best mod I could hit low 13s all day with the gears + my other full bolt ons Speed increase is insane...make sure you get the 05 diff or reinforced. Both are much stronger than pre04.

 

I haven't done any other major mechanical mods - unless you consider an intake mechanical - but gears are an excellent one for the S2000!

I've had my 4.57_R's in for 2 months now,,,about 1100 miles (limited off season driving) ... - pleased as punch with performance enhancement...driveability is excellent... shifting comes slightly quicker than stock but getting used to that is just a few hundred miles...the car is brighter, more responsive & even easier to drive fast or slow...it now has what I call a tractability that it didn't have with the OEM 4.10's...feels like less down time for pep in the lower RPM's with the 4.57's...

good luck!

 

Nate- I assume with these gears that the top speed is around 140mph right? Is there any whining with the gears?

Have you noticed a change in MPG?

Thanks!

Troy

 

I believe calculated top speed with 4.57's is 139 - I don't ever see 'top speed' - a couple of times I've been up there but rare...if you think about it, for me it's true, I spend the majority of my time under 100...so getting/accelerating to 70, 80, 90 is even more fun with the gears - it works for me.

MPG's - I haven't noticed a difference - some say there is - but I get mediocre mileage (17-20mpg) any way - because I like to drive the car in 5,6,7,8 K rpm band....

it's all good....

 

A great addition to the s2k!

 

Haha... thanks for the quick reply -- is there any apparent whining from the gears? I've heard bad stories about how it's annoying as hell (kinda like those race cars with semi-automatic racing transmissions.

 

I did this mod last month and agree with the above comments. Dealing with Hardtop Guy was a breeze. I bought an assembled diff from him (Jeff). I had the diff 3 days after he got my check. I sent my diff back to him in the same container. He mailed my voided deposit on the differential swap... just bolt it in and go. Postage is pre-paid. I have been dealing with car venders for almost 20 years, and this was, by far, the easiest and most professional transaction (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

Having a helper is important to balance the diff on the jack. If you have access to a welder, another choice is to weld a small cradle that fit on top of the jack (in place of the jack plate). It was a very simple install with this device, as I didn't need an extra set of hands.

The install was straight forward and can be done with basic garage tools (including a good torque wrench). ... and yes, being sober enough to read the little numbers on the torque wrench would be a good thing...

With the diff out and the car up in the air, it is also a chance to do some other stuff under there. I installed Dynamat (heat/sound shield) in the transmission tunnel and rear diff area (no gear whine now/and I'm hoping less heat this summer). I also removed the clutch delay.

With the 4.57 gear and the clutch delay removed it is a different car... I loved it before and I really love it now...

If you get stuck in the install, PM me....

 

my experience is that even with the R part of the 4.57's (revised) there is a bit more whine to the gears than stock 4.10's...but definitely not annoying as hell....just a little more sound to add to the symphony that is the S

 

to hardtop guy!!!!

 

For those that have already purchased and put on, how much did you actually end up spending? I have an O1' so I would probably have to get a new differential.

How much of a difference is there from the 4.44, someone earlier said low 13s, so the 4.44 would be mid 13s?