i was told 4.88 gears are weaker then 4.56 gears ? its is a 8.6 10 bolt . is this true . a friend is looking to improve towing power now he has 3.73 with 5.3 . with a 35 inch tire

 

I believe they say its a weaker gear because the pinion and gear are smaller , but as far as I know many people say that couse of there experience with the old smaller gm diff's I could be wrong also one of my cuzins just put 4.88's on his 5.3 with 35's and he just loves it he also was on 3.73's

 

I ran 5.13s in my 8.25 and 10 bolt and they worked fine. People are scared that the pinion would be to small but I beat on it with 40"s and had no problems.
I vote for 4.88s with 35"s.

 

I just went with 4.56 from a 3.73 on 35 FCII'S . I for a lot of hyw driving the 4.88 would be to to much. I'm turning 2200rpm at 70mph. It pulls BIG hills and never misses a beT or bogs. I should have swapped thematic long time ago.

 

I believe the reason people think they are weaker is because there is supposedly less area on the pinion gear because there are less teeth. I don't believe that (maybe I'm wrong), the gear is only contacting a small area at a given time, and if there are less teeth, it would mean the gear is actually slightly thicker. I really haven't read up on it though. I'm not worried, I just got some 4.56's for my 31.9 tire.

 

I just counted my 4.56's, and they are 9/41. I would assume 4.11's are 10/41, 3.73's are 11/41, and 4.88's are 9/44.

 

Iv heard that they are weaker with a shorter gear as well but I dont think it will be a problem unless you got huge power, i think skeet ran a 4.88 for a while in his but I could be wrong, i know for sure he had a 4.56 and he was cutting 1.5 60 foots on the 8.6.

 

This truck is bone stock with a edge tune. Still has all of the TM. He is trying to help with towing his 26 foot toyhauler. Not drag racing. I was thinking 488 with a magtec different cover and a good synthetic. Oil

 

Yeah you got nothing to worry about then, just as long as they are set up right you shouldnt have any problems.

 

ran 4.56's for a while and loved them. either one would help a lot and 4.88 shouldn't be any weaker than 4.56. btw got some motive 4.56's for sale if interested.