[Sparky McShakerton]

first off,my favorite junkyard has this huge pile of axles in one part of the yard,mostly front axle assemblies. i was checking it out the other day and found one that had locking hubs just like the ones in both my '80s. it had the wide 5-bolt pattern,is it safe to assume this is a dodge front axle?

second question, how can i go about finding the gear ratio in a rear end or front axle?

 

[TheBigSgt]

Look at the front Diff cover and see if they match. Make sure the diff is on the correct side, and measure the hub to hub width. There may be a tag on the diff, if not you have to open the diff and do the math.

 

[RXT]

No it's not safe to assume that. Ford, Chevy Jeep (Fullsize) and Dodge have all used versions of the Dana 44 and Dana 60.

Additionally, Chevy was known to use their Dana 44 clone called the GM 10 bolt. (The GM 10 bolt will have a round diff cover) Now you can use a Chevy Dana 44 (Or the 10 bolt) in your Dodge because the critical dimensions are very close to Dodge axles. What you are looking for, must have a passenger side pumpkin. Driver side pumpkin axles will be for Jeep and Ford, which will be very hard to make work in your truck. If the axle has 8 lugs, it can be a desirable Dana 60, but it can also be a less desirable Dana 44 HD. You can tell the difference by the use of kingpins on the '60 or ball joints on the '44. There is also a cast number on the pumpkin telling you that axle is either a "44" or "60"

Ed

 

[Sparky McShakerton]

the axle had the diff on the passenger side so that counts out the jeep/ford theory. this one had the 5x5.5 bolt pattern,didnt chevy use a 6-bolt pattern? i'll have to go back and look for numbers though just to be sure.

 

[RXT]

Yes Chevy had 6 lug axles, but there were some with 5 lug used in the early 70s.

Ed

 

[MoparMurdoc]

Ya don't have to open up the diff to check the axle ratio, you can get an aproximation by doing this: put it up on jackstands (or something), then mark the input yoke. Now slowly turn the wheel (make sure the hubs are locked) and count how many times you have to turn the wheel before the yoke makes a complete rotation. That number will be approximatly the gear ratio (# wheelturns to 1). For example, if you have to turn it about 3 1/2 turns, you have 3.55s. If its about 4 turns its probably 4.10s, 4 1/2 is 4.56s, etc. Check it more then once and try to get close, because something like 3.55s and 3.76s might be hard to tell the difference.
But if the axle won't turn, your outta luck.

 

[Evildriver-3]

The tire makes 1 rotation and you count the number or times the yoke turned, that gives you the gear ratio, gear ratio is how many times the motor turns for every 1 full turn the tire makes

 

[trailduster440]

Could also be from a Scout or IH pickup. They both used the same bolt pattern and were pass. drop. Tell tale sign of this would be locking hubs that bolt on instead of internal hubs. I think the scouts were spring under, the pickups were might have been spring over. Look at the shock mounts do they look the same as your dodge? Chevy used to two small tabs to mount the shock instead of the huge one piece dodge used.

Chevy never made a 5 lug 4x4 70's pickup. They made 2x4 half ton 5 lug trucks and blazers. But no 4x4 5 lug vehicle. Mike

 

[ramcharger_blue02]

Neither of you have it right. If it was how many times the motor turns for every tire rotation, you'd have a gear ratio of thousands to one. It's how many times the driveshaft turns for every tire rotation. With 4.10 gears, the driveshaft turns 4.1 times for every 1 rotation of the tire.

 

[Evildriver-3]

RCB2 you better go an rethink your answer please, because it is how many times the motor turns for every rotation of the tire.

Now pay attention closely RCB2 when you have 4.10's the motor turns the Drive Shaft 4.10 times and that makes the tire turn one full revolution

You go think about it, or if you have a stick in you truck go and put it in 4th or 5th gear whatever is your 1to 1 and jack up the rear mark the tire and turn the motor over 4.10 times and tell me what happens and then fix your reply in your post.

 

[Russcharger]

Im confused. Are we talking gear ratios or axle ratios? Seems to me that RCB2 is talking axle and Marty is talking gear. Although the question said gear ratio, I wonder if he meant axle ratio since he mentioned only the rear or front axle. Anyways, I'm confused now.

 

[Evildriver-3]

Im confused. Are we talking gear ratios or axle ratios? Seems to me that RCB2 is talking axle and Marty is talking gear. Although the question said gear ratio, I wonder if he meant axle ratio since he mentioned only the rear or front axle. Anyways, I'm confused now.

Nothing to be confused about, he is looking for his rear ends gear ratio.