Hey Guys_____ is there a STRENGH DIFFERENCE between 529ös with 35s and 488 with 33s gears? ? ? I read conflicting views, just curios about some opinions and reasons. Thanks in advance_____ BAYRUNNER

Read this:

http://www.gearinstalls.com/410suck.htm

That article really opened up my eyes and changed my thought process on the issue. Especially T-case mods verses diff mods and whole myth of 4.10s being stronger.

I think running a smaller tire is always going to put to less stress on the drivetrain in certain circumstances, but after reading ZUK's article, it seems to me that the quality of the gear install is far more important that what ratio you run, whether it's 4.88 or 5.29.

I know from my point of view, running a 22RE truck with a lot of wieght, the lower the ratio the better. I run 5.29s and 35s, but sometimes I miss the days when I had 33s with my 5.29s.

X2! Zuk's write up is one of the best I have seen.

hupptoy

Thanks guys for the good words <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />....
....but bayrunner, gear strength is close to identical on 488/529 and even 571. Yes, it takes more strain to turn 40" tires than it does 35"....33"...etc. The real question is what ratio will keep my drivetrain the "happiest" and how low on the gearing can I tolerate. 488 on 33" and 529 on 35" are both good all around choices to fool the tranny/transfer case/driveshaft into thinking they're turning factory tires:)
One of the biggest fairy tales is the size of the smaller pinions of say a 529 verses a 488 or 410. The 410 pinion is a monster compared to a 529....but so what? Gear strength is very close to the same and is a function of the actual design parameters. What does count is the pinion is ALWAYS designed stronger than the ring gear.....think about it....the poor little pinion is spinning over 5 times faster than a 529 ring gear. That thing is screaming. So they give the pinion a helix angle of about 60 degrees and the ring is only around 30 degrees. Everybody knows that helix gears(gears with teeth at an angle) are stronger than straight cuts.
And the tooth on the pinion is about an inch LONGER than the ring. You get the idea. Don't worry about the small pinion....think professional install with solid collars and quality gears <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Woo-hoo!!! I send a third to Zuk yesterday for 5.29's and a Detroit. I'm giddy....

I installed 571 PRECISION GEARS for Flexor http://www.gearinstalls.com/flexor1a.htm in a standard "4 cylinder 3rd" to my set-up specs and he's been beating the heck out of it in his rock buggy with 37" tires I think....they may be bigger. Everything is holding up and his stronger chrome moly rear axles are doing just fine also. Flexor is my test case <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> Congrats to Flex for having real hardened steel BALLS! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Iv been beating the crap outta the 5.29s that Zuk setup for me. running longfields with it and its holding up beautifully. second gear smoken tires goen up rock climbs and i havnt blown em up yet. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />