I've never been happy with my 05 Dakotas power. Love everything about my truck except it just doesn't have the power I need. I should not have to drop into 2nd gear going up every little grade when pulling my boat. My wife's Buick rainier(suv) with a v6 will pull the same boat likes it's not even there. I expect more out of a truck with a V8.

So I'm ready to gear it down after some research. Currently running 3:55 I believe, (I'll have to check my build sheet). I'm wanting to go to a 4.10 or possibly a 4.56, I've heard some people have even gained mileage by doing this, I'm currently only getting about 12mpg when towing my boat, and it's just an aluminum bass tracker.

It's an 05 slt 4.7 std output.
So I'm looking for a little direction, has anyone done this? Do you recommend 4.10 or going to a 4.56? What should be replaced along with the ring and pinion while I'm in there? Not really interested in limited slip. Just what I need to do a ring and pinion swap in both diffs. I'll have it professionally installed, but I like to shop for my parts on my own to avoid ridiculous mark ups. Any advice is appreciated and welcomed.

 

Gears or a tuner.

 

id go 4.10s and tuner for your truck...

 

What kind of tuner do you guys recommend?

 

Superchips 3865, which you can find used and unlocked in forums classifieds as well as craigslist and Ebay for around $200. The newer versions are the Superchips 3841 and 3842 (one version is a California edition), which can be found new for around $300.

And 4.10 is the way to go, 4.56 if you had huge tires.

 

Pretty much what everybody else said. 4.56 will be too low unless you have big tires. 4.10 should be just about right. I'd do the gears first, then worry about the tuner. The tuner by itself won't give you nearly the improvement the gears will. And with the new gears, you probably won't even need a tuner.

As for what to buy, I would plan on at least new pinion bearings (and new carrier bearings, unless they're in like-new condition), a new crush sleeve, a shim kit, a pinion seal, and a new pinion nut. If you get an installation kit, these parts should all be included, as well as ring gear bolts, a cover gasket (or silicone), and marking compound.

 

My '06 came with the 3.55 and I had the same issue. I started looking at the cost and work in swapping gears, but I checked www.car-part.com and found a complete low mileage 3.92 axle with the factory LSD for less than the cost of parts to do the swap. If you need it shipped, the best way is to have it shipped to the nearest freight terminal and pick it up there, and avoid the local/residential delivery surcharge.

 

one thing to remember, you need to do both sets if truck is 4x4, I have 4.10 and absolutely love them my cost back in 05 was 1800.00, only because there wasn't a bearing set out yet and my guy had to build them, now they are fairly cheap and come complete, a tuner wont do you crap until gears are done.

 

I called today and was quoted an estimate of worst case scenario $1800 parts and labor. $600-700 in labor, and from my searches I can get both sets with master install kits for around $600.

 

Really depends on your driving style. I have 4.56 gears and a tune on my 2011 quad. 2wd with the stock 18" wheels and tire size. LOVE IT!

I'm mostly a city driver and have a trailer 50% of the time. Pulls almost as hard with the trailer than it did without it before the gears and tune.

City mileage went up towing or not. Highway mileage went up when towing also. Highway mileage only suffers 1-2 mpg if I'm trying to run 70 or more with no trailer. 65 or less is the same as it was before.