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  • looking into regearing

    I have a 98 TJ 4.0 with a completely stock drivetrain, axles, etc. I recently lifted 2" and I'm running 31s. anyway, I've seen a lot of posts regarding regearing and I was wondering how one should go about that. exactly how do you regear your rig and what should I look for? I need something that would still allow me to use my ride as a daily grinder plus give me a little extra. right now I find that I have no top end speed especially when going up hills and I was wondering if regearing would help that. I'd appreciate any and all input!!
    98 TJ 4.0 - 2" PORC budget lift - 31s

  • #2
    You probably have 3.07 gears right now which is okay for 31 inch tires. I rode around on 33s and 3.07 for a few months and lived.

    To regear you need, new gears and someone to install them. I paid around (foggy memory here) $300 -$400 for my Yukon 4.56 and master install kits (both axles) and then paid $400 to have some install them locally. Thats pretty cheap. Must people will say expect $500-$700 for the install.

    For your tire size I would find a D30 and D35 from a 97+ 4 cyc Wrangler. They will have 4.10 gears and you should be able to swap the axles yourself with the help of a friend. There should be a little cost savings and people sell this axles off fairly cheap.
    Michael

    [sign]nlm mln[/sign]

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    • #3
      Originally posted by nagal
      You probably have 3.07 gears right now which is okay for 31 inch tires. I rode around on 33s and 3.07 for a few months and lived.

      To regear you need, new gears and someone to install them. I paid around (foggy memory here) $300 -$400 for my Yukon 4.56 and master install kits (both axles) and then paid $400 to have some install them locally. Thats pretty cheap. Must people will say expect $500-$700 for the install.

      For your tire size I would find a D30 and D35 from a 97+ 4 cyc Wrangler. They will have 4.10 gears and you should be able to swap the axles yourself with the help of a friend. There should be a little cost savings and people sell this axles off fairly cheap.

      would 4.10 work well if I go up to 33s? I want to basically prep my jeep now so when I'm ready to jump up to 33s I'll have the right gearing.
      98 TJ 4.0 - 2" PORC budget lift - 31s

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      • #4
        If you are planning on going to 33s, I would gear to 4.56 assuming you have a 5spd manual trans. I *think* 4.10s and 33s would be okay on an auto but I would wait for someone with an auto to chime in.

        EDIT: I have a 98 TJ 4.0L 5spd with 4.56 and 33s and love it. Sometimes I still have problems in 4th driving up steep mountain grades (which I do everyday) but do I really need to be going 70 mph on those?
        Michael

        [sign]nlm mln[/sign]

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        • #5
          AT or manual??

          Originally posted by GreenMachine
          would 4.10 work well if I go up to 33s? I want to basically prep my jeep now so when I'm ready to jump up to 33s I'll have the right gearing.
          Ah, NY. Lot's of snow all winter, eh?

          You mentioned 'daily grinder', how much serious offroading do you do? For daily driving I would not go larger than 33" tires. The 35's even with alloy wheels are big and heavy. It's do-able, but it looses it's peppy little personality and becomes more of a behemouth truck-like driver.

          I ran 31's on my last jeep with the stock gearing and it was fine. But one tire size bigger it becomes a real bog. Since you're already complaining it also points to a manual trans. You basically loose 5th gear. Lowering your ratio will restore your acceleration and top speed performance.

          I'll assume you have a 5sp, so 4.56 is the ratio for 33's. If you have an auto, then the 4.10's are good, 3.73's are okay too. The AT torque converter allows a lot more flexibility due to the way it engages. It more or less eliminates the need for a real low crawl ratio too, such as a 4:1 transfer case. They are very easy to drive offroad.

          Gear changes require a ring and pinion for the front and rear differentials. Most people will opt for some kind of locker since the carriers have to be changed out anyway. I personally think it's wasted money to upgrade a rear Dana 35 because of the c-clip retained axles. But a lot of people put a 'Super 35' kit in them with alloy large diameter axles and detroit or ARB locker.

          I was able to find a front Dana30 take out of an SE, (the four banger comes with 4.10 gears) for $200. Then I had a Dana 44 built with matching gears and an ARB. That was a pretty cheap way to go for a re-gear and locker upgrade, just over $2G's. I'm now considering a high-pinion 30 conversion from a Cherokee and fit it will alloy axles and an ARB. I estimate cost to be about $1500 max. I've been running an open front so far with good performance. You mainly need a locked rear for climbing, most of the weight of the vehicle is transferred back while climbing. A locker generally isn't required for going down hills. Hence the biggest bang for your buck is with a rear locker. A lot of guys do well with just a lunch-box locker in front, but it's a real low-buck, budget type solution thant's proned to breaking.

          Dana 44 axles are very hard to find used due to demand. The SE generally didn't come with one, it was an option on very few 6cyl models, and they came setup with 3.73's. It may be easier to find one if you can use 3.73 gearing. With an auto and 33's, it's a good ratio. I have a 3.73 R&P for the front if you end up going that way, will sell it cheap.

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          • #6
            I have a 5 speed manual. and yes I deal with quite a bit of snow in the winters.

            as for offroading - I take it on mild trails every other week or so. I literally have a place down the road from my house that I can use.

            my main problem is that after going up to 31s I have no top end speed on the roadways especially when going up hills. I thought that regearing may be able to solve that problem.
            98 TJ 4.0 - 2" PORC budget lift - 31s

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            • #7
              Yes, re-gearing will solve the loss of power feeling from going to larger tires.
              Michael

              [sign]nlm mln[/sign]

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by GreenMachine
                I have a 5 speed manual. and yes I deal with quite a bit of snow in the winters.

                as for offroading - I take it on mild trails every other week or so. I literally have a place down the road from my house that I can use.

                my main problem is that after going up to 31s I have no top end speed on the roadways especially when going up hills. I thought that regearing may be able to solve that problem.
                Excellent. For snow you definitely want a selectable locker. Automatic lockers can be downright dangerous in icey conditions.

                And yes, a re-gear will restore your performance. With the 5spd the 4.56 ratio is the best bet for 33" tires. You'll love your jeep again!

                For mild trails you may not even need a locker. Tam (jeep-gal) has driven the Rubicon Trail 3 times with open diffs. Although she gets hung up from time to time it's downright amazing what she can negotiate as long as all four wheels are on the ground. If you have a winch or a buddy you could probably get by without locker(s). Just have your ring and pinions changed out, should be able to do that for about $1200 with Spicer gears. Plus, you can get by with the stock dana35 rear axle if you're not locking it.

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                • #9
                  I might lock them up down the road, but at this point I don't do that much offroading so I think regearing might work. regardless, I want to have the option to lock them down the road and get something that will work now and be just as good later on.
                  98 TJ 4.0 - 2" PORC budget lift - 31s

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                  • #10
                    hey another fellow east coaster, alright! where about is sackette lake? im from buffalo. if youre going to get into wheeling, you may as well have the locker put in when you have the gears done; if you have some extra cash. i know the place i took it too charges like 150-200 to open up the diff and do work in there, so while he had it opened for the gear change, i forked over some extra cash and put a detroit in the rear axle, essientially saving myself some money down the road. im running 4.56 on 33s with the 4.0l mounted to a 5 speed and i love it.
                    Neil



                    FOR SALE: 01 TJ Sport
                    5 spd, 4in skyjacker, 33mt/rs, detroit rear, lock-rite front, 4.56's, safari snorkel, yada yada yada, im broke

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                    • #11
                      Sackett Lake is just Sullivan County NY - basically where they want to put the new casinos that state has been fighting about. from Buffalo its about 6 hours thereabouts.

                      as for regearing and lockers. I have to figure out what the total costs would be. it sounds like I should got with 4.56 in the rear and lock it. now I just have to figure out costs so that I can start putting cash aside.
                      98 TJ 4.0 - 2" PORC budget lift - 31s

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                      • #12
                        Just a note, You will have to regear both front and rear at the same time.
                        Supe
                        97 TJ, 4" ProComp, 1" BL & MML, RE Adj. Control Arms, Rear 44 ARB. Front ARB. 35" MT/R's, York OBA
                        Rock-it Man gear, STaK 3 Sp.

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