Input needed on mods.

RttH

Member
Not sure where to post this...I have a lot of questions.

I have a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero running 32/11.5/15 and do most of my offroading in Colorado. I suffer from not having a low enough gear ratio (especially in steep decents!). I am contemplating lower gears as I would really like to have 255/85/16 to get a little more clearance. I am planning on lockers too and figured while things are apart why not do it all at the same time??

I realize this is more of a personal/individual based question but I am looking at all opinions and options. I dislike fixing things that are not broke, but at the same time even the little ditch at the Overland Expo required more braking as my auto transmission and high gears were ineffective.

Thanks in advance!
 

dust devil

Observer
Gearing is not so much a personal choice as one of automotive engineering. You can easily calculate needed gearing changes that go with tire changes by creating a ratio between original tire diameter and desired diameter, and then changing gears by that same ratio.

However, your real problem may be the automatic transmission. Auto transmissions don't have a true direct drive relationship between engine and transmission. They drive through a torque converter, which is an hydraulic device. While converters can (if designed so) and do lock up, making essentially a direct drive relationship, they almost never lock in first gear or at low speeds. No converter is always locked, and when descending hills at low speeds, you are almost certainly unlocked, or coasting.

So, if gaining speed while descending hills is your issue, be prepared to use your brakes. That's about all you have.
 

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