I have an totally stock 97 TA that I would like to take to some drivers schools later this year. It will be my first time on a road course. By then I hope to have sfc's, phb, and performance shocks. I just got a new set of firestone firehawk sz50 tires, which are awesome, and a set of carbon metalic brake pads. My question is if I go with a 4.10 gear will I have too much wheel spin off the corners? Are 4.10's durable enough in the stock rear end for road racing? Thanks for any input.

 

It depends on the tracks that your going to hit, most people seem to prefer the 3.73s (or 3.90s for those who can get them), but look at the speeds you expect to hit on the track and see what gear that puts you in. For the most part people try to stay out of 5th, thats up to you though. If you end up spending alot of time shifting, that can hurt more than help. While you may rip shifts quickly at the strip, its not really advised on a road course where your going to be shifting say 500-800 times a day.

www.f-body.org/gears

 

Thanks for the reply, but it didn't really answer my questions. Like I said I have never been on a road course so I'm not worried about being competitive. I am just going for the fun of it. I just want to know if 4.10's will cause me to spin uncontrollably or brake too easily. I would like the gears for the sotp feel on the street. The car is 95% daily driver.

 

i dunno. i'm going 3.73

also, be careful w/ your brakes. they are the weak link in that setup. you plan on running the SZ50s? you might destroy em

 

I have 3.42s in my '97 A4 TA. These seem to work just fine and are not obnoxious for regular highway driving. I would not go any higher than 3.73s with the A4, street or strip. I think you would not like all the shifting on a road course with 4.10s.

 

I think 4.10's are too much for a road course. Not because of wheelspin out of corners (the gas pedal is connected to your right foot, remember ), but because of the shifting issue mentioned. The last thing you want on a road course is to be shifting all the time.

Dave

 

If you want 4.10's, get them. They'll work just fine on the track.

Sure, there's probably a specific rear that will work the best on a specific track but I don't think it makes all that much difference.

GM gave us a wonderful transmission with nice, closely spaced gears. It isn't like the Mustang's T5 that will fall on its face in 5th.

With 4.10's you'll basically just be in one gear higher at any given point on the track than you would with 3.42's. The end result is the same.

I shift into 5th as I enter the front straight at Pacific Raceways and I'll pull away from Mustangs with a similar power to weight ratio. When I end up north of 140 I'd have to shift into 5th with 3.42's anyway.

On any given track there is probably a corner or two where you will need an extra shift to be the fastest. However, there is probably a corner or two where you will need one less shift as well.

If you know the track and can drive worth a damn, an extra shift shouldn't slow you down noticably. If you want to be fast you need to keep your engine in the fat of its powerband--and that means a lot of shifting no matter what gears you have.

 

I had 411 RWHP on a road course and did not have "uncontrollable wheelspin" with Yoko AVS Intermediates, you control how much power gets to the ground, not your gear

 

I'm running a 3.73 rear end with a 6 speed in my car. I'd agree with Jon's post. Sometimes I can require a shift to 5th when a 3.42 car may be able to tach out 4th gear, but I dont' think it hurts me overall. Don't worry about it and get a 4.10 gear if that's what you want for daily driving.

I'd also second the warning about using your stock brakes on a road course. Treat them gently or they'll be your worse enemy. If you start doing more track events you'll get rid of them in short order.