Gears and axles
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From: Washington
Gears and axles
I am new to the forum so please bear with me. I am thinking about changing gears when I lift my truck in the future. I have a 2002 F250 4X4 5.4 and have stock 3.73. I plan on lifting 4-6" with 35" tires max. What gearing should I go with? I don't want to loose my mileage, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, what axles are on the Superduty front/rear?
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From: Chicago
If you are happy with the current performance of your truck, use the following formula to keep the same characteristics:
(New Tire Diameter / Original Tire Diameter) X Original Axle Ratio = Required Axle Ratio
Example, if you have 3.73 axles and 27 inch tires now, and are going to put on 35 inch tires:
35 / 27 * 3.73 = 4.835
Round this to an available ratio, go a little bigger number to get better acceleration, go a little smaller number to get more speed at a given RPM, and probably better mileage.
Also keep in mind that tire sizes are rarely exact, tires will vary quite a bit from their specified size. If possible, get actual measurements under equal conditions.
(New Tire Diameter / Original Tire Diameter) X Original Axle Ratio = Required Axle Ratio
Example, if you have 3.73 axles and 27 inch tires now, and are going to put on 35 inch tires:
35 / 27 * 3.73 = 4.835
Round this to an available ratio, go a little bigger number to get better acceleration, go a little smaller number to get more speed at a given RPM, and probably better mileage.
Also keep in mind that tire sizes are rarely exact, tires will vary quite a bit from their specified size. If possible, get actual measurements under equal conditions.
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From: Washington
Thanks for all of your help. At least I have a direction to go when it comes time. I have heard of the sterling, but what is the visteon???
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From: Allen, Tx
Visteon was started in 1997 by Ford and became a separate company in 2000. The Sterling axle plant in Sterling Heights Michigan became part of Visteon in 2000 or 2001, i can't remember. Same axles (Axle tags after 2000 say 3V instead of 3S), same plant, under Visteon management.
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From: Roseburg OR.
Visteon is the company that manufactures the rear axle of srw Ford trucks. The plant is called Sterling. It is often called a Sterling 70 around here or just a Sterling 10.5 or 10.25 for the 97 and older trucks so it's the same thing. If you go to www.visteon.com and find where it says "facilities" you can download a pdf detailing their north american plants. There is a "Sterling" and a "Sterling II".
Last edited by RRMike; Jan 5, 2004 at 11:40 PM.