diff gear question

[ramren16]

i have read on this site before but cant find the thread anymore. i just want to make sure of something before i continue with a gears swap. ok, i plan on regearing to 4.56 from 3.73 i think i read that it is ok to do the rear diff gears and do the front later due to lack of money right now. i plan on disabling the 4wd so i am not tempted on putting it into 4wd and mess up the front gears with miss matched gears. im i correct in thinking this is ok and wont affect anything(i do not have awd either)

 

[IZwack]

In addition to disabling the 4wd system (pulling the fuse), you would also need to remove the front driveshaft. But to be honest, I'd just save up until you have money to do both axles at the same time - 2wd with 4.56s would probably be more annoying on the trail than 3.7s and having 4wd (you can always engage LO range).

 

[ramren16]

i dont really ever hit the trails anymore its just for street. my problem is i have the money to do the rear right now, if i dont put the money toward the rear right now i will just spend it on somethin else it burns a hole in my pocket

In addition to disabling the 4wd system (pulling the fuse), you would also need to remove the front driveshaft. But to be honest, I'd just save up until you have money to do both axles at the same time - 2wd with 4.56s would probably be more annoying on the trail than 3.7s and having 4wd (you can always engage LO range).

 

[jd3z400]

Why are you doing 456 what size tire are you running???

 

[IZwack]

i dont really ever hit the trails anymore its just for street. my problem is i have the money to do the rear right now, if i dont put the money toward the rear right now i will just spend it on somethin else it burns a hole in my pocket

Well here are some thoughts:

- installation (aka "labor") for one axle will typically range between $200 and almost $400 depending on where you go.
- gear set plus master install kit for one axle is probably around $200-$300

So according to your words, you probably have about $500 burning a hole in your pocket. Well with that $500 (and a little bit more), you can probably purchase the gear sets AND the master install kit for both axles. All you'd have to do is wait until you have the rest of the money for labor.

 

[ShadowRaven]

I'm curious as to why you would want to regear so high to not use it on the trails... I guess I'm just not really following what's going on here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but regearing to 4.56 would just kill his gas mileage, especially if it's only going to be used as a street vehicle, right?

 

[trj360]

I'm curious as to why you would want to regear so high to not use it on the trails... I guess I'm just not really following what's going on here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but regearing to 4.56 would just kill his gas mileage, especially if it's only going to be used as a street vehicle, right?

No, 4.56 with 33s is ideal. Some people (like myself) just run 4.10s because that's what the truck came with and it's not worth the money to regear.

 

[ShadowRaven]

Oh, all right then, I had always heard 4.10 were the best for on/off road use, and 4.56 were better suited for more trailing, I must have misunderstood. Iunno I still only have 3.73s, way too poor to upgrade.

 

[ramren16]

Why are you doing 456 what size tire are you running???

i have 33s and going to 35 within the year hopefully i just want a gear ration that will give me a close to stock mileage and performance as possible right now my mpg suck about 11-12


IZwack,
your right i probably will just go buy the kits front and back so i have no choice but to get it installed soon

 

[ramren16]

I'm curious as to why you would want to regear so high to not use it on the trails... I guess I'm just not really following what's going on here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but regearing to 4.56 would just kill his gas mileage, especially if it's only going to be used as a street vehicle, right?

it would but i plan on going to 35s

 

[trj360]

Oh, all right then, I had always heard 4.10 were the best for on/off road use, and 4.56 were better suited for more trailing, I must have misunderstood. Iunno I still only have 3.73s, way too poor to upgrade.

4.10s will keep your RPMs a little lower on the highway but your acceleration will be worse than with 4.56s. Maybe if you are a big highway commuter 4.10s would be more ideal. With an auto trans it's easier to have a less than ideal gear ratio. Since I don't really wheel my truck it's staying at 4.10.

 

[IZwack]

If you're going 33s or 35s, then you have to go with 4.56s -- 4.10s will bog your engine and the transmission will keep kicking down a few gears in order to accelerate at a normal rate, which leads to lower MPGs.

 

[ramren16]

ya thats what was thinking i am not much of a highway driver my riving is mostly in town