iI HAVE AN 97 F150 4X4 3.55 GEARS IN THE REAR DOES IT MATTER IF I CHANGE THE GEAR RATIO IN THE REAR TO A 4.10 4.11 WILL IT AFFECT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE?

 

Yes, your gears have to be the same ratio in the rear as in the front. Otherwise the drivtrain will bind severly and deffinatly break something

 

Exactly...Both axles must be of the same gear ratio, just like all 4 tires must be the same diameter. Binding and breaking of gears will result...

 

Well not exact. Your truck has 3:55 in the rear and 3:54 in the front. \If you went to 4:10 in the rear you would need 4:09 in the front. The fronts for what ever reason are geared lower, i think to pull better

 

I have seen vehicles with lower gears in the rear for bigger paddle tires running at the dunes. Stock gearing up front, depending on front tire size of course.

 

I my wood hauler I have 3.73s in the rear and 3.55 up front. On gravel its fine. Gets me thru the mudholes just fine. just make sure I pull it out of 4x4 before I hit the highway

 

Only a matter of time before something breaks there.

 

If you're running the same size tires front and rear you should have the same ratio in the front and rear axles.

I can see it working with a different ratio if you ran larger tires on the rear. (Such as the paddle tires mentioned.)