i have a 1992 dodge dakota 5.2L V8 4x4 and i would like to put lower geared rear end under it wondering what all can and will work that i can swap. i bought the truck for 1000 dollars runs drives great its just they welded the rear end is.

 

Welcome to DodgeForum!

Since you have a 4x4, you have to do both axles. The front is limited to a 4:10 ratio. If you look in junkyards, you may be able to find 2 3:90 ratio axles, but thats the lowest that came stock in our trucks. If you want 4:10s, you'll have to install them yourself or pay someone to do it.

For the front axle, you're limited to a 1st gen dakota, cause that particular axle was only used in these trucks. For the rear axle, you can go with a 1st or 2nd gen dakota, but the 2nd gen will require new spring perches and shock tabs to be welded on at the correct angle.

 

how do you identify what you have already?

 

Unless its been changed by a previous owner, you have a chry 8.25" rear axle and a 7.25" front axle.

As far as gears go, you can request a build sheet for your truck from Dodge and hope the OE gears are still in it, or you can pull the covers off and look for the ratio stamp on the side of the ring gear.

 

ok well thanks alot for the help. your the first guy that ive met that can awnser my dodge questions. ill prolly have more.

 

Or you can crawl under the truck and look for the metal tab bolted to one of the differential cover bolts...it will have your gear ratio on it.

 

Just an FYI, I had my rear-end on my truck go 2 years ago and had the choice of either having the spider gears and everything taken out of the rear-end and having all new put in, or the option of just having the entire rear switched, I choose to have the entire rear changed since the drive train specialist said it was faster and easier.

Also you definitely want to make sure your rear-end gear ratio is the same as your front end ratio, otherwise if you ever put it in 4 wheel drive, it will skid the tires and you might even end up breaking something or even getting in an accident. Luckily he didn't break anything, but right after my father had bought his truck he went to use the 4 wheel drive and it skidded off the road when he engaged it since the previous owner had changed the rear gear ratio to get more low end power but neglected to change the front. Luckily neither he nor the truck was damaged when that happened.

I cant speak for all Dakota's but when I needed a new rear i had the options of a 3:55, 3:99, or a 4:10 rear-end gear ratio's, mine unfortunately is a somewhat gutless 3:55 ...though this new rear is limited slip and lets me hit 98MPH before the Rev limiter kicks in and shuts my engine off, lol.

 

where can i get a 4:10 gear ratio at or preferebly out of?

 

http://www.ringpinion.com/
www.summitracing.com