reverse rotation gears

could someone explain to me the difference between standard and reverse rotation ring and pinion, and what it means to someone in the market for gears?

 

If you have a high pinion differential, you need reverse rotation gears.

 

I'm a drivetrain dummy among other things. What's a high pinion differential?

 

Basically it has the pinion going in the top of the housing instead of the bottom. Gives more clearance for the pinion, and also helps a little with pinion angle problems.

 

Search for a web site by Mr.N. He has full info with pictures on all the Dana 44 axles.

Reverse rotation is actually a misnomer. The front and rear axles turn the same direction. When a low pinion rear axle, which is what pretty much all rear axles are, is used in a front axle application, the pinion drives against the coast side of the ring gear teeth which is a weak area. High pinion axles were developed for front axle applications to allow the pinion to drive against the drive side of the ring gear teeth.

The correct term for high pinion gears is reverse cut. When you look at reverse cut ring gears, it looks like they turn the opposite direction of normal cut gears. That's where the term reverse rotation comes from. To see the difference clearly, seach online (Ebay is a good source) for pictures of a rear axle Dana 44 gear set and a set of Dana 44 gears from 77 or newer Ford front Dana 44's.

For someone in the market for gears, you don't have a choice between reverse and forward cut. Just order for the original axle application and you'll get what you need.

 

Where you wondering this because you have to back out of trails more than you go forward and were hoping they were made so you could have three or four gears for reverse and just one for forward?












j/k btw.

 

Huh. I can't even back out of the garage.

 

I think I understand. The term "reverse" had me confused. With a high pinion front end, you run reverse cut gears paired with standard cut in a low pinion rear end. Correct?