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rear axle ratio: 97 GT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Indyjones
  • Start date Start date Aug 14, 2007
I

Indyjones

New Member
Aug 26, 2003
11
0
0
Aug 14, 2007
#1
  • Aug 14, 2007
  • #1
How do I figure out the rear axle ratio on my 97 GT (5 speed)? I think there were several options...
 
M

mustanggt3685

New Member
Oct 8, 2005
130
0
0
Illinois
Aug 14, 2007
#2
  • Aug 14, 2007
  • #2
Check the door sticker and run it on a site that has a decoder (plenty of them).

http://web.tampabay.rr.com/theflock/mustang/doorplate.html

The sticker should have "AX" and under it a number.
 
B

BobHyatt

New Member
Aug 7, 2007
378
1
0
Aug 14, 2007
#3
  • Aug 14, 2007
  • #3
another way or two

There should be a tag on one of the bolts holding the cover on the differential case. A dealer can take those numbers and tell you what you should have (assuming it was never replaced).

Another method just as easy is to do this:

jack up the rear end so that both rear wheels are off the ground and supported safely by jackstands. Put the transmission in neutral with the parking brake off (front wheels chocked unless it is dead flat ground).

Make an index mark on one rear wheel using white chalk, marking the wheel near the frame or something where you can accurately tell when it is back to that position. Mark the driveshaft in a similar way at the rear U-joint. Now for the fun part.

By hand, turn the drive shaft carefully counting the number of revolutions until the wheel has turned exactly one turn. It will likely take 3.something turns. Getting that "something" accurate is important if you want an accurate ratio number. To compute your rear end ratio, you just need to know how many turns of the driveshaft were needed. three and 1/4 turns is a 3.25 ratio.

For more accuracy, you can do this same thing, but turn the rear wheels 10 complete revolutions exactly (good wrist / forearm workout turning the driveshaft). Again count the number of driveshaft revolutions, but now you don't have to be as accurate on that last fraction of a revolution. Suppose it almost exactly 35 revolutions. Divide that number by 10 and again that is your ratio (3.5, or more likely something pretty close to that.)

For perfect accuracy, you remove the cover, remove the carrier/ring-gear, and count the pinion teeth and divide that number into the number of ring-gear teeth. But that's both messy and takes a lot of time. Turning the tires 10 revolutions will get you a very accurate answer.
 

96GTstang46

New Member
Nov 20, 2006
142
0
0
Seattle, Washington
Aug 15, 2007
#4
  • Aug 15, 2007
  • #4
Guessing that its never been changed.. Im willing to bet there 3.27's... almost 100% sure..

96 they had 2.73's and I thought that 97-98 were 3.27's.. the 96 was the slowest production GT mustang ever, with the best gas milage lol..
 

d98gt

Founding Member
Mar 14, 2002
4,505
59
204
SE Texas
Aug 16, 2007
#5
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #5
It could either be 3.27s or 2.73s. Another way to see if the sticker were somehow messed up would be the tag on the differential cover.
 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member
May 20, 2006
1,421
4
39
UCSD/La Jolla
Aug 16, 2007
#6
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #6
96GTstang46 said:
Guessing that its never been changed.. Im willing to bet there 3.27's... almost 100% sure..

96 they had 2.73's and I thought that 97-98 were 3.27's.. the 96 was the slowest production GT mustang ever, with the best gas milage lol..
Click to expand...

I had 3.08's so there!!
 
I

Indyjones

New Member
Aug 26, 2003
11
0
0
Aug 16, 2007
#7
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #7
Thanks for all the info!!!! I checked the Vin...Turns out I have the 3.27s (LE code). That's good news...I was afraid I might have a worse gearing My Stang appears to have most options...17 inch rims, ABS, leather...etc.
I bought it only a few days ago...took me two days to polish and wax it...it's all shiny now
Time for a few mods
 
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
Aug 16, 2007
#8
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #8
http://www.americanmuscle.com/94-98-mustang-gears.html

get some 3.73s for it , it will wake it up alot
 
L

Lee95cobra

New Member
Jul 5, 2006
16
0
0
Kentucky
Aug 16, 2007
#9
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #9
My 96 has 3:27 according to door code and chilton manual.
 

TweekedGT

New Member
Jul 22, 2004
1,274
0
0
Alberta
Aug 16, 2007
#10
  • Aug 16, 2007
  • #10
My 96 had crappy 2.73's. Boy could she haul on the highway .
 
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