Posted by Al in SoCal on May 30, 01 at 13:06:56:
In Reply to: Changing gear ratio in 98 K1500 for towing purposes posted by MARC on May 30, 01 at 11:41:15:
: Is it possible to change the 3.42 ratio to 3.73, or even 4.10 in a 1998 K1500 Suburban? I know 3.42 limits me to only 5000#, while 3.73 lets you tow up to 6000#, 4.10 7000#. Do I need to change it only in the rear axle or also somewhere in the front also (transfer case, front diff)?
: MarC
Yes, you need to change the differential gears in the front axle if you are changing the rear axle, either that or find some real, real loose sand, mud (slop), very loose gravel, if you only change the rear differential gears. Front tires will try to pull the rear due to VERY different wheel speeds with different gears front to rear, and the front having taller (Smaller number - 3.42) gears compared to the rear 3.73 gears. So what ever Ron paid to change the gears in his two wheel drive rear end, double it to do both ends. R/ Al