Have you re-geared for 35s?

i just wanted to get an idea of how many of you actually regear for 35s or if you can get away with it. Yes I know it is recommended to obviously for many reasons but is it NEEDED? I'm running 33 duratracs now and don't have a lot of life left in em. (Took a while though) but I haven't regeared for them at all. I do notice a difference in power but it doesn't concern me much I can live with it. How much difference would 35s be? Ignore mps and the trimming and cutting and all that other good stuff that comes with it I'm prepared for it. Just want to hear some experiences! Thanks guys!

 

I regeared to 4.88 with 285's. Would be spinning higher rpms at highway speeds. I went to 315's and am almost back to stock performance wise. My speedo is only 4% off vs 9-10% with the 285's.

 

What made you go so high with 285s? Preparing for the bigger tires?

 

Its not my DD so it was fun with the SC and 285's. Wasn't planning on 315's but found a set for cheap.

 

I went from stock size to 315's and then back down to 285's. Going from to 35's to 33's was no change at all in power or gas mileage.....which was surprising.

 

What was your stock gear set? Running automatic or Manual?

I'm trying to figure out the same thing @Kotayota. I'm running the same tire set as you and I'd suspect you have the same 4.10 as I. Here's a link I found with some good info. Tells you how to figure out the door code and then recommends ratio's for tire size. Though I'm still looking for someone with real life experience. I did read one thread that someone running 35s with a manual trans using 4.88 still had to ride his clutch when 4-wheeling over obstacles. I'm worried that 5.29 will be to low for cruising on the interstate.

So I'm contemplating 4.88 with duel transfer cases! I wont have the ultimate combo that a true crawler wants, but shit I don't have a solid front axle either.

 

I'm an automatic. And 4.10 is the stock gear right? Because that's what I'm running. Sorry I don't know a bunch about gear ratios yet I'm still learning I just know that I will need around 4.88s.

 

With stock gears? If so at any point were you saying "damn I shoulda regeared..."?

 

@Kotayota read the link I posted, it'll tell you how to figure out your ratio. 4.10 is stock, but they did a towing package with 4.30 or 4.56 I'm not sure on the details.

Here's the link I had in my other post
http://www.brian894x4.com/Gearratiosanddiffs.html.

With out a doubt though, if you're going to 35s on a 1st gen, you'll need to re-gear. Seeing as you're auto, you can go either 4.88 or 5.29.

 

Okay thanks. Sorry after I got done reason your post I forgot about the link lol. I'll check that out

 

Yes....stock gears. Yeah I'd like to regear, just for the overdrive aspect while rolling down the Interstate. As someone already mentioned......trying to maintain highway speeds with stock gears & 35's.....your tranny will be downshifting more than usual because the overdrive ratio is just too weak. Even a very slight hill/incline will have your truck downshifting, especially if you like to use cruise control. But as I mentioned before.....running a very heavy 33" tire compared to a light 35" tire, I saw no change at all in performance and almost no change in mpg. A stock truck was getting me 19 to 20.5 mpg.......35" tires I averaged mid 16's and with the 33" around 17.3........and I drive 95% highway.

 

I believe the 2nd Gen Autos run a 3.73......but not positive.

 

3.73s on 33s to 4.56s on 35s, worth it.

 

Okay thanks this was exactly what I was looking for. So in reality you can get by without regearing it would just definitely lack performance. I'll look into it a bit more. I also don't want to be putting excessive wear on tranny parts either

 

I don't plan to regear anytime in the near future. If I ever tear up a differential I'll do it then. I'm good with the way she performs for now.