I did 4:88 with 33’s. It didn’t feel great until I got 35’s though. If staying in 33’s, I wouldn’t get gears.
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You obviously didn't read the linked article or you would realize (well, perhaps you would) that your example is irrelevant to the question of differentials (hint: tooth engagement). However, I will email the dumb and ignorant folks at Randy's Differentials to inform them that they don't know anything about differentials. I'm sure they will appreciate your enlightenment.What an uninformed response
I'm sure these gears fall apart then:
Oh honeyYou obviously didn't read the linked article or you would realize (well, perhaps you would) that your example is irrelevant to the question of differentials (hint: tooth engagement). However, I will email the dumb and ignorant folks at Randy's Differentials to inform them that they don't know anything about differentials. I'm sure they will appreciate your enlightenment.
Oh good sir, may I offer some constructive feedback?There’s a wiff of Pirate4x4 brewing here. Mud tends to be a little more civil and less of a dick zone when opinions differ. I don’t see that changing.
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Another way to look at it: If the carrier size doens’t change; then the ring gear has to change (in depth) in order to make room for added number of teeth to increase ratio. As a result the ring gear looses strength as the ratio increases. The question is at what ratio does it pose a considerable threat to failure?
Annecdotally I dont think 4.88 poses enough weakening of the ring gear to warrant too much concern-there are plenty of 80’s &100’s running 4.88’s on 35’s+ here and not Commin to hear reports of ring gear failures (rear any way). 100 series front failures are a different story; most failures can be attributed more to user error than anything else. Thats just my opinion.
Oh good sir, may I offer some constructive feedback?
First, higher ratios don't necessarily have more teeth. A 4.10 uses 41 ring gear teeth. A 7.17 uses 37 ring gear teeth.
Secondly, lower ratios, not higher ratios, require thinner ring gears, but many manufacturers can make alternatively offset carriers (aka a carrier break)
Good day sir
I have a day job, but since you're so smug...Me too! I'm just waiting for any evidence from an authoritative source that a smaller pinion gear is NOT weaker.
Twiddles thumbs . . .
Not to mention that r&p overload failure is almost always cause by ring gear deflection, then pinion shaft breakage, etc.I dont know much about the actuals but If 4.88s were breaking, there would be threads about it........
I guess you don't want to reason from first principles. That's how I approach engineering, not by posting links to Randy's ring and pinion.Read the article to which I linked. Please? Here's the link again. Note that this is technical information from one of the most respected suppliers of aftermarket ring and pinion sets. Note that they are in the business of selling this equipment, so when they tell you about downsides it makes sense to pay attention. Set aside your preconceived notions: Common sense will actually tell you that a smaller pinion gear is weaker than a larger one, especially when fewer teeth then engage the ring gear. It's the teeth that break, not the shaft. Read the article. P.S. You STILL haven't produced any authoritative evidence to support your belief, just analogies that have no bearing on this topic.
As I said early on, most differentials have enough margin of strength to accommodate moderate regearing. It's when you start combining oversize, heavier tires with big jumps in gearing that trouble happens. And yes, I know a few Toyota truck owners who run 35-inch tires or worse and 5.29 diffs who—so far—have gotten away with it. I also know a couple of 80-year-old guys who have smoked their entire lives and are in great shape. That isn't evidence that doing either is a good idea.
@Jonathan Hanson and @nukegoat I love you both but for the love of everything holy get your own thread and duke it out to your heart's content.
More confirmation from this excellent resource at roundforge.com. Good information for anyone contemplating regearing. The relevant paragraph:
View attachment 2119352
Good advice. I'm actually finished arguing here. I've backed up my own reasonably extensive experience with the authority of those more expert than I, and I'm satisfied. Other topics to consider!
For anyone reading this in the future, these are not scholarly articles or engineering guides. Fortunately, we have an expert on the forum who designed and built this stuff for a living: