Got my 4.56 gears done!!

[Poppa Wheelie]

So finally got it done. I know I am only rolling 33s now, but I also tow our toy hauler. When loaded for a trip, it's actually heavier than my truck. Also, my stock gears were 3.30s. WTH? 330 on a truck?
Anyway, I can really feel the difference. Can't wait to hook up the trailer next month and drag the quads out to central Oregon. Just need to get the speedo fixed cuz now the actual speed I'm going is .7777 of what the speedo says.
Will have it set for 4.56 and 34 1/4 tires, as then when the 35s go on, I won't have to re-do it.

 

[panda24619]

nice! you get the front done as well too? since you have an 01 you can buy a tuner and it will recalibrate it. so just get an edge! haha

 

[Poppa Wheelie]

Ummm, of course I did the front. That's like asking if the sun is hot. So the answer is yes
good thinking on the tuner. hadn't really given that much thought. Speedo/odo correction, more power when u need and more mpg when u dont. Sounds pretty good. I will check out that edge.
Thx

 

[walnuts4x4]

+1 for edge... it actually made a big difference with the 37s... running 3.73 gears for now... but the edge will adjust for gears and tires... plus can real time monitor 8 different parameters while you are driving... I would check them out...


O yeah I am jealous you got gears done ... I want 4.56 or 4.88s but have too many other bills than to dump that much money into expy...

 

[panda24619]

yeah. i just dont have money. school and working 1 day a week. but i want an edge. there was one guy selling his on craigslist for only $250. it was gone in a week. but with the 99-02 you can correct the speedo for different gears and tires. while the 97-98 you cant. its a gear in the transfercase or tranny if your 2wd.

 

[Bart Man]

RE : Gears 4.56 or 4.27 or 4.11

As for the Edge programer its the way to go!!, Im in the market on getting my gears done with ARB air lockers front and rear , I was considering 4.56 or 4.27 gears, also because I will be towing too, What are your RPM's at 60 or 70 MPH, and have you checked your MPG's ,just wondering if it had gottin any better or worse. Thanks!

 

[tonydiv]

Yea, I'd be curious to see how many rpms you're turning at highway speed, too.

 

[Poppa Wheelie]

I don't think there are 427 available for the front diffs in these rigs. 4.10 or 4.56 only. As far as mileage, my computer doesn't have that function and I haven't gotten around to checking it manually. Around town it's probably better if you can keep your foot out of it. Which is hard to do, because that damn thing is so much quicker now!! Freeway unloaded, you might lose a little MPG, but with 6000 lbs of Weekend Warrior, I think the MPG is much better, well it just feels like it's not working as hard.
Plus a better crawl ratio and better engine braking. But the best things are pulling the toyhauler from a dead stop uphill, it just goes, before it felt like the tranny was going to explode. And on the interstate going 65-70 with the trailer puts the RPM right at peak torque in OD, so less gear hunting!!
The speedo being so far off, I have used my GPS to get a ballpark so I can guesstimate my true road speed, and at a true 55 mph I turn 1900 RPM. That's a lot, but I will be going to 35" tires as soon as this rigs paid off. Hopefully......

 

[tonydiv]

So what did everything end up costing you?

I'm planning on swapping out gears soon, but I kind of feel that if I'm going to all that trouble and expense, it seems silly to put the stock, open diff back in the front. ARB and e-lockers will add about $900 to the parts cost though.

 

[panda24619]

e locker will be cheaper and in a ifs it shouldnt be too bad. ive herd bad things with e lockers in solid axles, but good things in ifs. weird. but i still think arb is the way to go. and besides my uncles arb in the rear of his jeep has leaked twice on us. once when he was down here in the desert and once while we were on the for dyce trail. both times it fixed its self. which is weird cause air leaks dont fix them selves. haha

 

[wk99]

This is an older thread but I just installed 4.56 gears on my 2012 Limited EL with 305/55r20 and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. My truck came with the stock tow packages to include 3.73 gears, transmission cooler, and rear air suspension. I’ve also added the Readylift 3/2” leveling kit and retained my air suspension. I have an Airraid cold air intake, jet pro flo MAS, FlowMaster super 44 exhaust, and the SCT Livewire+ tuner. Just towed from central Texas to Colorado and averaged 12 MPG in truck with 166k miles. I cruised at about 75-80 mph, towing 7k lbs. At 80 MPH my RPMs were 2500 and I only downshifted on very steep grades, typically 3k RPM to get up grades. When I towed in stock form from GA to Kansas I averaged 8 MPG and often had to get RPMs into 3500-4k to get up grades. Unloaded I average 13 MPG and I have a heavy foot.. I attribute the better towing to the gears which are Yukon gears. I do get better throttle response with the intake and programmer but I can’t smoke tires. Really wanted to get a Procharger kit but they don’t make them for my year for some reason. I used tow/haul mode the entire time and just let the truck do its thing. Get the 4.56 gears of you tow. They really help me get up to speed from a dead stop. The truck is fun to drive unloaded as well. Not smoking tires but it will move off the line.

 

[The Ark]

I know, old thread. However, I did this gear swap on my 2001 Dodge ram 1500 4x4. It has a 4 sp auto... And stock 32 inch size tires. The gear reduction is obvious, and I love it. I am turning 3000 rpm at 59mph in 3rd gear (direct 1:1)... But was setting it up to tow. Mileage increased in town ... In OD around 2k rpm at 60mph. I did it to make it easier on the drivetrain while towing... And to keep towing rpm closer to peak torque for the magnum 360 engine (3100rpm). Before the gear swap, 3.55 and same size tires. Towed 9000 lbs on a state highway (yep a bit overloaded) and the tranny was downshifting to 2nd quite a bit on hills. I didn't like it so this the gear swap.

Why do I bring it up? I have the 2012 Expy EL limited now, 2wd, 125k miles (120k when I bought it) with 3.73 gearing and 255/70r18 sized continental tires. So far so good. I like the 5.4 3v coupled with the 6 speed tranny. This engine makes 85% of it's torque at 1600rpm, which is phenomenal imo. Rpms are low at highway speeds (under 2k at 70mph), mileage is better than the Dodge (15-16mpg combined) and have been on one 2000 road trip (myself and 4 of my grandkids)... Averaged 18.5 fully loaded with dual air blasting the entire time and the gkids had tons of room to be comfortable on the trip.

I think with the 6 speed tranny, the 3.73 gears and the torque available at lower rpms, I won't consider the gear swap until after we get out TTrailer next year and go on a few trips.