What axles do I have?

[crawlin92]

Got a 2000 TJ 2.5l 5spd. How do I know which axles I have? I looked at the numbers on the rear diff but nothing made sense to me except it said "Dana". Looking to re-gear in a couple weeks so I need to know what to get for...

[Dukes69]

unless the previous owner swapped something else in, then you have a low pinion Dana 30 front and Dana 35 rear.

[crawlin92]

Ok so I want to make sure I have this right... I want 4.88's

For the front would I get these?
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52419_91X_B_PG.htm

And rear these?
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52419_92X_PG.htm

And it says something about a new housing is needed for certain gears... would I need the housings as well?

[Dukes69]

your gear selection is correct or the axles you have. You dont need to replace the housings, they are talking about the carriers (the part the ring gear bolts to). I cant remember what the carrier break is for D30/D35's, but there are 2 different carriers for each axle one for low gears and one for high gears (low=high number, high=low number). Search for TJ Dana 30/35 carrier break and you should find something. Then you have to find out what gears you have, cause you might get lucky and have the correct carriers.

[crawlin92]

Ok now for these questions... I'm hoping to stay about the same for gas mileage if not gain a couple if I do this right...

Right now I am running 31" BFG's. Don't have a problem with turning them right now and I get about 16mpg highway. If I was to get the gears now would it benefit me at all with the 31's or should I just wait till I get 32's?

I talked to a guy who had a 97 TJ, 4.88's, and 33x12.5 tires and he said he was getting about 15mpg on highway with the 4banger. That sound right? I'm hoping that running 32's will get me slightly better with 4.88's, plus I am going to do the basic motor mods to try and bump up power a little bit. Another buddy of mine said he gained quite a bit of gas mileage in his Cherokee when he installed a intake and throttle body spacer so I was thinking of trying that.

Anyways, getting off subject. Would the gears benefit me with the 31's? Whats going to happen to mileage in general when it's geared?

[Dukes69]

Jeeps typically get that milage number, regardless of what you do. The only time I experienced different is on JeepGal's '02. She for 22mpg on the way to the Rubicon one year. That was with 33's, 3.73 gears, drafting and staying at about 60-65 mph. Personally I wouldn't put any money into the D35 (unless its a Super 35 kit). All that TB spacer, intake, exhaust junk might get you 1 mpg, but that hardly offsets the cost. Just remember your pushing a brick through the air. Make the Jeep more aerodynamic and then you'll see some milage gains.

[crawlin92]

Well I don't wheel very hard, just camping trips and trail cruises with the occasional mud hole or hill climb along the way, and they usually aren't very bad. And all I want to run is 32's, maybe 33's in the future but not sure about that as this is still a street driven ride. So if I don't need to run the Super 35 then I would rather not. At least not now. If I decide to get into harder wheeling then I will look into it or maybe different axles in general, but that wouldn't be for a good while.

I remember reading somewhere that the TJ comes with 4.11's (at least with a 2.5L 5spd). So if I am reading this all right then I wouldn't need the new carriers if I do actually have 4.11's... right? Sorry, I know I ask a lot of questions that I may already be answering myself, but when it comes to axles and driveline it's pretty new to me.

[Dukes69]

I remember reading somewhere that the TJ comes with 4.11's (at least with a 2.5L 5spd). So if I am reading this all right then I wouldn't need the new carriers if I do actually have 4.11's... right?

that is correct. You'll have to check what gears you have. If they are indeed 4.11's then the carriers are good to go. I would try the 32's w/ the 4.11's just to see how you like it.

[The-Hurricane]

, Just remember your pushing a brick through the air. Make the Jeep more aerodynamic and then you'll see some milage gains.

how exactly does one go about doing that??

[Materdaddy]

how exactly does one go about doing that??

I think the point was you don't/can't.