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8" and 35's do I really need gears?

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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 10:12 PM
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From: miami,Fl
8" and 35's do I really need gears?

I got a 05 2wd with 8" of lift and 35's and I cant even get a chirp out of my tires nether less burn out, and I can feel a lack of power. Is it about time to re-gear?
I hardly ever go hardcore off roading and most likely will go upgrade to 37's and a BL sooner rather than later.
If it is the case I would like to go Yukon. What ratio would best fit my set-up and where is a good place to get them?
Thanks guys and Merry Xmas:santa:
 
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 10:24 PM
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I have a few questions:

1). What motor is in your truck?

2). What gear ratio do you currently have?

3). What do you plan to do with your truck?

I personally have an '06 4x4 with a 6" lift, 35" tires and 3.55 gears. After I lifted the truck and stepped up to the 35's I felt a loss of power compared to the stock, and I know that my torque converter is working overtime trying to get me up to speed, but otherwise it hasn't been too bad. I don't do a great deal of towing, but when I do tow I make sure to keep the transmission out of OD and keep the torque converter locked up. If you are only occasionally towing, then you may be able to put off a re-gear for a little while, though frequent towing and stepping up to 37's might justify a gear swap sooner.

I will be re-gearing with 4.88s in my truck, but only because I rarely drive on the freeway, spend a lot of time in the hills and plan on going with 37s in the future. Most people are happy with 4.10s or 4.56s and 35" tires. Since you have a 2wd truck, you could get by with 4.30s in the axle (they do not make 4.30 gears for a 8.8" IFS axle, not that your 2wd truck has to worry about that). If you are certainly going to move up to 37's, then I would select the 4.56 or 4.88 gears depending on your driving style and planned usage for the truck. If it is a 4.6L, then I would almost certainly install 4.88s to give the truck all the help it can get. Hopefully that helps out a little bit.

One last thing: I've been lifted on 35's and 3.55's for the last 30k miles, and in that time I have towed up to 7,500 pounds in 102 degree California heat with no ill effects.
 

Last edited by Tornadom; Dec 22, 2009 at 10:28 PM.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 10:40 PM
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if your gonna go to 37s and dont do alot of off roading but still wanna chirp em here and there i deff go with the 4.56s ........
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 11:35 AM
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My engines a 5.4L
Its my everyday driver, I live in Miami and work about 15 miles away so its pretty much all highway. And for what I want to do, the most extreme would be the BL and 37's.
I also don't want to completely kill my gas mileage.
Man, I cannot find the label on my diff that would tell me the gearing. Is there another way?
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by 305f150
My engines a 5.4L
Its my everyday driver, I live in Miami and work about 15 miles away so its pretty much all highway. And for what I want to do, the most extreme would be the BL and 37's.
I also don't want to completely kill my gas mileage.
Man, I cannot find the label on my diff that would tell me the gearing. Is there another way?
check the driver door jam
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 12:05 PM
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My engines a 5.4L
Its my everyday driver, I live in Miami and work about 15 miles away so its pretty much all highway. And for what I want to do, the most extreme would be the BL and 37's.
I also don't want to completely kill my gas mileage.
Man, I cannot find the label on my diff that would tell me the gearing. Is there another way?
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 305f150
My engines a 5.4L
Its my everyday driver, I live in Miami and work about 15 miles away so its pretty much all highway. And for what I want to do, the most extreme would be the BL and 37's.
I also don't want to completely kill my gas mileage.
Man, I cannot find the label on my diff that would tell me the gearing. Is there another way?
Whats Gas Mileage?
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 10:34 PM
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From: Northern-Central, CA
Originally Posted by Barrett
Whats Gas Mileage?
I sold my gas mileage (Acura) to put a down payment on the F150.
 
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 10:37 PM
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From: Northern-Central, CA
Originally Posted by 305f150
My engines a 5.4L
Its my everyday driver, I live in Miami and work about 15 miles away so its pretty much all highway. And for what I want to do, the most extreme would be the BL and 37's.
I also don't want to completely kill my gas mileage.
Man, I cannot find the label on my diff that would tell me the gearing. Is there another way?
In that case, I would probably install 4.56 gears and call it a day!

Inside of your door is a sticker with a bunch of information on it, look for where it says Axle on that decal, and then find the 2 digit code associated with it. After you know your axle code, post it here and I will tell you what it means.

As an example:
My truck is axle 19, that is a 3.55 open differentials
My friend's truck is axle H9, that is a 3.55 with a limited slip
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 11:46 AM
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thanks tornadom,
so my code is H9.. so the 4.56's will cover all my bases? except the mileage of course
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 07:30 PM
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if you have 3.73 u will be fine
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 08:50 PM
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when i was running 35s and stock 3.73 i was getting around 13-14 city
 
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 09:35 PM
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its not necessary to regear with 35's

but if you have the extra $$$ to spend , its definetly worth it.

I just installed 4.88's with my 38's and its night and day difference on how it accelerates and it doesnt hunt for a gear on hills anymore.
 
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by IDNC76
its not necessary to regear with 35's

but if you have the extra $$$ to spend , its definetly worth it.

I just installed 4.88's with my 38's and its night and day difference on how it accelerates and it doesnt hunt for a gear on hills anymore.
yeah with 38s but running 35s and 4.88s rpms will run a little high wont they?
 
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Old Dec 25, 2009 | 01:01 AM
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Originally Posted by mhockey9090
yeah with 38s but running 35s and 4.88s rpms will run a little high wont they?
take a look at the gear chart , its really not that big of a difference , only a few hundred rpms, between 4.56 vs 4.88 w/35's

 
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