a 2.93 and a 4.11, that would be a dramatic difference. You may also have to consider the kind of transmission that is in the truck, 3.73's work really well with overdrives. But honestly, the 3.55 would fare you better gas mileage in the long run. -SF |
03-15-2004, 09:07 PM | #3 (permalink) |
Loser
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The 3.55's will net you marginally better highway mileage, but 3.73's will likely net you better around town mileage. Also note that the "higher" gear ratio saltfish is referring to is a numerically higher gear ratio. When tossing the terms for rear gears around, "low gears" will refer to a higher number numerically. i.e 4:11=low, 3.08=high.
The term limited slip is often interchanged with the term positraction. Basically, there are clutches in the rearend that will distribute power to both wheels, rather than a single rear wheel. I would personally go with the 3.73's, but then again, if I tow anything its usually the wagon or the firebird. |
03-15-2004, 09:33 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Pats country
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On another note, if you have 4WD you should consider your ratio a little differently. I had a Blazer with a B&M shift kit and 4.11:1 gears. It was really fun with my 400 small block, but would spin the wheels too much in some off-road applications. (i.e. I pretty much buried it in the outer banks of N.C. when I hit the gas a little too hard). Live and learn for me, I guess. Oh yeah, it also got about ten gas-guzzling MPG on the highway.
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03-17-2004, 12:24 PM | #8 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Canada eh?
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Quote:
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03-18-2004, 12:47 PM | #9 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: On a gravel road rough enought to knock fillings out of teeth.
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3.73's will do just about anything a person needs to do, unless you like to hook onto obnoxiously heavy things and move them.
I tend to do that a lot, so every truck I ever owned had 4.11's in them. I accept my fate of abysmal mileage.
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Tags |
axle, question, ratios, rear |
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