dumbass question...

**knoll5150** · 03-15-2008, 07:43 PM

OK, I know I'm gonna get ripped here, but I'm a novice to the muscle car scene, and this terminology kills me...what the hell is a "rear"? I hear about cars with a "4.40 rear changes to a 3.20 rear" and I don't know what the hell they are talking about! Could someone give me the basic definition of this term? I'd appreciate it.

**fluke** · 03-15-2008, 07:49 PM

The gears in your rear end (the car). Their ratio.

**slpcamaro** · 03-15-2008, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by fluke

The gears in your rear end (the car). Their ratio.

is correct depends on if you have 5 or 6 speed what you want a ratio like 4.10 has a lot more acceleration in the early gears but you lose top end and something like a 3.73 doesn't pull off the line soo much but will have better top end i stick with that cuz i have a 6 speed and it accelerates well but i still have plenty of top end and gas mileage doesn't suffer 80mph i'm still under 2000rpm's in 6th gear

**Fury_786** · 03-16-2008, 07:34 AM

stick with 3:42's (if you have them) you'll be more than happy.

**Jays00ss** · 03-16-2008, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Fury_786

stick with 3:42's (if you have them) you'll be more than happy.

HUGH?

I got 4.30's and I am alot more happy than haveing the 3.42's.

**RARON455** · 03-16-2008, 07:47 AM

There is no such thing as a stupid question, everyone has to learn somehow, Knowledge is only useful when it is shared!!! The ring and pinion gear in the rear axle is what they are referring to. The numbers they are talking about is a ratio, the higher the ratio number is the more low end acceleration the car will have, also in turn though, the car will not achieve the top end speed because the motor is hitting its max revs earlier. The lower the number the slower acceleration the car will have, but it may hit a higher top speed if the horsepower is there to do it, and it will be better on fuel economy due to turning less RPMs.

This is what will confuse you, when they are talking about putting a lower or steeper gear in the car they do not mean the numbers themselves are lower, so if someone had a 2:73 to 1 ratio and they said they lowered the ratio on the car the numbers would have actually went up, say to like a 3:42 to 1.
hope this helps you understand.