gears?

[jamie4ltr]

I remember the logger's box on your Ranger. It's cool I like!

 

[4x4junkie]

I find the 4.0ltr, 33's and 4.56 gears a bit steep for highway driving! The 3.0ltr revs much higher then the 4.0ltr, that's why I voted for 4.56 gears. If it's mainly a trail rig I'd say 4.88's, but I think he's mostly highway driving!?

I have 4.10s with my 4.0L & 33s (Ranger). It's adequate, but nothing more (wishing I had 4.56).
I have 5.13s with my 2.9L & 35s (BII), it's absolutely perfect.

I've also driven 3.0L trucks, their powerband is much more like my 2.9 than my 4.0. They like it around 2700-2900 RPM on the freeway (@65MPH), where a 4.0L is more "comfortable" around 2500-2600.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

Im hoping my 3.0l will be happy with its new 4.10 gear set and 30s, it leaves quite a bit to be desired with the 3.73s its currently got in it. But as always one mod leads to another so ill need to change the speedo drive gear next, after i figure out which one i need that is.

 

[zonki00]

so i think 4:88s would be too low. most my driving is around town...im in highschool. but next year itll be alot of highway. i wheel my truck probably twice a month. i took it out yesterday and in 4 hi i was lugging out on hills. 4 low works great. i have a couple questions though: can i keep the stock posi with new gears? does it make an mpg difference with lower gears? is changing the gears something i can do in my driveway? how hard of a job is it? and what parts do i need to buy for the gear change? (ring gear,pinion, bearings seals...etc)?

 

[4x4junkie]

You can keep your limited slip diff with the new gears (the L/S doesn't affect MPG at all). Your MPG is likely to be about the same whether you get 4.56 or 4.88 gears though.

As for changing the gears yourself... It's a pretty involved job, though it's not impossible to do yourself, however numerous special tools are required to do it.

You might want to take a read through some of the links in the FAQ at the top here about setting up your own gears so you'll have some understanding of what all is involved. This way you'll have a better idea whether you think you can tackle it yourself or not.

 

[breidhaupt]

with your tire size the lower gears wouldn't hurt fuel milage much due to the fact that the taller tires will allow you to reach highway speeds at a lower rpm. so 4.56's should put you back at the same rpm as the factory tires and gears. maybe a little more. so go for the 4.56's. 4.10's won't be adequate.

 

[zonki00]

am i hurting anything by running 3:73s right now?

 

[4x4junkie]

am i hurting anything by running 3:73s right now?

Probably losing anywhere from 2-6 MPG, and more added wear on your clutch or strain on your transmission.

 

[zonki00]

how much would a shop charge?

 

[4x4junkie]

I think $200-300 + parts is about the going rate per axle. Sometimes you can get a little bit off if you bring the axle by itself in (especially on the front, just bring them the diff chunk assembly).

 

[dla]

from 3.73 to

- 4.10 = 10%
- 4.30 = 15%
- 4.56 = 22%

 

[zonki00]

What do the percentages mean?

 

[RavoHimself]

how much of a difference there is in the gear ratio.