Question about re-gearing.

crazydude147 · Jun 22, 2018

Hey all, I currently have my 3.21 gear RAM 1500 5.7 Hemi 8 Speed with a 6" lift, 35" tires, and 20" rims. Should I consider re-gearing to a lower ratio to accommodate the new weight difference? I will not be towing, but I have heard having a lower ratio will allow for more impactful acceleration. I'd like to hear all opinions on this!

BOWERSFJ · Jun 22, 2018

I have 35's and 3.55's with the 6 speed tranny ... Every day I wish I had paid the $75 and got the 3:92's when I ordered my truck

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69GWC · Jun 22, 2018

Yes you would be better off with lower gears running those 35s, not something you haft to do but you would get your snap back.

huntergreen · Jun 22, 2018

You will notice a difference.

Jwithing · Jun 22, 2018

Read this thread that's currently active... Lots of good info
http://www.ramforum.com/threads/8spd-3-92-to-4-56-gears.121840/

crazydude147 · Jun 24, 2018

Thank you all for input. Most likely going with 4.56 year axle installation.

69GWC · Jun 24, 2018

Only thing going to something other then 3:92s you will need to get a front diff out of a older truck.

Pull Ya · Jun 24, 2018

Ain't going to be cheap
Jay

RedSRT4Me · Jun 24, 2018

crazydude147 said:
Hey all, I currently have my 3.21 gear RAM 1500 5.7 Hemi 8 Speed with a 6" lift, 35" tires, and 20" rims. Should I consider re-gearing to a lower ratio to accommodate the new weight difference? I will not be towing, but I have heard having a lower ratio will allow for more impactful acceleration. I'd like to hear all opinions on this!

Do you have a 2wd or 4x4? I can tell you this. Driving around town going from 3.92 to 4.56 on 35's is a night and day difference. It accelerates like the stock tires are on and every shift is right in the powerband regardless of throttle%.

I would do this mod 10/10 times in the future on a truck with 35's or larger.

crazydude147 · Jun 24, 2018

My truck is a 4x4. I actually went to the truck fest hosted by 4WheelParts today and had some input on the best gear axle ratio for my new setup. They stated a 4.88 or 4.56 gear axle ratio would be best to get back the power of the stock feel. Unfortunately the 4.88 would apparently not fit the ram, but the 4.56 would work just fine.

Chief_6.7 · Jun 25, 2018

69GWC said:
Only thing going to something other then 3:92s you will need to get a front diff out of a older truck.

Why? I’m just asking cause I really don’t know. I thought a simple swap on the rear end gears and done. Why change the front?

huntergreen · Jun 25, 2018

Cheif, Assuming you have 4x4, you need to have the same gear ratio front and back. If you don't do this they will turn at different speeds and rip up the drivetrain.

Chief_6.7 · Jun 25, 2018

huntergreen said:
Cheif, Assuming you have 4x4, you need to have the same gear ratio front and back. If you don't do this they will turn at different speeds and rip up the drivetrain.

Yes 4x4...... so dumb question but will this be only if 4wd is enganged or does it matter?

huntergreen · Jun 25, 2018

Chief_6.7 said:
Yes 4x4...... so dumb question but will this be only if 4wd is enganged or does it matter?

. It matters as even when not in 4x4, some components are still turning.

Wild one · Jun 25, 2018

Chief_6.7 said:
Yes 4x4...... so dumb question but will this be only if 4wd is enganged or does it matter?

As long as you're in 2 wheel drive it won't matter,but as soon as you try to use it as a 4X4 you're going to destroy the transfer case clutch.The front axle unlocks on the 1500's,so you can techinically run it in 2 wheel drive with mis-matched tires or gears,but as soon as you switch it into 4X4 mode ,things are gonna get expensive in a hurry.

crazydude147 · Jun 25, 2018

One other question: Are the front gear axles/ring gears welded in for the 17 models? I noticed some articles coming up talking about the concern. The 4 wheel parts servicemen stated it would not be a serious concern.

crackerjack1957 · Jun 25, 2018

crazydude147 said:
One other question: Are the front gear axles/ring gears welded in for the 17 models? I noticed some articles coming up talking about the concern. The 4 wheel parts servicemen stated it would not be a serious concern.

No aftermarket gears available for front differentials 2012 & up.
That's why you have to swap to a 2006-2011 front differential if you want to go 4.10 or 4.56.
3.21-3.55-3.92 front differential can be swapped around on the 2012-2017

Wild one · Jun 25, 2018

crazydude147 said:
One other question: Are the front gear axles/ring gears welded in for the 17 models? I noticed some articles coming up talking about the concern. The 4 wheel parts servicemen stated it would not be a serious concern.

As Crackerjack posted there are no aftermarket service parts available for the later ZF front diffs,to go deeper then 3.92's you'll need the earlier 8.25 AAM front diff. Supposedly the ring gears are welded to the carrier in the ZF's but I've never taken one apart to verify if they are or aren't,even though I have 2 of the diffs laying here.Both are complete low milege ZF front diffs,so i'm not taking either one apart just to check,lol

crazydude147 · Jun 25, 2018

Ah I see now. Thank you both for the help.

jhanes · Apr 11, 2019

How can I find out what gears I have? I didn’t realize I would need a new front diff. Put 37” on and I’m not going in 8th anymore and lost a lot of fuel mileage

Question about re-gearing.

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