I REALLY want to change gears

[Kartoon]

Ok, my suburban in my sig has 4.10s. But I dont do one bit of towing/hauling and I dont plan to. I didnt buy it for that purpose. If I ever did tow anything it would be a camping trailer or a motorcycle, nothing big and not a far distance.

So with these gears, Im at 2 grand going about 58mph on the highway, and my girlfriend wont let me go under 65. So when Im doing the speed limit, its about 2200, 2300 rpm. It kills my mileage. Im getting 18.8mpg with mostly city and a little bit of highway because I try to avoid it.

So how hard is it to change, what gear would you choose for me? any good threads or sites that have a nice step by step with pictures? Ive heard that its probably easiest to find a whole rear end with the gears I want?

THANKS

 

[Turbine Doc]

Gears are best done by someone who has done it before, 2wd burb or 4wd, 3:42 is mpg gear choice for the burb, you could go more but it is a heavy vehicle and you'll want power & mpg especially if hooking up to even a small trailer, if you have 4x4 you mite convince a junk yard trading your 4x4 running gear for a 4x2 axle, also if you have 4x4 you'll need 2 gear swaps 1 front ,and 1 rear, which ups the $$$, you'll have to weight replacement cost to mpg saved, my 4x2 3:42 Burb get 20+ mpg consistently, 24 mpg if I run 65-70 mph hi-way speeds.

 

[Kartoon]

It is a 4x4, and I know that both front and rear need to be switched. From what Ive been reading is that it seems that most people say to just deal with it because its huge money. Will 3.73 be more in the middle? Give me a little bit better mileage and in the long shot I need to tow(which I have no intention of) would still work good?

I would love to be able to go 65-70 on the highway without sacrificing mileage.

 

[96TD]

Depending on the cost of having to do both diffs, you might want to look into a Gear Vendors overdrive unit. I am looking into doing it in the distant future. It only works in 2WD(locks out the front), but it should get you the mileage that you want. Look into it a little though. Some like it, some don't.
The overdrive doesn't sound hard at all to install, and aside from cutting your driveshaft, it is easily reversible.

 

[jmiller]

Depending on the cost of having to do both diffs, you might want to look into a Gear Vendors overdrive unit. I am looking into doing it in the distant future. It only works in 2WD(locks out the front), but it should get you the mileage that you want. Look into it a little though. Some like it, some don't.
The overdrive doesn't sound hard at all to install, and aside from cutting your driveshaft, it is easily reversible.

I've run this cost analysis, it is starting to be something to look at again.

The gear vendors Cost is $3k + shortening the rear drive shaft + installation.

Gears are $300 to $400 per set, with installation another couple hundered.

Changing gears would be half the price, but the gear vendors leaves flexability of having 4.10 and about 3.4x ratios.


For me, the 4.10's are good for plowing and towing. This is small part of the useage of my truck. The 3.4ish ratio would be good for the mostly urban driving I do.

Its a lot of dough. The last $3K I had went toward a goldwing. It will halve my fuel cost over the year between the two.

 

[Matt Bachand]

Have you thought abou tputting on taller tires?

 

[pgguru]

I have a 2WD with 3:42's the City drive will Kill you. I get 15MPG city and 23 Highway.

I would Just crank the TBars and put 285 - 305's on it.

 

[ghitch75]

I have a 2WD with 3:42's the City drive will Kill you. I get 15MPG city and 23 Highway.

I would Just crank the TBars and put 285 - 305's on it.

here is mine with 305's....and after a bath:hurray:

 

[pgguru]

here is mine with 305's....and after a bath:hurray:

Oh How I Covent your Truck :sosp:

 

[SnowDrift]

Oh How I Covent your Truck :sosp:

Covet?

 

[Kartoon]

here is mine with 305's....and after a bath:hurray:

did you have to do the 3" lift to fit the tires? also, how is the speedometer? I know my 1990 suburban with 35's screwed the speedometer all up. also, with those tires, what mileage do you get?

 

[ghitch75]

with out the lift they won't have fit.....mileage....16 to 17 in town and 20 to 21 on hi-way....speedometer is right on with my TomTom so i guess they didn't screw it up....

 

[Kartoon]

well it gives the suburban a great look. I would love to have a 2-3" lift, but I dont want to put huge tires on this suburban. I had 35 by 12s on my other one and i dont want to drive a truck like that anymore