Morris Minor Owners Club

This is a point that often causes confusion. As Willie and Bmcecosse suggest: a high ratio diff gives a higher engine speed (for the same top speed) and a low ratio diff gives a lower engine speed.

BUT a high ratio diff is effectively 'low geared' (short legged) and a low ratio diff is 'high geared' (long legged).

Also, for the same revs, a high ratio diff will give a lower top speed and a low ratio diff will give a higher top speed.

I think it's those terms that cause the confusion.

Also, a higher ratio diff will give you better acceleration as it's effectively a torque amplifer.

It's a lower ratio - hence the term 'low ratio diff' !! Always leads to confusion.