Gears, Need Opinions Please

cparks555 · March 8, 2012

Alright guys, 2007 Sierra 5.3L 4speed. I just ordered a body lift, and about to throw some 35's on.

Below is what the shop doing the work suggests:

Auburn Gear 4.56 (front & rear) $600

Fluids $75

Install $600

Custom Tune $350

Out The Door $1800

Opinions wanted and needed before I spend that much, he said it would be a different truck with gears and tune. Are Auburn gears legit, and what about his price for everything? 4.56 or would 4.88 be better?

Sorry about all the questions, just don't know anything about this! I know this topic has been beaten to DEATH, humor me if you will.

Thanks

Cole

blackout07 · March 8, 2012

I've never heard of Auburn, but the price is legit. What kind of tune? That's important.... And go with 88s all day. I am very happy with mine.

cparks555 · March 8, 2012

Blackout, I've never heard of Auburn either, it's what he has used on all the trucks in my area is all I know. He said "custom" tune, he has a guy that tunes race cars there. It's a race shop, we have a pretty nice oval track that has races every weekend, so I will find out more about the tune. I've been reading 4.88 is what I needed, I'll have to ask him why he reccomends 4.56. Heading there in the morning to pay for gears, so will have much more info then. What kind of gears are you running? I've only heard of Yukon.

cparks555 · March 8, 2012

Auburn makes some really nice traction devices/differentials...haven't heard much about their gears tho.

Most people I know of run either Yukons, Motives, or G2s. I'd go with the 4.88s...thats what I'm gonna run on mine. However, if you do the majority of your driving on the highway, 4.56s would probably be the better choice. Also, if you wheel your truck at all I'd suggest upgrading the G80 to a truetrac or another traction device.

Hey Cole, where are you getting the gears installed? 675 for install is a great price.

Frogfish, I've always heard Yukon was about the best along with Motives, not sure what to do. My family owns some property that we deer hunt pretty hard, so a good bit of logging roads are driven, no hard wheeling though.

Guys name is James, http://carolinaspeedshop.com/.

cparks555 · March 8, 2012

Whats the cost of G2's? I'm pretty sure he would put whatever gear I want in, but if he has goog success with Auburn I hate to not take his advice. I only want to do this one time, so don't mind paying a little more for the best.

cparks555 · March 8, 2012

Thanks man, I'm having a hard time finding prices on Yukon. Auburn is kinda pricey, not sure if it means they're good or just pricey.

Silverado4x4 · March 9, 2012

Auburn makes some really nice traction devices/differentials...haven't heard much about their gears tho.

Most people I know of run either Yukons, Motives, or G2s. I'd go with the 4.88s...thats what I'm gonna run on mine. However, if you do the majority of your driving on the highway, 4.56s would probably be the better choice. Also, if you wheel your truck at all I'd suggest upgrading the G80 to a truetrac or another traction device.

Hey Cole, where are you getting the gears installed? 675 for install is a great price.

Frogfish, I've always heard Yukon was about the best along with Motives, not sure what to do. My family owns some property that we deer hunt pretty hard, so a good bit of logging roads are driven, no hard wheeling though.

Guys name is James, http://carolinaspeedshop.com/.

Yea Yukon and Motive is definitely top of the line. I'm going with the G2s just because they're cheaper and I've heard great things about them. IIRC, Matt (Blackout07) runs the G2s...

Yea the G80s can become a liability when you wheel and need to turn those heavy 35s. I'd highly suggest upgrading to a truetrac if you got the $$$ (abt $500 for the truetrac)

35s heavy? HAHAHAHA I 4 wheeled with 42" swampers with a G80 and never blew it. The only thing I blew was a power steering hose before I upgraded to a duel steering stablizer.

cparks555 · March 9, 2012

Wow, mine struggles turning 33's, with 42's I think it would curl up into a ball and die.

blackout07 · March 9, 2012

IIRC, Matt (Blackout07) runs the G2s...

Yes I am, and they're good gears. When I was researching gears, I found a lot of info that suggests that, like many other products on today's market, gears are pretty much all mass produced by the same folks and then stamped/boxed for the various companies that buy from them. IMO, even if this guy recommends 4.56 tell him you want 4.88's. 56's are the correct gear when considering the tire size but that doesn't really take into consideration the added weight of the tires/wheels. I can tell you that I would have been dissapointed with 56's after driving mine with the 88's.

lbkthree · March 9, 2012

I would call drivetrain specialist up here in Detroit. The can get you OEM (AAM) gears for the rear and possibly the front. They suggest movtive if you don't go with OEM or can't get OEM in the ratio you want. I've been going to them for 10 years now and they have been great. As far as ratio suggestions go, my personal opinion is to go 4.56 with 35's especially if you do any highway driving. I do agree with the TrueTrac. I had one and loved it.

cparks555 · March 9, 2012

Thanks guys! I just got back from the shop, and he has either Richmond or Motives. I feel dumber now that I told you all Auburn, I could have sworn that is what he told me yesterday. I asked again about 4.88, and he says 4.56 for just driving around town and light wheeling. He is totally against 4.88 for some reason, I need to decide what to do quick. He wants to install the Richmonds, any advice there is appreciated. Body lift is going on Wednesday, get some pics up that night. Hoping to clear 35's without too much rubbing, we'll see.

Doug_Scott · March 9, 2012

Thanks guys! I just got back from the shop, and he has either Richmond or Motives. I feel dumber now that I told you all Auburn, I could have sworn that is what he told me yesterday. I asked again about 4.88, and he says 4.56 for just driving around town and light wheeling. He is totally against 4.88 for some reason, I need to decide what to do quick. He wants to install the Richmonds, any advice there is appreciated. Body lift is going on Wednesday, get some pics up that night. Hoping to clear 35's without too much rubbing, we'll see.

Auburn Gear is very well known for their differentials. Could he possibly have mentioned going with Auburn Gear for a locking differential change, and you only heard the Auburn Gear part?

cparks555 · March 9, 2012

Thanks guys! I just got back from the shop, and he has either Richmond or Motives. I feel dumber now that I told you all Auburn, I could have sworn that is what he told me yesterday. I asked again about 4.88, and he says 4.56 for just driving around town and light wheeling. He is totally against 4.88 for some reason, I need to decide what to do quick. He wants to install the Richmonds, any advice there is appreciated. Body lift is going on Wednesday, get some pics up that night. Hoping to clear 35's without too much rubbing, we'll see.

Auburn Gear is very well known for their differentials. Could he possibly have mentioned going with Auburn Gear for a locking differential change, and you only heard the Auburn Gear part?

This is probably what happened, I know he mentioned Auburn in our first conversation at some point.

blackout07 · March 9, 2012

I suggest looking to the forums for your ratio decision. You will find that 4.88s are very common for 35s. FWIW, every shop I talked to suggested 88s. The first one I called suggested them immediately after I mentioned my setup.

cparks555 · March 9, 2012

I'm confused as hell with this whole gear thing. I see most people are running 4.88's, and this seems like the logical choice. For some reason this dude insists on 4.56's, even when I pushed him for some info on why not 4.88's.