My one factory 5 speed 3rd gen axle housing is leaking. I know they run a lower ratio, like 3.95 or something along that line. So, I am trying to decide whether to just change the axle housing.

1] Or throw 4:30 members in with e locker in.

2] Or send the 4:30 to make them both limited slip.

Granted, maybe I can't have an elocker and limited slip.

I am just thinking at this point. Deciding which path to pressure AZ I have the parts here to go either way.

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I guess nobody has any thoughts on this as which ratio is better. I figured the 4:30 would drop my rpm some.

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What size tires are you running? My 5 speed came with 4:10 and I re-geared to 4:56 to run 285/75R16 and I'm pretty happy with that setup. I wouldn't see any reason to re-gear if you're running stock tire size with a 5 speed though.

So it depends on tire size a lot. Having a larger ratio (high number) INCREASES rpm at that range. That being said, my 2nd gen has a 3.4 swap but the 2nd gen manual trans so it’s possible the gear ratios are a little different in the transmission than your 3rd gen. I don’t think so but I’m too lazy for a 3 second google right now.

Anyway My gear ratio is 4.88:1. So super extreme compared to yours. But my RPMs are pretty high at highway speed. Like 3,000 RPMs at 70 mph. But it’s soooo nice having the torquey as f*ck 1st/2nd/3rd gears.

Also, if you regear the rear and it’s 4wd, you gotta regear the front to match so twice the money/work.

My rear end also has a Detroit TrueTrac. They are nice. I love mine. And I want to put one in the front. If I were to do it again AND money isn’t an object, then I would go with the electric locker. Selectable, and fully/truly locked.

All depends on goals/usage and money/time.

I think the LSD is good for the front but not the rear. Lot harder to get into trouble with a locking diff on the rear solid axle, no downside like there is on an IFS.

But on the rear axle I wouldn't put an LSD on. I live in the snow where limited slips can help to a point, but once the roads completely ice up it hurts more. Having your axles lock unexpectedly on slick surfaces isn't ideal. There's a reason drift cars like welded diffs, it helps them drift. In every other case an LSD is helpful.

I have the 2.7 with 4.56 with 265/70R16 and at 74 mph I'm pulling 3k rpm. I want a lower RPM on the highway, so using the 5th gear from a W58 is probably my best option.

I run stock tires.. I mostly don't vear to much from stock. As I saw the downside of lifting etc in the late 80s to early 90. Does too much wear and tear on components for me to deal with...

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I was hoping to leave the 5th gear alone. However, that is an option..

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I agree with this. I have a set of grippy HT rated tires that rock in the dry summers here and the limited slip diff is awesome. Great traction all day. However, in the winter it gets very dicey. In snow it's near worthless with these tires as it doesn't just get stuck, it slides sideways and makes things worse. I got stuck in the snow twice, once someone helped me out with trackpads (was about 24" of snow) and the second time I had brought my own to get out of in 6" of snow. In rain, it also wants to slide sideways and if not careful on a turn the rear end swings out and oversteers really bad. I think I need to take a driving course so I don't smash up this thing someday.

The traction in the dry weather makes up for it for me here in sunny CA but do not recommend it in wet climates.

For the gear ratios, I just went through this with my auto 4Runner and I think 4.10s are pretty good with the 5 speed. For reference, I put in 5.29s with my auto just to match gears 1-4 to the 5 speed! I think 4.30s are not enough to make a difference as it's only 5% difference in RPM. 4.56s are 10%. 4.88s are 20%. You get the idea.

Some good thoughts. As I lived in wet snow environments, my entire life. The kick out doesn't bother me. Actually, 90% of the time. I try to see how far I can go in 2wd anyway. I would just leave it all alone, except my axle housing in the rear is gone rotted through. So I have to change it anyway.

With having a set of complete axles with 4:30s. I figured I might as well utilize those.

I was hoping to drop the rpm range into around peak torque 2.8k. With the consensus, being ratio has to be higher to accomplish this. Or I have to change 5th gear in the manual transmission.

I just have to think about this abd decide which way to go..

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