Various rear-end gears are refined versions with their advantages and disadvantages. The different rear-end ratios like “3.73 vs. 4.11” affect whether the gears are shorter or longer. Moreover, the gears in the differential act as the final drive for a vehicle.
Many surveys suggest that plenty of people don’t know what they’re doing regarding vehicle mechanics. If you’re one of them, then don’t worry. This article will share gearing basics and differences in each rear-end gear ratio including how it affects your rpm that’s related to speed.
Let’s get into the details.
What Does The Rear-end Gear Ratio Mean?
The rear-end gear ratio refers to the relationship between the ring and pinion of a car. It’s easily calculated by dividing the ring gear teeth by the drive gear teeth.
When people refer to numbers like 3.08, 3.73, or 4.10, they usually talk about the gear ratio. The gear end ratio is the ratio of the ring and pinion gears in the rear axle. Therefore, the numbers are more accurately described as 3.08: 1, 3.73:1, or 4.10:1.
This ratio is the number of teeth on the ring (driven gear) divided by the number of teeth on the pinion (drive gear). So basically, a ring gear with 37 teeth and a pinion with nine teeth will have a gear ratio of 4.11:1.
This would mean that for each turn of the ring gear, the pinion will also rotate 4.11 times. In simple terms, the numbers represent the number of turns of the driveshaft to one rear wheel turn.
Differences Between Rear-end Gears 3.73 and 4.11
There are different rear-end gears. The tall or high gears have lower numerical values, such as 2.79, 2.90, or 3.00. In addition, the short or lower gears have a higher numerical value, such as 4.11, 4.30, 4.56, 4.88, or 5.13.
As far as 3.73 gears are concerned, the ring gear in this turns one revolution for every 3.73 revolutions of the driveshaft. Whereas, in 4.11 gears, the driveshaft spins 4.11 times for every process of the ring gear.
Basically, the higher the gear ratio is, the quicker the car will be from a dead stop. This is because the engine no more has to put more energy into spinning the tire.
The purpose of rear-end gears is to multiply the torque delivered by the engine and transmission to the wheels. They can be seen as complex levers. However, a setback for steep gears is that the top speed is sacrificed.
What are Lower Gears?
Lower gears are often known as highway gears. This means they will usually be slower out of the hole than higher gear ratios.
Some massive torque engines can compensate for lower gears and move quickly despite not having steep gears. In this case, the lower the gear, the higher the top speed will be.
A significant difference between the rear-end gear ratios is that a higher gear ratio like 4.11:1 will allow faster acceleration. But then, it’ll also lower the car’s potential top speed.
Ratios in the 4:1 range are more suited for short track, drag racing, and autocross. Your engine needs to spin at higher RPMs for highway driving and race-on-road circuits. This way, it’ll be able to maintain the same speed.
Just a gentle reminder, this results in increased fuel consumption.
Is 4.11 a Good Gear Ratio?
Yes! The 4.11 gear ratio is an axle gear ratio. It’ll increase your rpm at any given speed.
This is a good gear ratio if you require more power at highway driving, climbing hills, or restarting at stoplights.
4.11 gears will make it feel like it has more HP from stoplight to stoplight and pulling hills in a truck. 4.11 means that the driveshaft has to turn 4.11 times for every single revolution of your tires. However, it also leads to losing the rubber overdrive, which is that engine rpm will drop for any given speed that comes with larger tires.
The ratio is thrown off if you install a larger diameter tire on the wheel. Then switching to a more significant differential ratio will bring the ratio closer to before the tire increase.
This gear ratio yields strong acceleration but is based on the transmission ratios. Furthermore, the car will cruise at higher RPMs.
How Fast Can You Go With 4.11 Gears?
An engine in good shape will be able to run continuously for up to 4000 rpm. With a 4.11 gear ratio and 7.00 X 13 tire, the speed will be roughly 69 mph. This is good for freeway driving, but the engine will sound busy.
However, it also depends on how to stock your engine. If your vehicle has a late 70s smog engine, 4.11 is considered a waste. This is because the car won’t be able to make enough HP or torque to take advantage of the gears.
If your car has a mild small block or an engine with higher torque, 4.11 will be unique in acceleration. However, regardless of the engine, the gas mileage is usually terrible with 4.11 gears.
Rpm depends on the size of the tire and transmission. 4.11 gears will lower the rpm to maintain speed if you have an overdrive.
What are 4.11 Gears Good for?
The 4.11 gears lower your top-end speed and your acceleration times. They’re considered significant for the 1/4 mile.
They’re not as good regarding gas mileage and top-end speed, though. This is because they sacrifice the speed of the car for faster acceleration. In a 4.11 gear, the starting line torque will increase by 16%. However, the top speed will decrease by 0.86%.
Drag racing engines with higher RPM benefit from taller gears. This allows the engine to rev higher all through the car’s velocity. It leads to better take-off and mid-range power.
| 4.11 Ratio (4.11:1) | 3.73 Ratio (3.73:1) |
| Lower gear ratio | Higher gear ratio |
| More torque | Less torque |
| Lower top speed | Higher top speed |
| Generally consumes more fuel | Each gear is a little farther apart |
What’s the Difference Between a 3.73 Gear Ratio and 4.10?
A simple difference is that a 3.73 gear ratio will have 3.73 drive shaft rotations when the rear axle makes one rotation. Keeping this in mind, in the 4.10 gear ratio, the driveshaft has to turn more times (which is 4.10 rotations for one revolution) as it’s a higher ratio.
The 3.73 and 4.10 gear ratios have a significant impact on engine rpm. You’re selecting second gear with the 3.73 to pull the grade.
Moreover, 3.73 gears provide less acceleration from a stop. However, they’re also less strenuous for highway cruising. These gears are standard for pickup trucks.
However, you can hit the third gear with a 4.10. As your engine speed is about a thousand rpm slower, the temperatures under the hood will also be lower.
Impact of Gear Ratios on Vehicle Performance
In simple terms, a higher gear ratio means less speed but more torque. Let’s take an example of gears in cars:
- 1st gear in transmission: ratio is 4.10
- 2nd gear in transmission: ratio is 3.73
- By the 5th gear in transmission: the ratio is 0.7
While 3.73 gear is a higher gear ratio, it’s not the best for pulling trailers. The 4.10 gear is suitable for truck driving.
It’s considered one of the best rear-end gears for towing trailers. But the 4.10 will have increased fuel consumption.
Are 3.73 or 4.10 Gears Better?
It depends on your vehicle.
For a high-performance vehicle like a sports car or SUV, 4.10 is considered the typical gear ratio. This is because it provides better acceleration than 3.73 due to the faster second and third gears. They can provide more torque at lower speeds to accelerate from the stop.
The other difference between the 3.73 and 4.10 gear ratios is the number of teeth in each and how many turns one wheel makes compared to another. 3.73 is the gear ratio for a standard four-speed transmission. It’s used in vehicles with a small cross-section like light-duty trucks and vans.
The limited-slip differential in a 4.10 vehicle can provide better traction control than a 3.73 vehicle. The differential gears are more significant in the 4.10 transmission system than in the 3.73 one. This allows more torque to be distributed to the wheels when going through tight turns and adverse conditions.
Some disadvantages of a 3.73 gear include slower acceleration, higher gas consumption, and reduced torque at lower speeds. However, the advantages include improved fuel efficiency, more space for more significant engine components, and better drivability on slippery surfaces like snow.
Which Rear-end Gear Ratio is Best?
The 3.55 gear end ratio is considered the most popular one in trucks. It averages towing power and fuel economy. It’s a good ratio for the occasional towing or hauling.
However, the 3.73 or 4.10 ratio may be more appropriate for someone who often tows heavier loads.
Your goal should be to pick the best gear ratio for your specific vehicle. There are many factors you should consider when choosing gear ratios. There are even formulas where you can add in the information to get a recommended gear ratio now.
An important note to keep in mind is that the higher the ratio, the more revolutions in a minute. The 3.55 to 3.73 range provides good acceleration.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Gear Ratios for Vehicle Performance Enhancement
Generally, a lower or taller gear ratio provides more top speed. In comparison, a higher or shorter gear ratio provides faster acceleration. So, it depends on what your preference is.
If you’re looking to restore performance, you need to change the gear ratio to compensate for tire size changes. If you originally had 3.07 gears, now you need a ratio that is approximately 17% lower, such as the 3.55 ratio.
Whereas, if you’re looking to increase off-road performance, you might want a 4.10 or a lower ratio. Lastly, one should always do their research before shopping for vehicles. It’s essential!
Final Thoughts
- Rear-end gear ratios like 3.73 and 4.11 impact a vehicle‘s performance. They affect acceleration and top speed.
- The gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on the ring and pinion gears in the rear axle.
- Higher gear ratios, like 4.11, result in quicker acceleration but sacrifice top speed.
- Lower gear ratios, such as 3.73, offer better fuel efficiency and higher top speeds but slower acceleration.
- The choice between 3.73 and 4.11 depends on factors like vehicle type, intended use, and personal preference.
- 4.11 gear ratios are favored for their acceleration benefits but may lead to increased fuel consumption.
- 3.73 gear ratios strike a balance between towing power and fuel economy. It makes them popular for trucks.
- Ultimately, selecting the best gear ratio involves considering various factors like towing needs, tire size, and desired performance characteristics.
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