Differential Gear Advice Needed

MI0706 · 06-03-2009, 01:47 PM

I'm new to the Dodge truck forum. I normally post on the Chevy truck forum (I have a 92 Blazer).

My wife has an 01 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD sitting on 35" super swampers. We still have the original gears in the front and rear differentials (3.5x's). I want to take some of the strain off of the engine, transmission, transfer case, and drive shafts. We've been through two torque converters (1 prior to the lift and 1 after installing the lift). Just trying to save a little wear and tear on the drive line and maybe increase the fuel mileage a bit.

The truck is a daily driver. It does not go off road and it is very seldom on the interstat.

Should I go to a 3.7x gear set up or move up to a 4.1x gear set up? Also, should I change the gears in the pumpkins or buy new pumpkins with the gears I want? BTW, the differentials are 9 1/4's (don't know if that makes a difference or not).

Thanks for the help.

bradrhale · 06-03-2009, 07:14 PM

i too am running 35s in a 3.54 pumpkin. completely not right but have not had any problems out of this, yet. 3.73 is a waste of money from a 3.54. need to look at somewhere around a 4.10 or 4.33. possibly even a 4.56. if little to no towing or 4 wheelin is involved, you should be good at 4.10 or 4.33. new gears plus labor will be cheaper than buying a front and rear end set. i dont imagine that your front end is a 9.25. should be a d44. keep this setup and put in different gears. mine has been lots of places and has done just as good or better than everyone elses.

batty1214 · 06-03-2009, 10:37 PM

I would second Brad on this....... I think that a 3.73 is going to be off little good to you..... you should be okay with a 4.10, but you will get a little better response from it if you go with the 4.33's..........and unless you are going to do heavy offroading, or can find a really god deal on axles, then keep what you have.... cheaper in the long run.

MI0706 · 06-04-2009, 09:45 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I'll probably end up doing a 4.33 set. The truck is a show truck so it does not see any off roading at all and may see the interstate once a month or so.

After looking at the differentials, it doesn't look all that hard to change the gears. How hard is it to change them? Is this something that only a professional should do?

Thanks.

bradrhale · 06-04-2009, 11:49 AM

it can get complicated for the ametuers. backlash and spacing. everything has to fit just right and be within the .002 to .010 catergory otherwise, the gears will eat themselves up. i would not recommend someone unfamiliar with this to do it by themselves the first time. it does look easy and if done several times, it is. but if you dont know how to read the teeth when putting it together, you are destined for another set of gears.

MI0706 · 06-04-2009, 02:51 PM

brad: That's what I was thinking (about setting the gears correctly). I've worked enough in a steel mill to see gear cases eat themselves when improperly set up.

One other quick question. I started to look at some of the gear manufacturers. What name brand is a good recommended brand?

bradrhale · 06-05-2009, 06:40 AM

never really thought about different manufacturers before. some people swear by richmond and others really dont care. think it is personal preferance. dont buy a set that costs next to nothing but do not try to find the most expensive either.

MI0706 · 06-05-2009, 10:47 AM

Thanks brad...

06-03-2009, 01:47 PM	#1
MI0706 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana Posts: 84	Differential Gear Advice Needed I'm new to the Dodge truck forum. I normally post on the Chevy truck forum (I have a 92 Blazer). My wife has an 01 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD sitting on 35" super swampers. We still have the original gears in the front and rear differentials (3.5x's). I want to take some of the strain off of the engine, transmission, transfer case, and drive shafts. We've been through two torque converters (1 prior to the lift and 1 after installing the lift). Just trying to save a little wear and tear on the drive line and maybe increase the fuel mileage a bit. The truck is a daily driver. It does not go off road and it is very seldom on the interstat. Should I go to a 3.7x gear set up or move up to a 4.1x gear set up? Also, should I change the gears in the pumpkins or buy new pumpkins with the gears I want? BTW, the differentials are 9 1/4's (don't know if that makes a difference or not). Thanks for the help.

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06-03-2009, 07:14 PM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	i too am running 35s in a 3.54 pumpkin. completely not right but have not had any problems out of this, yet. 3.73 is a waste of money from a 3.54. need to look at somewhere around a 4.10 or 4.33. possibly even a 4.56. if little to no towing or 4 wheelin is involved, you should be good at 4.10 or 4.33. new gears plus labor will be cheaper than buying a front and rear end set. i dont imagine that your front end is a 9.25. should be a d44. keep this setup and put in different gears. mine has been lots of places and has done just as good or better than everyone elses.

06-03-2009, 10:37 PM	#3
batty1214 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vernal Utah Posts: 1,135	I would second Brad on this....... I think that a 3.73 is going to be off little good to you..... you should be okay with a 4.10, but you will get a little better response from it if you go with the 4.33's..........and unless you are going to do heavy offroading, or can find a really god deal on axles, then keep what you have.... cheaper in the long run.

06-04-2009, 09:45 AM	#4
MI0706 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana Posts: 84	Thanks for all the advice. I'll probably end up doing a 4.33 set. The truck is a show truck so it does not see any off roading at all and may see the interstate once a month or so. After looking at the differentials, it doesn't look all that hard to change the gears. How hard is it to change them? Is this something that only a professional should do? Thanks.

06-04-2009, 11:49 AM	#5
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	it can get complicated for the ametuers. backlash and spacing. everything has to fit just right and be within the .002 to .010 catergory otherwise, the gears will eat themselves up. i would not recommend someone unfamiliar with this to do it by themselves the first time. it does look easy and if done several times, it is. but if you dont know how to read the teeth when putting it together, you are destined for another set of gears.

06-04-2009, 02:51 PM	#6
MI0706 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana Posts: 84	brad: That's what I was thinking (about setting the gears correctly). I've worked enough in a steel mill to see gear cases eat themselves when improperly set up. One other quick question. I started to look at some of the gear manufacturers. What name brand is a good recommended brand?

06-05-2009, 06:40 AM	#7
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	never really thought about different manufacturers before. some people swear by richmond and others really dont care. think it is personal preferance. dont buy a set that costs next to nothing but do not try to find the most expensive either.

06-05-2009, 10:47 AM	#8
MI0706 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana Posts: 84	Thanks brad...