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Old May 9, 2015 | 02:55 PM
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Rear Differential Question

If some of you experts would look at the tag attached to my differential can you help me decipher if my gear ratio has been changed? according to the door sticker it is 3.70. Thanks for the help
 
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Old May 9, 2015 | 03:26 PM
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Pretty sure you are missing a number and possible a letter in front of 73. Should be like 3L73 witch is 3:73 ratio and limited slip. The 10.5 means sterling 10.5. Not sure about the other numbers. Lots of time gears get changed and the tag never gets updated so it's possible that you have a different ratio.
 
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Old May 9, 2015 | 06:53 PM
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What is the axle code on the door? What is your RPM at 60 mph's?
 
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Old May 9, 2015 | 09:08 PM
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I will check on it. thanks for the help.
 
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Old May 9, 2015 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Bently_Coop
What is the axle code on the door? What is your RPM at 60 mph's?


You will need to post your tire size as well....
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 04:25 AM
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^good point.
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 05:42 AM
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Tire size only matters if the speedo is corrected though.
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by justonv
Tire size only matters if the speedo is corrected though.


The way I understand it and have experienced it is that a gear ratio change will not affect the speedo readings due to the sensor reading off the ring gear. But a taller or shorter tire than stock will throw the speedo farther off than it was from from the factory. My speedo read exactly the same verified by GPS with my 32" tire with both my stock 3.73 gears and my swapped in 4.88 gears, but the speedo was thrown off by the swap up to 35" tires.
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 10:02 PM
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Well have been installing Ride Rite airbags and Helliwig ASB. I was dodging rain showers as I did those jobs. Tires are not stock 305/80R20. will these tires affect the speedo?
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 10:17 PM
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^yes. If you are running a 3.73 stock gear that thing would be a pig to drive around. A 305/80 is about a 39" tire. Is your Excursion lifted?
 
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Old May 10, 2015 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Bently_Coop
^yes. If you are running a 3.73 stock gear that thing would be a pig to drive around. A 305/80 is about a 39" tire. Is your Excursion lifted?
Not an expert on lifts but does not appear so.
 
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Old May 11, 2015 | 01:24 AM
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Originally Posted by KanEX
Not an expert on lifts but does not appear so.
Take a picture of your tire size and a full size shot of your excursion. Post the pictures and we can help you out.

I think you made a typo on your tire size...likely it's a 305/50/20. No such thing as a 305/80/20 (would be 39" tall).

I would say your rear axle is a 3.73:1 ratio.
 
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Old May 11, 2015 | 07:04 AM
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There are some 305/80R20 tires from China that are 39.2" tall, there is no way that these things would fit on a stock ride height EX without cutout flares. 305/80R20 MPT 18PR TRY66 Triangle Brand Radial Multi-Purpose Tire, View tire, Triangle Product Details from Maxon Intl. Co., Limited on Alibaba.com

If they are maybe 305/60R20 tires like the Toyo Open Country at 34.3" tall I doubt that they would fit on a stock suspension also without some rubbing.

A 305/55R20 at 33.5" may fit without rubbing.

Is this EX a 4X4 model? What motor? All diesel EXs came with 3.73 gears from the factory. Pictures will help to judge if it has a lift on it as well as a good set of measurements from the CENTER of the hubs to the bottom of the top center of the wheel wells both front and rear. This measured distance will determine the suspension ONLY distance removing any tire size variables from the equation.
Many EX owners have found their speedos to be slightly off (as verified by GPS) with stock sized (265/75R16) tires but upgrades to a 285/75R16 (33-ish) seems to bring the speedo to the correct accuracy.
 
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Old May 12, 2015 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by WE3ZS
The way I understand it and have experienced it is that a gear ratio change will not affect the speedo readings due to the sensor reading off the ring gear. But a taller or shorter tire than stock will throw the speedo farther off than it was from from the factory. My speedo read exactly the same verified by GPS with my 32" tire with both my stock 3.73 gears and my swapped in 4.88 gears, but the speedo was thrown off by the swap up to 35" tires.


You are correct. I was referring to the speedo accuracy difference between different tire diameters, wasn't even taking a gear swap into account. I think we just got a crossed communication line. If you change tire diameter, your speedo will be off a bit, that amount being a percentage that goes up with the difference in diameter from stock, and also with increase in speed.
 
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Old May 12, 2015 | 10:06 PM
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sorry for the delay. . .nothing like work to get in the way of things. I checked and yes I had my tire size wrong. I have 305/50R20 tires. Cooper Discoverer HT Plus to be exact. Seem to have good reviews. My rear is a 3.73 from the door sticker and tag. thanks everyone for the help.
 
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