how much torque can a stock diff take?

[AFgts]

Just as the title reads, does changing your gearing to a higher ratio also increase the amount of torque it can handle?? Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[Camfab]

Higher ratio as in higher numerical value generally means weaker set up. More teeth means more cuts in a given area.

 

[MoparMap]

Higher numerical gears tend to have thicker ring gears though, so it's an interesting trade-off. When I pulled the 8 1/4 out of my Dart it had 2.73 gears in it and the teeth of the ring gear went almost to the base of the gear. With the 3.55 gears in it the ring gear was probably twice as thick to move it out far enough to engage the smaller pinion.

 

[steve e]

With a higher ratio you get a leverage advantage which can take some pressure off the drive shaft and trans but make twizlers out of the half shafts and tires.

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

The steeper the gear the more chance the aluminum case will deflect and increase wear on it and the gear set also.

 

[AFgts]

My half shafts are unitrax rated for 850hp so I think they will be OK. I'm just wondering how this 3.73 I'm getting this weekend is going to hold up on some spirted driving this next week. I have roughly 550hp.

 

[GTSHolgi]

Remember: No spirited driving for the first 500 miles! Otherwise, your new gears will not last for long

 

[steve e]

Like GTSHOLgi said you have to break them in, change the fluid, then do your racing. I have 3:55s and a bit more than 550 and so far so good.

 

[GTSHolgi]

Like GTSHOLgi said you have to break them in, change the fluid, then do your racing. I have 3:55s and a bit more than 550 and so far so good.

Steve, how do you like your 3.55 gears? I just bought the parts from Unitrax but still need to find a shop I trust to put them in. This will probably be my project for next winter... Holger

 

[AFgts]

Remember: No spirited driving for the first 500 miles! Otherwise, your new gears will not last for long

I'm actually buying them used from a member on here that only had 6,000 miles on it so I can spirit drive it as soon as I leave the shop he he

 

[GTSHolgi]

I'm actually buying them used from a member on here that only had 6,000 miles on it so I can spirit drive it as soon as I leave the shop he he

I see ;-) Are you buying the complete diff or just ring & pinion?

 

[AFgts]

The complete diff

 

[Dom426h]

I have roughly 550hp.

Your intro thread said: smooth tubes, a tune, & headers

With those boltons and a stock catback exhaust you are looking at <450 to the wheels

 

[SEASNAKE]

I'm not sure what they were rated for but I ran nitrous on my Gen I with over 700ftlbs on the ground and never had a problem with the stock differential. But I granny shifted and never ran anything stickier than Michelins at the drag strip. So I would say it depends on what you do with it.