Changing gear ratio

[DKAB214]

Debating on buying my buddys 09 450. I'm getting it for a pretty good deal only reason I'm considering such a truck. But I was wondering if I could swap out the 4.30 and put a 3.73 in it to get better MPG? If so what axle comes stock on them?

[macgyvr]

f450 is the Dana S110 rear axle...usually.

Randy's Ring and Pinion carries them.

If its 4x4 you'll need to do the front eventually.

mac 'rear is not cheap...but cheaper than it used to be' gyvr

[drewactual]

you will be fortunate to re-gear for less than $600/axle.. a matter of fact, plan for about $1k an axle.. that is $600 for ring and pinion, and master install/bearing kit, and install @ $400 per axle..

you don't want just anyone installing gears- they are about the trickiest job you can perform, and it takes experience to get them right.. it's the only job I won't consider doing myself.. and, you're only considering moving a marginal ratio, so it would take a long long time to make up the cost by raising the ratio (numerically dropping)...

HOWEVER-

If'n I was in your position, I'd advertise on your local Craig's List or other place people buy/trade/sell, and swap out entire axle(s).. there are going to be plenty of folks wanting to head the opposite direction as you (lowering gears to compensate for larger tires, as an example).. you can swap out axles a helluva lot faster and more efficiently than you can re-gear- and then you don't have to worry about getting the install right near as much..

I've seen brand new Yukon Ring and Pinions eaten alive in less than 1k miles.. I've seen covers taken off after break in to replace fluids and have gobs of metal on magnets.. If you do decide to re-gear your existing axles, for the love of God, find a reputable joint to do it, and one that backs their work...

if you were any closer, I'd consider swapping out with you..

[macgyvr]

Originally Posted by drewactual

you will be fortunate to re-gear for less than $600/axle.. a matter of fact, plan for about $1k an axle.. that is $600 for ring and pinion, and master install/bearing kit, and install @ $400 per axle..

you don't want just anyone installing gears- they are about the trickiest job you can perform, and it takes experience to get them right.. it's the only job I won't consider doing myself.. and, you're only considering moving a marginal ratio, so it would take a long long time to make up the cost by raising the ratio (numerically dropping)...

HOWEVER-

If'n I was in your position, I'd advertise on your local Craig's List or other place people buy/trade/sell, and swap out entire axle(s).. there are going to be plenty of folks wanting to head the opposite direction as you (lowering gears to compensate for larger tires, as an example).. you can swap out axles a helluva lot faster and more efficiently than you can re-gear- and then you don't have to worry about getting the install right near as much..

I've seen brand new Yukon Ring and Pinions eaten alive in less than 1k miles.. I've seen covers taken off after break in to replace fluids and have gobs of metal on magnets.. If you do decide to re-gear your existing axles, for the love of God, find a reputable joint to do it, and one that backs their work...

if you were any closer, I'd consider swapping out with you..

Perhaps we should have an education session on the F450. The dana s110 is not like a d60 or d80. First and foremost is comes with a dropout center section. It came with either 4.30 or 4.88 gears in it in the F450. Its a totally difference beast and it is very much not swappable with anything but another F450 or possibly a F550 (but that's a dana s130). So the advertising on craigslist is probably not going to work.


Go here and put in your truck.
Diff Wizard

You will find that there are now 3.73 gears available from randys. Two years ago when I owned an F450 they did not carry anything for the s110. The 3.73 gearset is almost $700 by itself. The install kit is $300. The super 60 front 3.73 gearset is almost $400. The install kit is almost $300. Gears and install kits are $1700. Now figure that a shop is going to charge you at least $300 an axle per install (probably closer to $500), you are looking at $2300 to $2700 to regear both axles. If they are set up correctly, they will last a long, long time.

Honestly the 4.30 gear isn't a bad gear in the F450, its much better than the 4.88s that mine had in it.

Its going to take you a while to get that $2300-$2700 back in fuel economy.

mac 'options' gyvr

[drewactual]

aye... didn't know that!!

thanks.

[DKAB214]

Thank you for the info. I was thinking about the time it would take to actually start saving on fuel and to ruin a perfectly good hauling truck, is it really even worth it. Might just go with dpf delete and tuner for a little better fuel mileage. After all its an 8500lb truck, fuel mileage is gonna be low regardless. Especially when I'm used to a 5speed mazda6 haha.

[blackcloud2k]

Even tuned and deleted the 450's suffer. 14 mpg is about the best you could see tuned. Most likely you will be in the 12 range. Around me, they are giving away 450's. You can get into a 450 for cheaper than a 350 srw right now because they cant move the 450's.

[Doss]

It's the same around here Black. They had a low mileage 450 KR that was $5,000 cheaper than a 250 KR with double the mileage. The 450 is a lot of truck (not that it's any bigger than a 250, but with the rear that wide, it's hard to get around parking lots).

I would look for a 350 or similar. 250 if you're doing more daily driving and less serious hauling. 150 if you're just doing loaded bed and light hauling (daily driving).

[K1LLsW1TchEd]

F150 diesel would be cool. Oh wait the ecoboost will be the next 1/2 ton gas conversion anyhow

[countryraised]

wish I could find a cheap 450, my 350 already has the 4.10 gears so 4.30 wouldn't be bad, but a 450 would give me the 30k weight rating I want.
also a 450 is going to weigh over 9000# empty, my 350 is 9500#'s and i have to baby it and not go ove 60 to get over 14 mpg, usually ave about 12.