In a RWD the final drive gears are in the "pumpkin" 2.73, 4.11's etc. (extreme range, I know) where is this located in a FWD car and can they be changed? If it can be done how hard is it to do so? What is the stock gearing in a factory produced Maxima.......say a 97 GXE? I realize this is a trade off of top end speed for say.....1/4 mile times. has anybody experimented with this? what is the optimum trade off value for a Max. with a Y pipe, b pipe and a good intake? and like I said what is the factory ratio?
TIA
2Maximas

 

On FWD cars, the final drive ratio is integrated into the transmission because of space reasons. You just can't fit a separate unit, so replacing it would mean dissasembling the entire tranny...not really an option.

95-99 manuals use a 3.82 final, while the autos use a 3.62 final.

Even if you could do it, shorter gears on the 5spd's would be pushing it because the ratios are already very short (5th is 0.80:1). On the otherhand, the auto guys would benefit a lot more because they already have both a taller final drive *and* a taller overdrive of 0.69:1.

 

Here is the cliff notes version of Steve's post. 5spds have the ideal gear ratio now, changing it won't lead to better performance. Autos could use a 4.10 or 4.30 gear though.