Any of you guys that have 4.10's do the majority of your driving on the interstate? I do probably 80% of my driving on the interstate and was wondering if 4.10's would get on my nerves as far as being in the higher rpms most of the time and costing me sufficient gas mileage loss?

 

i love my 4.10's and eaton!
i do about 75% of my driving on the interstate. with my 3.42's i was getting 21mpg and after switching to 4.10's i now get 19mpg. i cruise around 70 on the interstate. i also run stock tires and rims. my rpm's jumped up around 350 rpm's. i don't know what kind of gears you have right now, but if you are going from 3.42's to 4.10's, your city driving gas mileage will increase. i think i made a good choice with the 4.10's they pull hard down low and just lay into it on the interstate and it's flying. hope this helps....

 

I wouldnt go with 4.10's if you drive on the interstate that much. I have 3.73's and they seem to be a good compromise. I most definately wouldnt go over 3.90's.
I would think your acceleration with 4.10 gears on the highway would suck. They would be good to get you moving from a stop, but after that they woudl loose steam fast.

 

not really, maybe in a crew cab or a big tahoe like yours. mine hauls *** on the hwy.
just my $.02...

 

why would they loose steam, i would think with the rpms being up higher it would pull better. my buddy has the same truck as me only with 4.10's and 33's and i can walk him like he is parked from 80 +.

 

In my experience, the only bad things about higher gears like a 4.10 are:

-gas mileage (it isn't much of an issue anymore with OD)

-engine longevity (in theory anyways)

-top speed (i think our aerodynamics hurt us more than gears)

i believe they are advantagious everywhere, including the highway. if you're reving another 350 rpm in every gear, you're likely making another 5-10hp over what you'd be reving at with 3.42's.

 

4.10 should be fine on the highway. The taller tires on these trucks are begging for at least a 3.73. I have a 3.73 in mine, and I think it would like more gear on the highway and in the city. As far as hurting highway acceleration, it would probably help it more than anything. Your gear kick down speeds would be better placed, and it will pull better in third. It probably wouldnt hurt anything until after 110 or so.
You can go test drive one at the dealer with 4.10 to know exactly what you are getting in to.

 

I'm never on the highway much with mine but I know that it accelerates good at any point up to about 70 for me. At about 70 and above it tends to fall on its face. My gas mileage isn't bad at all after the swap but I do about 95% or more city driving.

 

Gearing determines what gear your vehicle will downshift to at WOT. Cruising or trying to acclerate with that gear at highway speed is probably going to keep you in a higher gear than you would otherwise be in. He is in a higher gear than you at that speed.
Just compare the gearing for vehicles geared for 1/4 mi performance as opposed to those for top speed.
4.10's will pull better down low, but suck up top as compared to 3.23 or 3.73 which will pull harder at higher speeds... usually

 

I have 3.73s and I will be swapping to 4.10s soon. I have been in many trucks with 4.10s and they still feel pretty good on the highway!