Transmission stress

[Vexy]

Is incorrect gearing (ie. 3.73's with 33" tires) bad for the transmission? For some reason I thought I saw someone say that on TRS before, but I might be going crazy.

 

[pillen140]

it does put a lot of stress on it.... if its a standard, not quite so bad. if its an auto, its like towing all the time with it, and its gonna get real hot. (not good)

 

[bilzy7]

Does that even apply to stock gearing with maybe 2 inch bigger tire size? When would it start impacting tranny? I know my stock explorer tires are easy to 1 hand curl and my 265/75/16 start getting harder..

 

[Vexy]

Okay I have an auto, so it looks like there is no cheap way out. Gotta regear. Thanks for the reponse.

 

[pillen140]

Does that even apply to stock gearing with maybe 2 inch bigger tire size? When would it start impacting tranny? I know my stock explorer tires are easy to 1 hand curl and my 265/75/16 start getting harder..

anytime you add bigger tires youre gonna put more stress on the tranny. of course the smaller the tire the less the stress (awesome rhyme). it doesnt mean your transmission is going to explode by putting an inch bigger tire, but its deffinatly going to run hotter..... and heat is what ruins transmissions (99% of the time). you could always add a trans cooler just to help it out a bit, but its still putting more stress on it by having bigger tires.

 

[gjm4l]

Yep it's fine to a point. You can think of it as the higher the engine revs before it starts off the hotter it's gonna get (like pillen said about towing all the time) If your turning bigger tires it takes more oomph to get them started rolling and such. Regearing is a good idea depending on how much bigger than stock your running (or plan to run). If you don't quite wanna drop the necessary money yet to regear for slightly larger than stock you should definitely invest in a trans cooler. In my opinion if you stay in low range (low speed/ higher rpm's=heat) more than once in a blue moon with an auto tranny or do tow alot for that matter, I think you should have a good aftermarket cooler anyway regardless of tire size.

 

[Vexy]

Yep it's fine to a point. You can think of it as the higher the engine revs before it starts off the hotter it's gonna get (like pillen said about towing all the time) If your turning bigger tires it takes more oomph to get them started rolling and such. Regearing is a good idea depending on how much bigger than stock your running (or plan to run). If you don't quite wanna drop the necessary money yet to regear for slightly larger than stock you should definitely invest in a trans cooler. In my opinion if you stay in low range (low speed/ higher rpm's=heat) more than once in a blue moon with an auto tranny or do tow alot for that matter, I think you should have a good aftermarket cooler anyway regardless of tire size.

My trans is nearing its death soon, so after regearing and buying a new one, I will be sure to put in a trans cooler as well. Offroading can't be good on the trans...

 

[pillen140]

Yep it's fine to a point. You can think of it as the higher the engine revs before it starts off the hotter it's gonna get (like pillen said about towing all the time) If your turning bigger tires it takes more oomph to get them started rolling and such. Regearing is a good idea depending on how much bigger than stock your running (or plan to run). If you don't quite wanna drop the necessary money yet to regear for slightly larger than stock you should definitely invest in a trans cooler. In my opinion if you stay in low range (low speed/ higher rpm's=heat) more than once in a blue moon with an auto tranny or do tow alot for that matter, I think you should have a good aftermarket cooler anyway regardless of tire size.

Well, its not really the rpm, when you're in low range its the same as gearing down. Its that you're making it work harder, putting more of a load on the tranny. Its like starting to ride a bicycle while in the highest gear.