Changing Differential Gears - Need No B.S. Answer
11-07-2009, 10:53 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 43
Changing Differential Gears - Need No B.S. Answer
1999 2V GT w/74k miles. I just picked this up. The PO says he did all the maintenance but I'm starting to believe that was limited to changing the oil on a somewhat regular basis.
I've got a loud noise coming from the rear, maybe left rear. It sounds like a bearing to me, but I don't have a clue. I'm not a wrench. I have an appointment with my local mechanic for Monday morning. I took him for a ride in it yesterday. He says it might be a bearing.
The question:
IF he pulls the differential apart, I'm thinking that IF I were ever going to change the gear ratio, now is the time to do it. My question is should I do it? Every thread I've read about this issue says "yes". But, I'm not ever planning on taking my car to the drag strip or anything like that. Yes, I do plan to have a little fun in it every once in a while, but I've got a couple of motorcycles for my adrenaline fix.
So, no B.S., should I change the gear ratio?
Thank you,
I've got a loud noise coming from the rear, maybe left rear. It sounds like a bearing to me, but I don't have a clue. I'm not a wrench. I have an appointment with my local mechanic for Monday morning. I took him for a ride in it yesterday. He says it might be a bearing.
The question:
IF he pulls the differential apart, I'm thinking that IF I were ever going to change the gear ratio, now is the time to do it. My question is should I do it? Every thread I've read about this issue says "yes". But, I'm not ever planning on taking my car to the drag strip or anything like that. Yes, I do plan to have a little fun in it every once in a while, but I've got a couple of motorcycles for my adrenaline fix.
So, no B.S., should I change the gear ratio?
Thank you,
11-07-2009, 12:28 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location:
Posts: 3,189
track or not itll wake your car up for those times you do romp on it. are you financially able to afford the gears, a rebuild kit, and either a speedcal (cheap) or a handheld tuner (more expensive) to fix your speedo?
11-07-2009, 01:25 PM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 1,909
Ill say DEPENDS.
If you have an auto tranny, I would say don't even worry about it.
However, if you own a 5 speed, throw a set of 4.10s in there and just simply have a shop "93 tune" your car (hp increase will be minimal and since they will have to re-tune the car anyways for the new gears, it would be done side by side just like what your doing now)
BUT, that is only if you have a few extra dollars to spend, and if not, don't worry about it. It wont be "that" big of a deal to somebody who really doesn't care either way.
If you have an auto tranny, I would say don't even worry about it.
However, if you own a 5 speed, throw a set of 4.10s in there and just simply have a shop "93 tune" your car (hp increase will be minimal and since they will have to re-tune the car anyways for the new gears, it would be done side by side just like what your doing now)
BUT, that is only if you have a few extra dollars to spend, and if not, don't worry about it. It wont be "that" big of a deal to somebody who really doesn't care either way.
Last edited by 0949er; 11-07-2009 at 01:27 PM.
11-07-2009, 01:35 PM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location:
Posts: 3,189
Ill say DEPENDS.
If you have an auto tranny, I would say don't even worry about it.
However, if you own a 5 speed, throw a set of 4.10s in there and just simply have a shop "93 tune" your car (hp increase will be minimal and since they will have to re-tune the car anyways for the new gears, it would be done side by side just like what your doing now)
BUT, that is only if you have a few extra dollars to spend, and if not, don't worry about it. It wont be "that" big of a deal to somebody who really doesn't care either way.
If you have an auto tranny, I would say don't even worry about it.
However, if you own a 5 speed, throw a set of 4.10s in there and just simply have a shop "93 tune" your car (hp increase will be minimal and since they will have to re-tune the car anyways for the new gears, it would be done side by side just like what your doing now)
BUT, that is only if you have a few extra dollars to spend, and if not, don't worry about it. It wont be "that" big of a deal to somebody who really doesn't care either way.
11-07-2009, 04:27 PM
#8
That all depends on what your personal priorities are. Numerically increasing the rear gear ratio will improve acceleration, however the trade off is that the fuel economy of the vehicle can take a big nose dive. Gas prices have been steadily increasing and if this car is your daily driver and not some kind of race car, then cost of operation becomes a practical consideration.
11-07-2009, 05:08 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 43
That all depends on what your personal priorities are. Numerically increasing the rear gear ratio will improve acceleration, however the trade off is that the fuel economy of the vehicle can take a big nose dive. Gas prices have been steadily increasing and if this car is your daily driver and not some kind of race car, then cost of operation becomes a practical consideration.
Thanks for that. I'm already going through MPG shock. The GT replaced a 6 cylinder Camry. However, my commute is a grand total of 1.5 miles. I should probably be walking anyway.
11-07-2009, 05:09 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 43
I had been under the impression speedo correction is done by changing the speedo gear at the transmission. That didn't sound too extravagant to me. Is there more to it than that?