1. What is Final Drive Gear Ratio?

The final drive gear ratio is the ratio between the number of teeth on the ring gear and the number of teeth on the pinion gear in a vehicle's differential. It determines how many times the driveshaft rotates for each rotation of the wheels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple gear ratio formula:

Where:

• \( Ring\ Teeth \) — Number of teeth on the ring gear
• \( Pinion\ Teeth \) — Number of teeth on the pinion gear

Explanation: The ratio shows how many turns the pinion gear makes for each turn of the ring gear.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio Calculation

Details: The final drive ratio affects vehicle performance, including acceleration, top speed, and fuel efficiency. Higher ratios provide better acceleration but lower top speed.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth for both the ring gear and pinion gear. Both values must be positive integers (typically ranging from 20 to 50 teeth for ring gears and 7 to 15 teeth for pinions).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical final drive ratio?
A: Common ratios range from 2.5:1 to 4.5:1 for passenger vehicles, with performance cars often having higher ratios (3.5:1 to 4.5:1).

Q2: How does gear ratio affect performance?
A: Higher ratios (numerically larger) improve acceleration but reduce top speed and fuel efficiency. Lower ratios have the opposite effect.

Q3: What's the difference between final drive and transmission gear ratios?
A: The final drive ratio is constant, while transmission ratios change with gear selection. The overall ratio is the product of transmission gear ratio and final drive ratio.

Q4: Can I change my final drive ratio?
A: Yes, but it requires replacing the ring and pinion gears in the differential, which is a complex modification.

Q5: How does ratio affect towing capacity?
A: Vehicles designed for towing often have higher final drive ratios to provide more torque at the wheels.