Reverse rotation gears, in the context of differentials, refer to a setup where the pinion gear engages the ring gear higher than in a standard rotation setup.
Here's a breakdown:
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Standard Rotation: The pinion gear meshes with the ring gear lower down on the ring gear's surface. The linked video mentions this setup being common in early Broncos and F250s up to 1977.
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Reverse Rotation: This configuration involves the pinion gear engaging the ring gear higher on its surface. This design is often used in front differentials of 4x4 vehicles to improve driveline angles and overall strength. Because the rotation is the opposite of what's 'standard' for a given axle location, the differential is known as "reverse rotation".
Essentially, the difference lies in the point of contact between the pinion and ring gear, which affects the direction of rotation and the overall strength and geometry of the differential assembly.
