sidekick suv gearing, smaller 14" rims

[trooper Tdiesel]

ive seen the list of gearing for the geos, and im very thank full for it.
(passed it on to a number of people)
but i wounderd if any one knew what all came in the sidekicks and its twin the geo tracker for final gearing.

i have a 1993 4 door for a runner and a 92 4 door for parts,
the 93 was originally 2WD
and the 92 was 4wd,
both have or should say had the 1.6L 16V EFI 60hp per L of displacment HOT ROD engine as i call it.
and are "very fast" compared to my work horse Isuzu diesels.
i swapped the 4wd system over to the running driving one and both where the same gearing.

i know there was 4 and 3 speed auto tranys "my two rides are 5speeds" and wounderd if they had different gearing.

or if maybe the gears from a sammy could swap in i seen some stuff on the net saying they have 4.11s that would be a MASSIVE improvement over the 4.73 or 5.12s i have now THAT ARE STOCK.

i think its a 25% O\D with 215/75/15LT tires yielding 3,000 rpms at 60~ yea thats rice rocket country

the other question i have related to gearing is, are there any narrow alloy 15" or steel 14" rims that fit sidekicks?
where i live at, light truck tires are "needed" for the rock roads the smallest 15" LTs i know of are 215/75/15s
the suv rated car tires just don't cut it, way to many flats gotta be true 6py rating not a HD4py rating.


if i could get 14" rims "that fit" i could shrink the tire size nearly 2 or 3" with a swap to say 4.11s that would be a "big boost" to mpg.

[trooper Tdiesel]

found some info.

Originally Posted by random info off net

The Sidekick's gearing is 4.62:1 for the automatics and 5.38:1 for the manuals.

just put it in a on-line calculator, and it was dead on for what i have

[trooper Tdiesel]

found some info worth posting very detaled!!

Tracker and Sidekick Gear ratios
Models listed oldest to newest, per ratio.
Vitara, Grand Vitara, and XL-7 ratios will be listed elsewhere to simplify this chart
4.30X:1 Non overdrive 2 dr auto 1.6L 16v
4.625:1 2dr auto 1.6L 8v
4.88X:1 Listed elsewhere in the Vitara section
5.125:1 Most all 4dr's (Non Vitara) * Most all 5-speed Track Kick's * Most all Autos with overdrive

5.38X:1 Early model 1.6L 8v 4dr 5-spd Track Kick's (RARE)
5.63X:1 The early 1988-1989 1.3L powered Track Kick (RARE)

skyhiranger:
I have seen several posts asking about what a certain year combo would have, so I made up this list. Hopefully, it is easy to interpret.

This list is for finding the factory axle ratio in North American (US and Canada) 89-98 Trackicks, based on year, body style, engine and tranny combo. As far as I know it is 99.99999999% accurate. There may be some oddball combos out there, and there may be variations to this list in non-North American models, but the list is correct, to the best of my knowledge, for all North American models.

89-98 Trackick gear ratios
Years....2 or 4 door...Engine type...Transmission...Axle ratio
89 2 1.3L carb. 5 speed man. 5.625
89-95 2 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.125
89-95 2 1.6L TBI 3 speed auto 4.625
91 4 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.375
91 4 1.6L TBI 3 speed auto 4.625
92-98 4 1.6L MPFI 5 speed man. 5.125
92-98 4 1.6L MPFI 3 speed auto 4.30
92-98 4 1.6L MPFI 4 speed auto 5.125
94-98 2 1.6L MPFI 5 speed man. 5.125
94-98 2 1.6L MPFI 3 speed auto 4.30
94-98 2 1.6L MPFI 4 speed auto 5.125
96-98 X90 1.6L MPFI auto or man. 4.625

4.30 gears have a 10/43 tooth count
4.625 gears have an 8/37 tooth count
5.125 gears have an 8/41 tooth count
5.375 gears have an 8/43 tooth count
5.625 gears have an 8/45 tooth count

I have personally verified (removed and counted) every combo on the list, except for the 89, 2 door, 1.3L, 5 speed, 5.62 combo and the 91, 4 door, 8V, auto, 8V, 4.625 ratio......but they have been verified by people who have actually removed the ratio from the listed combo.

cj:
FYI in case you come across or are looking for the following and want to confirm them

4.875 gears have a 8/39 tooth count
5.833 gears have a 6/35 tooth count (Calmini)

so in my case, i have 5.12s

[Milwaukee]

DON'T CHANGE GEAR RATIO

Engine too weak to hold 60 mph on hwy. I used to have 94 Geo Tracker 4wd with 5 speed. It very weak for hill on highway. Need downshift to 4 gear at 4K rpm to stay GO on bridge.


Those engine can run at high rpm no problem. Just change oil with FULL synth 5w30 or 10w30.

I have mine up to 5K rpm for 5 miles due emergency. It got 26 mpg


I get 28 mpg MOST time at 60 mph but no job so I stay 52-55 mph it got 31 mpg.


You can improve mpg by fix rear door that where serious vacuum suction. Every-time I go on dirt road my rear window is cover dirt INSTANT.

Now I am try buy 1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport with 1.8L bigger motor this week for summer daily driving.

[trooper Tdiesel]

was yours 8 or 16V?

mines a 16V and has 175 compresson avg, 170 is the lowest
being a engine that likes to rev, under 2,000 rpms is quite bogged down at road speeds.

was thinking about going small on the tires im at 27" now and go to 23/25" depending on what was right, with the different gears.
if i got the right size, it would keep rpms nearly spot on to what it is now.
and as a plus, reduce power loss thru the drive train

Originally Posted by Milwaukee

DON'T CHANGE GEAR RATIO
You can improve mpg by fix rear door that where serious vacuum suction. Every-time I go on dirt road my rear window is cover dirt INSTANT.

ive wunderd about how much air drag there is with that near 90 degree angel change at the rear of the roof.
would be much cheaper and cost affective than new gears and tires.

that will keep me thinking hmm........

[Milwaukee]

My 8 valve compressor were 195 to 210 compression.

before you do anything. I believe tire on mine were perfect. I think it was 235/75/15

Engine block and head are alum so they do HAVE BIGGEST IMPACT on gas economy in winter. It have hard time stay WARM. I got 18 mpg in -15oF to 30oF in 10-30 miles commute. By way DON"T BUY aftermarket thermostat they make worse. Never warm up 100% full. Get OEM Thermostat from Suzuki dealer.


Geo or suzuki sit TOO high. I believe you could get 1-2 mpg if lower about 2-4" if You can do.


Have you change timing belt on 16V yet? DO IT. Don't get CHINA timing belt they kill your engine.


Now I am try get suzuki sidekick SPORT because they have 1.8L with timing chain instead belt.