I've considered adding 4.57 gears, but before I lay out the money I'd like to feel (and hear) them for myself. If you have them installed, I'd sure appreciate a short ride.

I'm in the Silver Spring/Wheaton area, but can come to you. Weekends work best for me.

Thanks in advance!

 

I've got the 4.57s installed, but its in an AP2. The gears would be like having a 4.77 in an AP1. The pull would not be the same. I'm also running a T1R exhaust. This probably hides some gear whine. If you're willing to take the drive, the weekend coming up might be good. Hopefully, the weather will be nice. I'll let you know by mid week.

 

helios: if you're staying NA you might want to look into the 4.77.....however your crusing rpm is gonna be really high.....

and if you're going to end up boosting.. 4.57 might be to much unless you're going with a supercharger....

 

ohh by the way.. your top speed will drop.... 4.57 drops to like 156mph and 4.77 drops to like 145mph.... something along those lines... and that'll be you redlining in 6th gear...

 

That's a myth. I have the 4.77s and your rpms are not excessive at hwy cruising speeds. At 85mph, I am at 5300rpm.... not bad at all, especially an engine that is designed for prolonged high rpms. Hell, the car doesn't even start making any power till 6000rpm.
Helios, the 4.77s are by far the best bang for the buck mod for anyone wanting to stay NA. If you lived closer, I'd let you take my car out. If you want, PM Ccarnel. I took him out in the car, at last year's WTD and he was amazed by difference. The 4.77s make the car MUCH more fun on a daily basis.

 

When I got my 4.57's I was still NA. There is a difference, but it's not huge until you and a couple other S's are "playing." Then it's very apparent.

Yes, dropping an '04 tranny in my sc'd S w/ gears would be awesome for the track, yet, you shift into 6th earlier making freeway driving a little less noisy. Currently, I'm at 5k rpm = 80mph.

 

Thanks for the responses, everybody.

I'm not ruling out 4.77s by any means. It just seems 4.57 would be the best solution for my driving, which is pretty much 50/50 surface streets/highway. I just need to know whether I can live with the gear whine.

tenblade, how long have you had your gears, and have you had any problems with them? I'm assuming these are the Kia gears, correct?

tabach, thanks for the invite. Next weekend looks good for me if the weather cooperates.

 

I've had the gears for over a year. I had installed by HTG and the only problem I had was a fluid leak (VERY SMALL) which Jeff fixed.

 

I, too, have had the gears for a year. Also got them from HTG. After riding with Steve, I knew it was something that definitely made a difference. I don't think the 4.57's were out when he got his. The only choices were 4.44's and 4.77's.

BTW, no noticeable whine with mine.

 

I had the pleasure of driving an '00 w/ 4.77's in it this past weekend. Nice, no noise, nice pull even from the lower RPMs. This will most likely be my next performance mod. As long as you are NA and don't live on the highway, I would go 4.77.