What gear ratio?

[rollcage]

Well I have a stock 10 bolt 3.07 rear diff and th400 tranny combo, and today I thrashed a spider gear in the gov-lok. Can the gov-lok gears be replaced without removeing the locker? Also, I run 35inch tires, and I would like to re-gear. Has anyone re-geard to say a 4.56 in a 10 bolt/th400 combo before? I would like to have a great gear setup for wheeling and towing. Thanks for any input.

 

[2deuce]

Get rid of the 10 bolt. Get the gearing you want in a 14 bolt. SF or FF either will be a big improvement. Keep the 10 bolt if you like small tires and light towing. 35's are too big.

 

[DMgunn]

Get rid of the 10 bolt. Get the gearing you want in a 14 bolt. SF or FF either will be a big improvement. Keep the 10 bolt if you like small tires and light towing. 35's are too big.

Agreed... the 10-bolt is a POS and the Gov-Lok is a bigger POS. Neither are suitable for 35s, towing OR wheeling - or worth the cost of a set of gears. You can bet your ass a couple guys will jump on saying they've wheeled or towed for 3,000,000 miles without a failure, but that would be the exception rather than the rule. Most guys who never break a 10-bolt "wheeling" have never actually been wheeling......wet grass doesn't count any more than a gravel road does.

The 9.5"? SF 14-bolt is the best option in terms of strength if you plan to keep the 6-lug bolt pattern. But if you ask for my opinion (oops, too late...) I would go with 1-tons...and never worry about it again, esp. since the GM versions are relatively inexpensive and plentiful.

 

[rollcage]

LOL, I think I’ve got it. From what I’ve read about the 10 bolt so far, isn’t the 10 bolt basically a dana 44? Differential wise?

 

[rnd-motorsports]

No the 10 bolt is weaker even a 44 is stronger. but if you want to go to 4:56 gears I would recomend 14 and 60 if he is looking for a good tow / and off road performance then I would go with 3:73 nice all around gear and still keep some miles per gallon now I myself would not put 4:56 gears in anything I want to drive daily at most 4:10's a good 44 and 14 bolt with 3:73 locker in back with 35 inch tires I think would make you happy! even going with a 12 bolt in the rear would be better!than a10

 

[DMgunn]

LOL, I think I’ve got it. From what I’ve read about the 10 bolt so far, isn’t the 10 bolt basically a dana 44? Differential wise?

It is very similar - as far as I can tell it's a lower-quality copy of the Dana 44 - think of GM as the Chinese doing a reverse-engineering job on something of quality into something more.......economical to produce...many similarities, but not identical for obvious reasons.

Hmm - brings back memories of the H1.......bastards ruined that too - permanently - by thinking their watered down copies could replace the real deal. Thanks GM. You're awesome.