How do gear ratios in 4x4 work????

bmob · Mar 4, 2011

What happens if your Front Diff is running 4.61 ratio and the back is 3.73?? is that even possible or would the front be spinning faster then the rear? If anyone can shed light on the subject I would be grateful!

adsm08 · Mar 4, 2011

As long as you don't engage the transfer case you'd be fine. If you put it in 4x4 with that kind of gearing difference I'd bet you won't get 10 feet before blowing up the t-case.

Your front and rear gears need to be matched or else the case and drivelines wind up and start breaking things. The bigger the difference the faster things break. You have pretty big difference there.

88_Eddie · Mar 4, 2011

a 4.61??? are you sure about that?

adsm08 · Mar 4, 2011

88_Eddie said:
a 4.61??? are you sure about that?

4.61 may be a valid ratio if he scored an old old solid axle. They used all kinds of crazy ratios back in the 50s and 60s.

88_Eddie · Mar 4, 2011

adsm08 said:
4.61 may be a valid ratio if he scored an old old solid axle. They used all kinds of crazy ratios back in the 50s and 60s.

true, i just assumed that if he was unsure about what would happen if he ran two different gear ratios, he probably wouldnt be swapping axles in.

gwaii · Mar 4, 2011

bmob said:
What happens if your Front Diff is running 4.61 ratio and the back is 3.73?? is that even possible or would the front be spinning faster then the rear? If anyone can shed light on the subject I would be grateful!

the front would actually be spinning slower than the rear.small differences(1-2%)are ok....but not that much.

shane96ranger · Mar 4, 2011

I had a wrecking yard give me a 4.10 diff instead of the 3.73 I told them I needed for my brothers 01 Explorer. I drove it around the block and it was not a fun thing. It hopped and barked all the way (it was AWD). Believe me, you don't want to mix ratios.

Irokranger93 · Mar 4, 2011

possibly better than the same ratio may otherwise cause harm and the beep beep of no return mode 4x4

xkotyx · Mar 4, 2011

it go kaboom

Boggin · Mar 4, 2011

xkotyx said:
it go kaboom

^this

the gears cant be any more than .05 of a difference, unless you are in a mud drag truck where sometimes they have the front tires spinning faster than the rear (for example maybe 5.13s on the front and 5.32s on the back) purposly. youll tear everything to shreds lol

Irokranger93 · Mar 4, 2011

I goes clack I think and grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre ...exactly the same noise

for dislodging to this may be correct .but, not for long on earth beat

AllanD · Mar 4, 2011

Exactly what would break is a matter of whichever is weakest.

On Rangers all the parts are pretty well matched so it's anyone's guess if it sould be the front diff, the T-case, the T-case Chain, the Transmission extension housing or the transmission output shaft.

I've personally never broken a transmission extension housing, but I have broken a t-case chain, a T-case front bearing retainer, and a transmission output shaft.

but even a hub letting go eliminates the "bind"

AD

85_Ranger4x4 · Mar 4, 2011

Boggin said:
^this

the gears cant be any more than .05 of a difference, unless you are in a mud drag truck where sometimes they have the front tires spinning faster than the rear (for example maybe 5.13s on the front and 5.32s on the back) purposly. youll tear everything to shreds lol

Front wheel assist tractors also spin faster in the front than the rear, generally it is only used in loose conditions and they are just a tad heavier built throughout than a Ranger.

Surrey · Mar 4, 2011

What if you did different sized tires to make up for the difference in gear ratios? Like you had a smaller tire up front with 4.10 gears, and a bigger tire in the back with 3.73?

Bronco_Chuck · Mar 4, 2011

Surrey said:
What if you did different sized tires to make up for the difference in gear ratios? Like you had a smaller tire up front with 4.10 gears, and a bigger tire in the back with 3.73?

It could work but you would need to put the bigger tires with the lower gears, or in front in your example. For instance if you did have the 4.10 in front and you ran a 31" (stock being about 28") tire then that would bring your actual ratio down to about a 3.70. And that could ideally be close enuf to match the rear 3.73 gears.

How do gear ratios in 4x4 work????

bmob

10+ Year Member

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey

88_Eddie

15+ Year Member

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey

88_Eddie

15+ Year Member

gwaii

2010 OTOTY Winner

shane96ranger

15+ Year Member

Irokranger93

15+ Year Member

xkotyx

15+ Year Member

Boggin

15+ Year Member

Irokranger93

15+ Year Member

AllanD

TRS Technical Staff

85_Ranger4x4

Wallers in rivers

Surrey

10+ Year Member

Bronco_Chuck

15+ Year Member

Sponsored Ad

TRS Events & Gatherings

Latest posts

Featured Rangers

TRS Latest Video

Official TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

Latest Album Photos

Product Suggestions