New to gearing looking for some help

[ssdaniels]

Hello all

We are currently taking our '99 Outback down the California coast via dirt backroads (ill be updating my build thread with photos from the trip when we get home). I've noticed that when loaded with camping gear (and I'm assuming the larger tires don't help) the car is really sluggish at starts, or even hesitating starting on really steep hills. It also seemed there was a huge difference between 1st and 2nd when going up hills. We had to stop today to clear a tree from the road and when i got moving again it really hesitated.

Here are the stock ratios for my model

1st - 3.545 2nd - 2.111 3rd - 1.448 4th-1.088 5th-0.780 Final Drive - 4.111

I found that changing my final drive to 4.44 could help but I've never done gears and am looking for any more advice on how to solve this problem. I don't take it on the highway too often and I'm ok driving slower on the highway if needed. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Robbks]

Easiest option would be to swap in a 4.44 front and rear diffs

I don't think the early push-clutch came in a 4.44 option to swap a complete box.

From 04 Onwards a lot of boxes went back to a push-clutch, but there were also driveshaft changes too.

I'd love to swap diff's in my SH Diesel, but it's already got 4.44 diff's

 

[ssdaniels]

Thanks for the quick reply. Are the final drives something I could find used somewhere or should I look for new? And if new any recommendations of places to purchase?

 

[Robbks]

a complete rear diff from another model are easy to find at a wreckers,
And a broken gearbox that you can exchange the front diff out of should be able to be had cheap.

just the work in pulling them all apart is labour intensive

 

[duncanm]

your in california.. the US didn't get the dual range gearbox, another option is to source a DR 4.11 gearbox from Oz, which gives you another 20% reduction (1.196:1)