Changing axle ratios

ace · Post by **ace** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:21 pm

How difficult is it to change gearing from 3.42 to 3.73? I was quoted $1200/axle. Does anyone have any suggestions where to get this done for a better price than that. That price came from the dealer. Has anyone had this done for cheaper?

Bad_Ass_S10 · Post by **Bad_Ass_S10** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:45 pm

yeah, for $500 you can have my 3.73 axles (front and rear) and you could swap them out yourself

complete axles - no internal part swaping - 28,000 miles on them

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:39 am

not a bad deal there, if you dont have to ship that stuff. are you handy enough to handle the swap? especially the front? you will have to take apart the front end???

a grand is the normal price to change out the gears for front and rear on OUR TRUCKS!

but i might add. 3.42 to 3.73??? i dont think its worth changing.

ace · Post by **ace** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:14 pm

a2b wrote:not a bad deal there, if you dont have to ship that stuff. are you handy enough to handle the swap? especially the front? you will have to take apart the front end???

a grand is the normal price to change out the gears for front and rear on OUR TRUCKS!

but i might add. 3.42 to 3.73??? i dont think its worth changing.

I'm glad you said that because that's what I've been thinking... Is it worth it. It doesn't seem like that much of difference when you look at the ratio but the next step would be 4.10 do you think that is too much. The reason I want the change is for towing. I towed with my truck for the first time this year towing a 3200 pound camper and my acceleration was really slow. I wonder if adding horespower will help more than the axle change.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:35 pm

Now if you have 3.08's like my Blazer does, then it would be worth changing! I'm looking at going 3.73 and maybe even 4.10 depending on what I do with it.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:38 pm

ace wrote:
a2b wrote:not a bad deal there, if you dont have to ship that stuff. are you handy enough to handle the swap? especially the front? you will have to take apart the front end???

a grand is the normal price to change out the gears for front and rear on OUR TRUCKS!

but i might add. 3.42 to 3.73??? i dont think its worth changing.
I'm glad you said that because that's what I've been thinking... Is it worth it. It doesn't seem like that much of difference when you look at the ratio but the next step would be 4.10 do you think that is too much. The reason I want the change is for towing. I towed with my truck for the first time this year towing a 3200 pound camper and my acceleration was really slow. I wonder if adding horespower will help more than the axle change.

for towing or even just added performance, 4.10's rock with 31" tires. that is the same ratio that the other cc's have when they come with 29" tires and 3.73. so bascially you are just putting the tire to gear ratio back to stock with 4.10's and 31's...also, if you did want to lift it and put 32' or 33's on it, the 4.10's could still be able to push it.

ace · Post by **ace** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:10 am

a2b wrote:for towing or even just added performance, 4.10's rock with 31" tires. that is the same ratio that the other cc's have when they come with 29" tires and 3.73. so bascially you are just putting the tire to gear ratio back to stock with 4.10's and 31's...also, if you did want to lift it and put 32' or 33's on it, the 4.10's could still be able to push it.

Is that the ratio your running? I'm curious what the rpms are when at highway cruising speed. When I'm towing I'm usually on the highway but need that extra grunt to be able to pass and speed up on the on ramps. Also curious what the kind of gas mileage I could expect with that combo.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:20 am

ace wrote:Is that the ratio your running? I'm curious what the rpms are when at highway cruising speed. When I'm towing I'm usually on the highway but need that extra grunt to be able to pass and speed up on the on ramps. Also curious what the kind of gas mileage I could expect with that combo.

yes i ran it. mileage sucks on these trucks. i dont know what i was getting but it was around 13 i think. also, this truck always seems like it has more power. i dont know what the rpms at 70 are but like i said, its a stock configuration so its whatever the factory setup which i am sure is fine. more power is what you need. mabey the supercharger will be a better way to go? what size tires are your running?

ace · Post by **ace** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:07 pm

a2b wrote:
ace wrote:Is that the ratio your running? I'm curious what the rpms are when at highway cruising speed. When I'm towing I'm usually on the highway but need that extra grunt to be able to pass and speed up on the on ramps. Also curious what the kind of gas mileage I could expect with that combo.

yes i ran it. mileage sucks on these trucks. i don't know what i was getting but it was around 13 i think. also, this truck always seems like it has more power. i don't know what the rpms at 70 are but like i said, its a stock configuration so its whatever the factory setup which i am sure is fine. more power is what you need. mabey the supercharger will be a better way to go? what size tires are your running?

I'm currently running the stock 29" tires. I'm waiting for them to get a little worn out before going larger. I think I'm going to do everything at once like change tires, gears, and lift. 13 Mpg does suck. I feel like I hit the gas station enough as it is. I think what I'll do first is like any other vehicle and do intake and exhaust and see how that feels. Thanks for the replies.

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 6:25 pm

i have the 4.10s with 35s and my truck still has more power then it did stock. off the line its way better and same on the highway. gow ith the 4.10s with 31s and that thing will fly!