What gears should i run?

JakeMcSwaggins · Aug 4, 2015

Hey all, I have a 1997 dodge ram 1500 and it has the factory 2.55 up front and the 3.55 in the back. I have since lifted the truck, and put 35" tires on it which i can tell has completely destroyed my trucks performance from it being factory. I'm pretty set on either 4.10 or 4.56 gearing, but the problem is i'm not sure what ratio to put up front... i have read a few places that the gearing ratios have to match to run correctly but they don't match in the first place, or maybe i'm just crazy. I'm fairly new to messing around with gearing ratios and such so any help would be greatly appreciated.

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

You have 3.55 front and rear. Gear ratios have to match if you want to use 4x4 without grenading your tcase. 4.10s and 35s will feel stock. 4.56s if you want more oomph. Personally I'd go with 4.56s just because its something you only want to do once. The only time you'll regret going with 4.56s is if you're going fast with o/d off like towing, mpg tanks. If you have any desire to go up in tire size, no doubt go with 4.56s

Johnn123 · Aug 4, 2015

BBartow said:
You have 3.55 front and rear. Gear ratios have to match if you want to use 4x4 without grenading your tcase. 4.10s and 35s will feel stock. 4.56s if you want more oomph. Personally I'd go with 4.56s just because its something you only want to do once. The only time you'll regret going with 4.56s is if you're going fast with o/d off like towing, mpg tanks. If you have any desire to go up in tire size, no doubt go with 4.56s

Sums it up nicely.

dodge dude94 · Aug 4, 2015

Technically 4.56 and 35s is stock....These trucks are undergeared for their stock tires from the factory, ie, trucks running 265s from the showroom with 3.55 gears. They should actually have had 3.92 gears with 265 tires off the showroom.

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

dodge dude94 said:
Technically 4.56 and 35s is stock....These trucks are undergeared for their stock tires from the factory, ie, trucks running 265s from the showroom with 3.55 gears. They should actually have had 3.92 gears with 265 tires off the showroom.

Its not stock if it didn't come stock. :crazy:

sbarron · Aug 4, 2015

You're never gonna get hybrid gas mileage, and likely wouldn't notice much difference between 4.10's and 4.56's in that department in any case. Go with the 4.56's and get your performance back. And yes, in BOTH axles.

dodge dude94 · Aug 4, 2015

BBartow said:
Its not stock if it didn't come stock.

Long day, you lost me
WTF?

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

dodge dude94 said:
Long day, you lost me
WTF?

You said 4.56 and 35s is stock because they should have come with 3.92s. Well stock is 3.55 so that ain't true. While they may be undergeared from factory that don't change that stock ratio and tires is closest to 4.10s and 35s. I say go with 4.56s

dodge dude94 · Aug 4, 2015

BBartow said:
You said 4.56 and 35s is stock because they should have come with 3.92s. Well stock is 3.55 so that ain't true. While they may be undergeared from factory that don't change that stock ratio and tires is closest to 4.10s and 35s. I say go with 4.56s

35in tires and 4.56 gears would be like running 3.55s on 31s. Soooo stock. :roflsquared:

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

dodge dude94 said:
35in tires and 4.56 gears would be like running 3.55s on 31s. Soooo stock.

No it wouldn't

dodge dude94 · Aug 4, 2015

BBartow said:
No it wouldn't

IIRC from the gearing charts, yeah it would.

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

dodge dude94 said:
IIRC from the gearing charts, yeah it would.

dodge dude94 · Aug 4, 2015

BBartow said:

Like I said, long day. :flipthebird:

BBartow · Aug 4, 2015

dodge dude94 said:
Like I said, long day.

Doesn't help that everyone on DF has been saying it wrong for years. :roflsquared:

JakeMcSwaggins · Aug 4, 2015

Thanks for the input guys, i misread the truck "Build sheet" under the hood. it is 3.55 front AND back. i think i should get 4.56 as well because i'm lifting it about 6 more inches and running 38's. i know that isn't ideal for the d44 - 9.25 combo but i don't plan on ever going offroad because i like keeping my truck a street princess haha. i also know that they arent the best on gas to begin with but it could be better than what it is. i know its not all gearing too, it has a little motor work done to it as well.

Johnn123 · Aug 4, 2015

JakeMcSwaggins said:
Thanks for the input guys, i misread the truck "Build sheet" under the hood. it is 3.55 front AND back. i think i should get 4.56 as well because i'm lifting it about 6 more inches and running 38's. i know that isn't ideal for the d44 - 9.25 combo but i don't plan on ever going offroad because i like keeping my truck a street princess haha. i also know that they arent the best on gas to begin with but it could be better than what it is. i know its not all gearing too, it has a little motor work done to it as well.

You're def gonna wanna swap axles if you plan on 38's. Dana 60's from a 3/4 ton would be ideal. Direct bolt in. Even as a street princess the stock axles are to weak for 38's, regardless what anyone who does it says. Steering and braking are far superior on the 60. If that is your plan to go to 38's IMHO dont bother gearing the D44/C9.25. Instead get the bigger axles and gear them. Gearing is NOT a cheap endeavour, definitely not something you want to pay for twice.

JakeMcSwaggins · Aug 5, 2015

Johnn123 said:
You're def gonna wanna swap axles if you plan on 38's. Dana 60's from a 3/4 ton would be ideal. Direct bolt in. Even as a street princess the stock axles are to weak for 38's, regardless what anyone who does it says. Steering and braking are far superior on the 60. If that is your plan to go to 38's IMHO dont bother gearing the D44/C9.25. Instead get the bigger axles and gear them. Gearing is NOT a cheap endeavour, definitely not something you want to pay for twice.

I thought about doing this a while back but the problem is gonna be getting those axles. they aren't that common around where i live, but i'm gonna try my best to get some. i was thinking 60 front 80 rear. The main reason i havent did it yet was because i wasnt sure if it was gonna be a direct fit to whats there including the lift, that would suck forking over all that money for a lift that wont even work :roflsquared:

ramburger · Aug 5, 2015

BBartow said:
Doesn't help that everyone on DF has been saying it wrong for years.

i love this

Johnn123 · Aug 5, 2015

JakeMcSwaggins said:
I thought about doing this a while back but the problem is gonna be getting those axles. they aren't that common around where i live, but i'm gonna try my best to get some. i was thinking 60 front 80 rear. The main reason i havent did it yet was because i wasnt sure if it was gonna be a direct fit to whats there including the lift, that would suck forking over all that money for a lift that wont even work

Nope its all direct fit. An 80 is overkill man but will work. You may want to upgrade the transfer case as well, again a direct bolt in. It would be a great upgrade for you man, if thats the route you want to take your rig. I would put 4.88 gears in them for 38's.

What gears should i run?

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