Question: Rear Axle Ratio-What do the numbers mean?

[LRose26]

Whenever I hear someone talk about their car, I hear their rear axle ratio, but I have no clue what those numbers mean. Can someone explain to me what the numbers stand for?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

The number of times the input shaft turns compared to the number of times the output turns.

On a 3.36 for example, this is the number rotations the input makes for 1 rotation of the output.

 

[LRose26]

so the higher the input the better?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

For acceleration yes, for top speed no. Most cars have a compromise ratio like 3:36 or 3:50 as a result.

 

[LRose26]

thanks that helped a lot.