If possible, without popping the cover how can I tell what gears the rear has? Also, w/ popping the cover, how can I?

I'm going to a car show w/ beasty swap meet Saturday and don't want to spend a couple hundred on a 9-bolt thinking it's a 3.45 to find it's like a 2.77...

NOTE: I imagine most of the rears I look at, if not all, will be OUT of the car so no jack it up spin the tires driveshaft blah blah blah.

-Rippin

 

If you have the cover off and you can see the gears you can count the number of teeth on each of the ring and pinion. The gear ratio is the # of teeth on the ring gear divided by # on the pinion.

For example 41/10 = 4.10 ratio

 

But how do you check without taking the cover off??? I am curious as to what gear my 2002 SS with A4 has....

Jim

 

Your car either has 2:73's or 3:23's. If you have the 1st gear selection on your shifter you have 3:23's, if not it's 2:73's. That's assuming your rearend is stock, which on an 02 I would assume it still is.

 

You can mark the axle where the wheel bolts to with a marker or something and spin the yoke ( where the driveshaft bolts to). Turn the yoke until the axle mark makes one comlete revolution and count how many turns you had to make of the yoke. Ex If you turned the yoke about 2 times are and about another 3/4 of the way then you havbe 2.7 gears in it and if you turned the yoke about 3.5 times around 3.45 gears ...a little over 4 times 4.11's etc. You should get the point. If you need any clarification let me know.

Matt

 

Thanks GREGG 97Z and Nostang 96z, I must have 3.23s.

How much of an improvement would 3.73s be? Will it be a BIG difference? I heard it's not wise to race pusstang from a rolling start around 30-40mph. Would I whop his a$$ that way if I had 3.73s????

 

I doubt an 02 SS w/3:23's would have any problem with any stock or lightly modded 5.0/4.6 Mustang from a stop or a roll except for maybe an 03 Cobra.

 

Thanks man!