My differential let go What gears should I swap in

[Breck]

Hey All,

I was driving my 95' RT/10 and a small clicking sound started happening. I didn't notice any drivability issues until I heard a loud pop and the entire car started vibrating very badly. I pulled over and got it trailered back. Looks like some gear teeth got shredded unfortunately.

Normally, I am a "purist" when it comes to modification of vehicles. I vastly prefer stock over just about anything with only a few exceptions. I have heard a lot of people recommend putting a 3.55, 3.73 or 4.10 gear ratio in place of the factory 3.07. I understand the torque benefit of the other ratios but I have some concerns as well. With the stock 3.07 I have minimal traction issues and I do like the longer gears. If anything, I find the 3.55's slightly more appealing as they were offered through the Mopar parts counter.

What is everyone's opinions? I am torn on what to do but I also want to decide soon since summer isn't all year in Wisconsin!

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[13COBRA]

3.55s would be fine. I wouldn't go any shorter.

[tagoo]

I really like my 3.55 gears. You will need to adjust for speedo error though. There is a relatively inexpensive solution from "Yellow Box". Also, I would recommend you drill a hole, tap threads, and insert a plug into the bottom of the diff case so you can easily do a fluid change. You may want to consider replacing the clutches in your Trak-Loc positraction unit while you are in there.

[SilveRT8]

My 93 has 3.73 gears which I find ideal for this car, pulls strongly from first to fifth, no traction issue with Mich SS tires, and sixth gear is now very usable cruising on the freeway between 60 to 80 mph, tach range stays between 1450 to 2000 rpm. My engine also runs strong with fully ported heads, intake and exhaust with HF cats and muffler, UD pulley and KN air filter with smooth tubes. Drivability is still very manageble, so no worry there. Go with the 'Yellow box' to recalibrate the speedo.
FYI, my '16 TA 2 has all the bolt-ons with 700+ HP and 3.91 gears, great performer on the street and highway, as long as you dont go crazy with the throttle. For gear choice, I always went one step higher than the 'usual recommended' option and been very happy with the results.
I find that all Vipers from Gen 1 to 5 were under geared from the factory for fuel economy or emission reasons, but maybe also, so that they could go over 60mph in first gear and be 'illegal in first gear'.
I would strongly recommend that you give a call for advice to JonB at Partsrack 360-837-3937 as he is so knowlegable about gears and anything related to Vipers, and can set you up with any parts you may need at the best price.
JonB is a highly reputable Vendor on this forum, and has been servicing the Viper community since 93. Go with 3.55 or 3.73 as you prefer, but do get the polished option for reduced gear noise and better longevity.

[dave6666]

3.73 w/ 28" OD rears (3.43 equiv) and OS Giken LSD built by Unitrax. Like the combo. The Giken LSD makes a world of difference tho over the Dana.

[v10sport]

You know my answer. 3:55’s