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What is stronger? 5:38 thick or standard?

K85 Octane

K85 Octane

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Just wondering if it's worth changing my carrier.
I currently have thick cut gears on my 4.10 carrier.
I'm under the impression that the pinion gear stays the same, but the ring gear changes?
Dunno


To add to that,
What is stronger?
4.88 gear set, 5.13, or 5.38?
Numerically higher gear sets have a smaller pinion gear?
It's all foggy for me. Wonder this ever since I considered changing from my 4.88s.
 
Thickness doesn’t really matter for the strength , but I wouldn’t do 5.38’s the pinion is tiny and I have seen multiple failures
 
smaller pinion count = weaker .

if you need that deep for offroad only = doubler kit or magnum box .
 
sweetk30 said:
smaller pinion count = weaker .

if you need that deep for offroad only = doubler kit or magnum box .
Click to expand...

4.88s and 5.38s both have 8 teeth on the pinion. But the head is slightly smaller. It's the tooth count on the ring gear that increases.

Thick or thin is not enough of a difference to justify buying a carrier
 
I'm not a hammer down kind of person and fairly light footed.
I'm going from 37" tires and 4.88. This combo has been good for cruising but right on the cusp of what should be 5.13s
Now I'm running 40s and 4.88s. Freeway and street is ok but it's more of a dog than before, obviously.
If I were to choose between 5.13 and 5.38, with strength as the ONLY determining factor, is there any difference?
I have an auto 4sp, so deep gears is fine with me. Running 5.38 gears would help with the hills and towing. I don't mind turn more RPM and NOT driving 75 on the freeway.

Also, I've been running the CHEAPEST gear sets I can find, without a problem. If the pinion becoming smaller is really a problem, should I change companies?
 
The actual real world difference between 4.88’s and 5.38’s is not worth the swap, 294 more rpm at 70 mph
 
This ^^ is why everyone should swap to rear 70’s and go DEEP! :pimp::burnout:
 
K85 Octane said:
I'm not a hammer down kind of person and fairly light footed.
I'm going from 37" tires and 4.88. This combo has been good for cruising but right on the cusp of what should be 5.13s
Now I'm running 40s and 4.88s. Freeway and street is ok but it's more of a dog than before, obviously.
If I were to choose between 5.13 and 5.38, with strength as the ONLY determining factor, is there any difference?
I have an auto 4sp, so deep gears is fine with me. Running 5.38 gears would help with the hills and towing. I don't mind turn more RPM and NOT driving 75 on the freeway.

Also, I've been running the CHEAPEST gear sets I can find, without a problem. If the pinion becoming smaller is really a problem, should I change companies?
Click to expand...

Spend the money on a second case and leave the 4.88’s.
 
Okay so is this more for on road or off road. Your to the point that you might need the gears for on road and like an eco box for off road.

In your truck. I don't think you'll see a reliability issue with 5.13s or 5.38s but like Gus said it's gonna not make a huge difference.
 
skunked said:
Spend the money on a second case and leave the 4.88’s.
Click to expand...

My post was mostly joking, realistically this is probably the best option. All the cool kids do both though. :D

HankScorpio said:
Yeah, the 60 goes down to 7.17. My Sno-Cat runs the 6.17 in the 60's. 15 mph in overdrive.
Click to expand...

I’m sure it’s crazy slow with small tires or tracks (??) but when you get to a 40”+ tire even 6.17’s aren’t that awful to drive.

A friend of mine used to have a Dodge with 6.17’s and 35” Boggers, it wasn’t bad to drive at all. In fact, he used to run it around 55 mph on the interstate to Pensacola (50 miles) to go wheeling.
 
nvrenuf said:
My post was mostly joking, realistically this is probably the best option. All the cool kids do both though. :D



I’m sure it’s crazy slow with small tires or tracks (??) but when you get to a 40”+ tire even 6.17’s aren’t that awful to drive.

A friend of mine used to have a Dodge with 6.17’s and 35” Boggers, it wasn’t bad to drive at all. In fact, he used to run it around 55 mph on the interstate to Pensacola (50 miles) to go wheeling.
Click to expand...

True, lots of trucks running rockwells with big tires and still manage to get to the trail ok.
 
Yeah, it’s certainly different than running the typical 4.56 but a lot of folks get caught up in the number and can’t let themselves try it.
 
The pinion is small on 5.38s, but when I made my gear selection it was based on street driving in OD. on 40" TSLs. Works perfect for a stock 350. I choose thick gears because I already had the 4.10 carrier with a Detroit inside....
 
I'm not terribly interested in having a slower 4L. I like my 700/241 combo now.
So any doubler I choose still wont help me on road.
It might sound minor but I wouldn't mind the extra ~205rpm, according to GrimJeeper calculator
But it does nail home how unimportant it is to change my gears right now.
Need to focus on other things :D
 
i think a better bang for the buck at this point would be another 50-75hp in the rpm zone your running in you feel bogged down a little .
 
Another 100hp will solve the gearing issue and sounds like more fun anyways...
 
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