Since I blew out my diff, I figured when I get it rebuilt, I could look into changing the gearing a bit on the car. I've heard a lot of people saying that gears make a huge difference, but then again I've heard people say that with a stock power set up, it doesn't really do much but kill your gas mileage. Can someone explain to me the pros and cons of going from a 4.10 to a different final drive in layman's terms?

 

My friend had 4.77's in a ap1, and it felt good from light to light, the gas milage was the same, but after 100mph i would start to pass him in my ap2. So 0-100 they are good, but if u want top end then go with 4.56's or something. The 4.77s wine a bit too.

 

A close friend of mine has an S2000 with 4.77 while I still have the stock 4.10.

If it is any quicker it isn't by much (about the same acceleration, but my tires are a lot more aggressive). Though it is a lot easier to get the engine usable power.

Gas mileage is almost even.

For a normal street car I would suggest stealing the 4.44 final drive from the RX-8.

 

Off the top of your head, do you know a good price for that?

 

Head over to the NA forum and read the whole official gears thread. All the info you need there.
4.77's if installed correctly do NOT whine.
They make the car much more fun and are a perfect gear for a street driven car!
They give the equivalent of 16% more torque through the gearing change.

 

Until you have to upshift much earlier, then you suffer a torque LOSS vs. stock.

Gears are good for acceleration from a standing start (or very low-speed roll).
For acceleration from higher speeds, they can be a detriment to acceleration. A stock-geared car will pull harder from a roll if it is in 2nd gear and the 4.77-equipped car has to be in 3rd at the same speed.

 

When you shift with gears your rpm's also don't fall as low as they do with stock gears. So you don't go as low in the powerband with the 4.77's so if you shit fast you will stay in a better powerband over all.

 

 

Wrong-o. Changing diff gearing will not affect rpm drop going from gear to gear.

Shift an AP1 from 3rd to 4th at 9000 rpm, and the rpm in 4th is going to be:
9000rpm * 4th-gear-ratio / 3rd-gear ratio
= 9000*1.16/1.48 = 7054rpm
Whether your diff gearing is 2.5, 5.6, 0.4, 11.12, whatever.

 

got my 4.77 sitting at home. hopefully i'll be able to chime in soon .