ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair => Topic started by: SIDEKICK65 on August 05, 2011, 05:10:59 PM

Title: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: SIDEKICK65 on August 05, 2011, 05:10:59 PM
I was wondering on a 1995 zuki sidekick with a 16 valve motor with an auto trany what would the gear's be? i know if i took it apart i would know but i thought i would ask so i dont gotta tear it apart. ???
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 05, 2011, 08:04:33 PM
3 speed trans would be 4.62s and 4 speed or Over Drive trans
would be 5.12s

Wild
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: Skyhiranger on August 05, 2011, 08:21:42 PM
2 door or 4 door?

A 2 door of that year, with the 16 valve and a 3 speed auto will have 4.30s.
A 4 door of that year, with the 16 valve and a 4 speed auto will have 5.12s.

If nothing else, jack one rear tire off the ground, put the tranny in neutral, spin the tire exactly 2 revolutions and count how many times the driveshaft turns.  However many rotations the driveshaft makes, in 2 revolutions of the tire, will be what the gear ratio is (4.30, 4.62, 5.12).
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 05, 2011, 10:36:38 PM
Oh ya the dreaded 4.30s, I thought those were California only spec
Track/Kicks for fuel economy or emissions?
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: Skyhiranger on August 05, 2011, 10:40:44 PM
Oh ya the dreaded 4.30s, I thought those were California only spec
Track/Kicks for fuel economy or emissions?

Nope.  They are found in all 2 door trackicks with the 16V and 3 speed.
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: tdrrally on August 06, 2011, 05:36:20 AM
what's the issue with the 4.30 gear?
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: Skyhiranger on August 06, 2011, 06:05:46 AM
what's the issue with the 4.30 gear?

Nothing.
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 06, 2011, 09:11:24 AM
They are just too high for wheeling and bigger tires, I had 4.62s and
those were too high, great for the Samurai tho as a lower replacement

Actually, I have yet to see a 16V with a 3 speed trans anywhere, not the
wrecking yards or on the streets, so I'm not sure how many of those were
built, most of what I have seen are 5 speeds or 4 speed autos
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: Skyhiranger on August 06, 2011, 10:48:13 AM
They are just too high for wheeling and bigger tires, I had 4.62s and
those were too high, great for the Samurai tho as a lower replacement

Actually, I have yet to see a 16V with a 3 speed trans anywhere, not the
wrecking yards or on the streets, so I'm not sure how many of those were
built, most of what I have seen are 5 speeds or 4 speed autos

Right, high gearing is the drawback of having 4.30s in a trackick.  But the good thing is you can swap in commonly found 4.62s or 5.12s for some lower gearing.
Any 2 door trackick with the 16V and an auto tranny will have the 3 speed auto (2 doors only had 3 speed autos).  All 4 doors (except the 91), with an auto will have the 4 speed.
I think I've seen maybe 2 of the 2 doors with the 16V and a 3 speed.
All x90s with an auto will have the 4 speed.
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: tdrrally on August 06, 2011, 05:58:55 PM
where would i find a set 4.62s ?
i'm planning on running a 235/75-15 nothing bigger on my 2k tracker
5.12 might be a tad to much for driver
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 06, 2011, 08:11:41 PM
You sure about that? Just run the stock gears and put on the 235s,
they should be fine
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: tdrrally on August 07, 2011, 03:25:19 AM
right now with 215/70s its very slow to get rolling , it might be the auto trans

but its a commuter with some light off raod use

i will say i have been kicking the idea of a 5 speed conversion, but the auto is nice in traffic
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 07, 2011, 09:54:13 AM
If you have 5.12s the swap you are thinking of is going to make your problem worse
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: tdrrally on August 08, 2011, 01:23:33 PM
???

lower gearing like a 5.12 should help on bottom end and hurt topend
a 3.87 is a better freeway gear than a 5.12

with the same size tyre

right now i have a 27" tyre and would like to go to a 29-30" tyre
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 08, 2011, 08:50:59 PM
Yes, to a point, if you have enough power to pull the tires and
gearing, they put the 5.12s in the man trans to get the engine
to the power range where it can pull the load.

If you say it's slow getting going, and you have 5.12s, changing
to a 4.62 or a 4.30 is going to make it into an absolute snail off
the line and on hills, especially if you go to 30" tires
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: geseryjow on August 09, 2011, 04:40:55 AM
what is the best combination?
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 09, 2011, 10:47:46 AM
An auto trans with 5.12s and 30" tires works OK, the problem is there are
very few gears available to go lower than 5.12, there were some 5.62s but
are very rare, and there were 5.83s from Cal Mini, but those are not being
made now.

I sold my 5.83s and was going to use the $$ for an Undertaker, but the cash
went to other things and now I got a truck on jack stands and no fun wheeling

Ohh I also had 33 13.5 Super Swamper LTBs and wanted to go up to a 37" tire
with an Undertaker and 5.12s, since I don't drive this on the street anymore I'm
not worried about the onroad gearing, but there are some gearing calculators to
help you choose tire sizes and gearing options that will keep you as close to stock
gear ratios as you can

Wild
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: tdrrally on August 09, 2011, 03:28:35 PM
ok
where do i find a set 5.12s?

one day down the road maybe a 5speed not now
Title: Re: Zuki sidekick gearing
Post by: wildgoody on August 09, 2011, 04:54:30 PM
If you have a 4 speed auto you might have 5.12, otherwise
I think all of the man trans trucks got them