carlos8

ok guys the time has come....

im going to send my 96 camaro ss 4a to the shop.but now that im going to change the barings n cups...should i change to 3.73s or stay with the 3.23???

93M6Formula

I switched mine from 3:23 to 3:73 and love it! I have a 6 speed but i'm sure you can tell a significant difference with your A4 also. My buddies 94 Z28 does 2400 RPM at 65 MPH with 3:73's in case you're wondering. I never ran my 3:23's at the track so I dont know how much i gained but I ran a 13.71 @100.97 MPH 1.97 60' with just gears in my car.

carlos8

well think i am going to do it. a lot of people run them...and say their nice..

LT1John

+2 for the gears but some tire on with those gears and you will like it.

LSWHO

iTrader: (1)

Closer to 2250rpm.

4.10s would be about 2450.

I'd go 4.10s or 4.30s if you're staying NA and cam only.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Keep in mind you're going to need to reprogram the PCM due to the change in gear ratio so your speedometer remains accurate.

carlos8

Yup I'm going to tune it...n thanks guys...

So they do perform better rite...??

carlos8

Datz wat I'm haring...... tanks

nitrous2fast

iTrader: (2)

in an auto a stall is gonna be better for the money....also much more fun. just my .02

LSWHO

iTrader: (1)

About 2 tenths or so.

1961ba427

iTrader: (26)

I wouldn't go lower than a 3.73 if you drive the car alot. If you had an M6 I'd have said lower. If you can find one quick, you could go to a 3.42 out of a 94+ M6 car for alot cheaper than repairing your rearend. Then you could build yours up later....or just take the money saved and start putting it aside for something stronger.

LSWHO

iTrader: (1)

3.42s is an absolute waste of time for a 3.23 car.

Stay stock or 3.73 or 4.x

I'm always the guy that'll use a break as a time for an upgrade. Not fixing it with equally bad oe parts.

God's LT1

I have 3.73s in my car and had them in my Impala SS... Its the only way to go in a A4!

1961ba427

iTrader: (26)

3.42 isn't a huge improvement, but it would be an improvement. Similar to doing 3.73's with an M6. The reason I suggested those are because you can pick up a complete rear for cheap. I would not recommend anyone to buy and install a 3.42 ring and pinion.

4.10's or numerically higher gears in a little ten bolt are only fun for a short time if you have any traction. If you don't have any traction....you'd probably run quicker with the 3.73's or 3.42's anyway.

As far as equally bad oe parts: I doubt a gear ratio and bearing change would be any higher quality parts than OE no matter what brand you get or who sets them up. Not enough that you'd notice anyway. The fact is....it's a 7.5" rear and it's not going to last long if you get on it alot. Also, I bet an OE 3.42 rear in good shape will be quieter than most rears with aftermarket lower gears.

Anyone want a TA style cover or a pair of Moser axles?

WSix225

iTrader: (1)

Okay...i was told my car has lower gears when i bought it, but not quite sure what i have.

Its a pretty stock A4 and at 65mph im turning 2250rpms....guess that means i got 3.73's.

If thats true the car gets 16mpg and on crappy street tires punching it in first is good for alot of smoke. lol
I just ordered some Nitto Dr's...def a must with 3.73's.

pontiackid

iTrader: (3)

I have a 6 spd. but i had 3.42's and i went to 4.10's. best thing i have done to my car. makes it alot of fun to drive. not that it wasn't before. I havent notice any gas milage decrease at all really either. You wont regret getting gears.

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

Ive had 373s and 410s. Id try 390s if I still had an auto car. I like the 410s better...

alexcoreas

iTrader: (1)

Does he run the risk of breaking his rear with 4.10s?

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Depending on what the car is used for and its powerband should determine what gear and tire combination should be used. Stating one set of gears is a waste of time over another when little information is given is dumb. What is known is putting something more than a 3.73 gear in an auto is useless unless the power band can accommodate the final ratio.

www.f-body.org/gears

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

For me it was pretty easy. I had a LPE combination and ran 4.10 gears and was constantly running 12.2's to 12.4's at low 114mph. I found out I was going well past power peak when crossing the traps so I geared down to a 3.73 and started running 12.0's to 12.2's at mid 115mph with virtually the same 60' and I was crossing the traps right at power peak with the 3.73 gears.
With my new SR combination I had the same 3.73 gears and ran high 11's @ 120mph with horrid 1.8 60' times. I put in 4.56 gears and ran a best of 11.22 @ 122 with a 1.55 60' time and I know there's more left since that was ran on a 75* day.
Basically what I would do is study different combos or see if there's one that is close to what you have and see what gears they are running. Your tire choice souly depends on what your ET goals are. For me 27" Hoosiers are everything I'll ever need for my setup and I chose the gears accordingly.
One of the best tools I have found to give you a ballpark estimate is the link I supplied: www.f-body.org/gears