1. What is Final Drive Ratio?

The final drive ratio is the gear reduction at the differential that converts the rotational speed of the driveshaft to the rotational speed of the wheels. It's a crucial factor in determining a vehicle's acceleration and top speed characteristics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Differential Gear Teeth — Number of teeth on the ring gear in the differential
• Pinion Gear Teeth — Number of teeth on the pinion gear that mates with the ring gear

Explanation: The ratio represents how many times the driveshaft must rotate to make the wheels rotate once.

3. Importance of Final Drive Ratio

Details: The final drive ratio affects vehicle performance significantly. Lower ratios provide better fuel economy and higher top speed, while higher ratios improve acceleration and towing capacity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth for both the differential gear and pinion gear. Both values must be positive integers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical final drive ratio?
A: Passenger cars typically range from 2.5:1 to 4.5:1, while trucks may have ratios from 3.5:1 to 6.0:1.

Q2: How does final drive ratio affect performance?
A: Higher ratios (numerically larger) improve acceleration but reduce top speed. Lower ratios improve fuel economy and top speed but reduce acceleration.

Q3: Can I change my vehicle's final drive ratio?
A: Yes, by replacing the ring and pinion gears in the differential, but this is a significant modification.

Q4: How does final drive ratio relate to transmission gears?
A: The final drive ratio multiplies the gear ratio in the transmission to determine the overall ratio in each gear.

Q5: What's better for towing - high or low ratio?
A: Higher numerical ratios (like 4.10:1) are better for towing as they provide more torque multiplication.