This is part 2 where I answer the most common questions after the first video.
Part 1: • Nissan 350Z 3.69 Diffe...
Changing the rear end gear on your car is one of the best performance upgrades you can make; the problem is it can get very expensive if you’re not careful. A good way to think of your rear end gear is to compare it to changing from 1st to 2nd gear. You can accelerate faster in 1st gear than you can in 2nd gear assuming traction is not a limiting factor; the trade off is 1st gear is going to have a lower top speed than 2nd gear. By changing the rear end ratio from a very typical 3.3 gear ratio to a more performance oriented 3.7 gear ratio, you are shortening all the gears in your transmission. This means you will accelerate quicker in each gear, but the top speed of each gear will be lower.
While it might seem tempting to simply buy the shortest gear ratio available, there is more to it than that. There are many online calculators to help you choose the right rear end ratio; things like tire diameter, transmission ratios, and redline. You also have to consider what your goals are.
For the 350Z, the three main aftermarket options are 3.69, 3.92, and 4.08; the only reason you would go lower is if you were making huge power numbers and struggling with traction. I personally think the 4.08 or higher are too short of a gear ratio unless you have a built motor with an 8,000 rpm redline. So, that leaves the 3.69 and 3.92 gear ratios. If you wanted to buy just the gears and the bearings required to properly install them, it would set you back over $800 plus labor. Fortunately, there are some cars that left the Nissan factory with these gears already installed.
The key to this being a cheap modification is you can swap out the entire differential without having to open it and go through the complicated process of properly setting up the gears. Swapping the entire differential unit out is pretty easy. All that's required is to unbolt the six bolts holding each axle on, the four bolts holding the driveshaft on, then three more bolts that hold the diff in place. Now would also be a good time to replace the differential bushings with polyurethane units for less deflection. So, for little more than half the cost of a new set of gears, you could have a more aggressive rear gear ratio, better diff cooling, and better power transfer.
I really can’t recommend this modification enough; it really transforms the car with very little effort. I have a video on the topic that is coming out on my RU-vid channel this weekend if you have any further questions. Feel free to contact me directly or comment below if you have any questions.
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5 ноя 2020
