Hey mud!
I figured this could be an interesting discussion. I recently picked up arb lockers during the memorial day 10% sales. I originally really wanted the harrops, but when it came down to it, I couldn't justify $2700 over $1800 for the Arbs.
Naturally, with locker installs in my near future, I began thinking about gears. I initially was just going to bite the bullet and go with 4.88 and be done with it. Then I started remembering that a few cruiser companies carry transfer case gears and I remembered them being much cheaper. The 10% underdrive gear gives the factory 4.10 the equivalent final ratio of 4.56 which sounds more on par with my 2006 vvti with 34's. I often cruise at 80mph so 4.88 I fear would be too low. I also remebered that you can do a 3:1:1 low gear in the tcase which is about 25% lower than stock 2:54(I think that's the factory ratio).
Anyhow, after investigating further, I learned that newer 100 series trucks have to replace the input shaft and idler gear with the underdrive kit which made it significantly more expensive. So I started breaking down pros and cons:
Tcase gears (~$1600)
Pros
1. Get lower low range (3:1:1)
2. 4:56 seems like it would be a better match for my truck
Cons
1. Probably more difficult to install. Looks to be about a 7-8 hour job
2. About $100 more expensive
3. People mention gear whine, but most installs so far seem to be in 80's which probably aren't as noise insulated as my LX
Diff Gears (~$1500):
Pros
1. About $100 cheaper
2. Already will have diff out for locker install so would be easier to install
Cons:
1. 4.88 may make my highway speed too high rpm
2. No lowered low range ratio (I know low will feel lower, but not the same)
3. I've always hated setting pinion preload, depth, and getting a good pattern. Not difficult, just can be frustrating putting it together and taking it apart 10 times. With just lockers, I really only have to deal with backlash which is easypeasy
Now to you mud, what are your thoughts? I'm leaning tcase gears because the added benefit of the 3:1:1 seems pretty substantial for only really $100 more. The install will suck though. Any pros or cons I'm forgetting?
I figured this could be an interesting discussion. I recently picked up arb lockers during the memorial day 10% sales. I originally really wanted the harrops, but when it came down to it, I couldn't justify $2700 over $1800 for the Arbs.
Naturally, with locker installs in my near future, I began thinking about gears. I initially was just going to bite the bullet and go with 4.88 and be done with it. Then I started remembering that a few cruiser companies carry transfer case gears and I remembered them being much cheaper. The 10% underdrive gear gives the factory 4.10 the equivalent final ratio of 4.56 which sounds more on par with my 2006 vvti with 34's. I often cruise at 80mph so 4.88 I fear would be too low. I also remebered that you can do a 3:1:1 low gear in the tcase which is about 25% lower than stock 2:54(I think that's the factory ratio).
Anyhow, after investigating further, I learned that newer 100 series trucks have to replace the input shaft and idler gear with the underdrive kit which made it significantly more expensive. So I started breaking down pros and cons:
Tcase gears (~$1600)
Pros
1. Get lower low range (3:1:1)
2. 4:56 seems like it would be a better match for my truck
Cons
1. Probably more difficult to install. Looks to be about a 7-8 hour job
2. About $100 more expensive
3. People mention gear whine, but most installs so far seem to be in 80's which probably aren't as noise insulated as my LX
Diff Gears (~$1500):
Pros
1. About $100 cheaper
2. Already will have diff out for locker install so would be easier to install
Cons:
1. 4.88 may make my highway speed too high rpm
2. No lowered low range ratio (I know low will feel lower, but not the same)
3. I've always hated setting pinion preload, depth, and getting a good pattern. Not difficult, just can be frustrating putting it together and taking it apart 10 times. With just lockers, I really only have to deal with backlash which is easypeasy
Now to you mud, what are your thoughts? I'm leaning tcase gears because the added benefit of the 3:1:1 seems pretty substantial for only really $100 more. The install will suck though. Any pros or cons I'm forgetting?