what gear to run

[2wdmuddin]

my 94, 2wd, 3.0, auto has 3.45 gears. i recently changed from 225/70/14 to 235/70/15, but want to eventually end up on 31s. i know i need a regear and i was thinking 3.73 but im looking for some help. im not good at what gears are best. also i may end up switching to a m5od, will that require a different gear ratio?

 

[daniel3507]

Changing a tranny shouldn't require new gears in the axle I wouldnt think. I had the 225/70/14 combo you had and made the jump to 31's. I went from a 3.08 to 4.10 and kept the same factory performance and I couldnt be happier. Drives just like it did with the smaller tires which is what I was wanting. There are plenty of people with 3.73 though. From the gear tables I have seen, 3.73 with 31s will get you better gas mileage and 4.10 gears and 31s keep you at factory performance.

 

[chrwilkins30]

i have no problem with 3.73 with 31's. fells the same with same mileage. You will at least want that with your tire choice but everyone says 4.10's works good with the 31's.

 

[scotts90ranger]

with a 3.0 go 4.10 or lower... I had a stock 2.3 with 4.10's and 31" tires and it wasn't enough gear...

 

[4x4junkie]

With 31s planned, I'd suggest 4.56:1

 

[2wdmuddin]

the 31s are probably goin to be a few years away, probably gonna stay around 235s for now. so should i go ahead and jump to 4.56 or go something else

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

4.56 with 235/75 will bee to much.
i really think 4.10 would be a good ratio.
i went from 3.73 with 225/70 to 4.10 with 31s and i really like the result. keep in mind i have a 2.5

 

[doorgunner]

3.73's for gas mileage.........4.10's for climbing skyscrapers.....(I just went the opposite direction on my street truck.....went from 3.43's to 2.9?'s for gas mileage)

 

[strvger]

i vote for the 4.10's if you're only going to 31 inch tires. your 3.0, while tough and reliable, isn't much of a powerhouse. the 4.10's will help get the most out of it regardless of which tranny you have in it. and i'm not sure if you have the 8.8 axle, but if not, perfect time to upgrade to the 95+ xplorer with rear discs and (if you're lucky) 4.10's already in it. probably cheaper and easier.
just my $.02.

 

[badmts]

why regear twice?

I am CHEAP- and gears and labor are expensive -gears are like computer memory, buy ALL YOU CAN AFFORD the sooner the better. How many people post on here that they put in TOO MUCH gear versus "Man I wish I had put in MORE gear",few if any. I found a deal on 4.56 gears($200) and (5)31.6 inch tires($800) on CL and every time I go wheelin' SOMEBODY is AMAZED that my $400 POS ranger can hang with the big dollar jeeps or the big motor/big tire blazers -GEARS AND TIRES!!! 1986 2.3 4x4 stick. Put in the 4.56's and you will have coverage from 235/75r15 all the way to 33-12.50r15.

 

[4.0B2]

i'd say 4.10... idk why people are so scared to gear their rigs.

and since yours is 2wd, you dont have the luxury of low range...

 

[4x4junkie]

the 31s are probably goin to be a few years away, probably gonna stay around 235s for now. so should i go ahead and jump to 4.56 or go something else

4.56 w/235s might be a little deep, but shouldn't be real bad. Being that you have a 2WD, you could go with 4.30:1 gears.
As you're probably already aware though, the 3.0L falls on it's face pretty quick if you're even just a slight bit undergeared for your tires.

Is putting off regearing until you're ready to get the tires an option?

 

[Polk]

Just based on pure numbers, 3.73 gears will still have you turning a little higher RPM with 235/70/15 tires. If you go with the popular 235/75/15 tires, your RPM will drop by 1% over the stock tire/gear combo. 1% might as well be a dead-on.

If you go with 31" tires, 4.10 gears will give similar RPM to stock.

Keep in mind, I am not necessarily giving recommendations, just putting the cold, hard numbers out there. Each step in gearing is about 10% higher or lower.

 

[2wdmuddin]

thanks for all the help. ive been looking and either way a whole axle assembly will cost me about 125. i guess i shouldve said this earlier, but the truck is my daily driver and i drive about 42+ miles a day