i just got a rear axle off craigslist for $300 and i am wanting to find out the gear ratio. he said it has 5.71s in it but i want to double check. I do i go about doing this?

 

you can...

A. take out the pumkin, count the teeth and do the math and figure it out that way.

B. do the driveline (or in your case, flange) rotations, and count the number of rotations the axleshaft makes, and then do the math and get it that way

 

Here, I'll tell you.

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/#ratios

 

ok thanks, i will pull the pumpkin out. when pulling it out, do you have to pull the axles out or just take the nuts off the pumpkin and it will come out?

 

pull the axles all the way out,
do not allow the axles to rest on the axle seals, you may end up with leaks down the road

 

oh, hey, and another thing... Is there a mark of paint on the pinion?

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechI...#Differentials