running different gear ratios front/back

[v-8power]

My boss bought a new blazer back in the day. The first time he put it in 4wd it started bucking like crazy. Turns out it came from the factory with 2 different gear ratios. Needless to say he had to take it back to the stealership to get it repaired.

 

[Dweano]

Heres something I always thought of and this sounds the appropriate thread. Think about 4 wheel drive tractors...ours has bigger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front. So the gear ratio obviously is different in the front and back diffs but yet still matched with tire size so it doesn't shred the transfer case or whatever. I think it would be cool (kinda) if someone put like...36's and 4.88's in the back and 33's and 4.56s in the front...I dunno if cool would be the right word, more like...interesting...oh and I know those tire sizes/gear ratios prolly wouldn't work. It was just an example

 

[Boggin]

on some mud trucks they have the front wheels going faster than the rear wheels.
i think its like .06 of a difference you can run
hope that helps

 

[WNY964x4]

In 2wd.....

but in 4 wd....the rear axle will try to pass the front....I'm not sure how that would handle ...

i have heard of running a SLIGHTLY higher ratio in the front..( a tooth or so) in early jeeps?....so the front wheels would actually pull the back thru..but not the other way around.....maybe that was just a rumor...

best to runs front and rear fears in "sets"....it would seem to be like a chain failing in it's weakest link if ran much ....whatever the weakest link may be...one end fighting the other...and handling somewhat awful....trying to swap ends?....

Chrysler uses different gear ratios in the Ram truck to this day , 4.11 in the front and 4.10 in the rear

 

[trail B2]

Heres something I always thought of and this sounds the appropriate thread. Think about 4 wheel drive tractors...ours has bigger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front. So the gear ratio obviously is different in the front and back diffs but yet still matched with tire size so it doesn't shred the transfer case or whatever. I think it would be cool (kinda) if someone put like...36's and 4.88's in the back and 33's and 4.56s in the front...I dunno if cool would be the right word, more like...interesting...oh and I know those tire sizes/gear ratios prolly wouldn't work. It was just an example

Just what I was thinking haven't done the numbers but i'm thinking your looking at taller tires on the front yuk!That would work if your numbers were right.

 

[adsm08]

You will skip tires, you will break your t-case, and if you are really lucky you will only strip one of your ring gears or snap a u-joint. Best to buy the axle and put it in the shed until you have your 8.8 and are ready to re-gear. It's far easier to set up your gears when the axle isn't in the truck anyway.

 

[adsm08]

Heres something I always thought of and this sounds the appropriate thread. Think about 4 wheel drive tractors...ours has bigger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front. So the gear ratio obviously is different in the front and back diffs but yet still matched with tire size so it doesn't shred the transfer case or whatever. I think it would be cool (kinda) if someone put like...36's and 4.88's in the back and 33's and 4.56s in the front...I dunno if cool would be the right word, more like...interesting...oh and I know those tire sizes/gear ratios prolly wouldn't work. It was just an example

problem with that idea is that as the tires wear out at different rates (and they will) it's going to change your ratios enough to start messing things up.

 

[Dweano]

Haha I am by no means crazy enough to try this, just thought it would be interesting...bigger tires in the back, make it look dragster-ish yet still keeping 4x4 capabilities

 

[yodaman1151]

That is a wierd concept I never thought about it that way the whole tractor thing. I do plan to gear the front before I install it. I might go 2wd for a while till I get the rear in with the same ratio.
Here's a thought, what about the ramcharger t-cases that are split 60/40 so it's all time 4wd or are they equal? Someone told me they weren't evenly distributed