Gears!?!?!?!

[Dirty LJ]

I am looking to put gears on my jeep and am still trying to figure out what ratio to go with and I am looking for suggestions.

I have a 05 LJ, Auto, currently with 33" tires. I plan to go to 35" when these need to be replaced.

Can't decide between 4.56 and 4.88’s. I use it as a daily driver so gas mileage is a concern as well as freeway drivability.

[Mickey]

I would go with 456 gears for 2 main reasons.

1. You will get better gas milliage with the 456 gears...

2. I am aussuming that year had the dana 30 front. The problem with that is the pinion gear is much smaller than the 456 gears, hence making it easyer to break the pinion gear.

I have 488 gears in mine but that was before i was told that it was smaller and weaker.... So now everytime i go trailing its always in my head... Its not if Its going to break its when.. Lol not a good feeling.

Like i said 456 gears is the way to go... But than again what do i know...

[willys55]

i would go with 4.56 cause like henry said you do get better gas mileage and its better for the road......currently i am running 4.56 in my jeep its a 02 TJ with 35" tires and it runs perfectly on the road and trail....i also have ARB front and rear so that makes a difference.....but in other words you need to come wheeling with us sometime GJ its been a while, im not sure if you remember me but this is Andrew with the black jeep...last time you saw it it was little but now its deffinently not but yeah you need to come wheeling with us again soon....but yeah go with 4.56 its better for your application.

[Sean]

GJ, If it were me I would go with 4.88's as I did in my cherokee. You will get better fuel mileage in town with only slightly less on the freeway. You will love the power and your tranny wont have to kick down a gear on slight inclines. After having driven both with 35" tires I wouldnt hesitate to get the 4.88 gears again. Also, for those who are worried about the smaller pinon gear....well buy good gears and dont worry. I beat on mine pretty good and never had a problem. You just have to remember that it rarely happens but it is still a d30 know matter what pinion gear you have in there.

[Sean]

[quote="Mickey"]I would go with 456 gears for 2 main reasons.

1. You will get better gas milliage with the 456 gears...

2. I am aussuming that year had the dana 30 front. The problem with that is the pinion gear is much smaller than the 456 gears, hence making it easyer to break the pinion gear.

I have 488 gears in mine but that was before i was told that it was smaller and weaker.... So now everytime i go trailing its always in my head... Its not if Its going to break its when.. Lol not a good feeling.

Like i said 456 gears is the way to go... But than again what do i know...[/quote]

If you havent broke your pinion gear yet then you probably wont unless you get crazy or something. Its a d30 and will grenade if you get wild with the skinny pedal but the difference in strength between the 4.88 and 4.56 pinion gears are minimal.

[REDxj5150]

strongly agree with Sean on this one. i've had this talk quite a few times with different people, and they always claim that you can shear the pinion off. the way i see it, show me one ligit case where this actually happened. even though you fear it, i've never heard of it happening. i believe there is strong advantages to running 4.88s on 35's like the acceleration and hill climbing. 4.10s on 33's and mine seems undergeared. it always seems to be 200-300 rpms out of the power range when you really need it, then if it kicks down its over by 300 of where you would like it to be in a hill climb. like going over 58 towards the desert. don't be left short in those situations. i lose a lot of gas going up that grade. takes me a half a tank to get to ridgecrest, 65% of that on the climb.

[Dirty LJ]

Thanks for all the help guys!!! I am going with 4.88's and an Auburn Ected locker in the rear. I still have my Detroit Locker in the front and it will stay there until I have the money to put an Ected locker there as well.

My jeep will be going into the shop soon after I get my company truck, which should be in a week or two. Then shortly after that I will be putting a Rubicon Express long arm tri-link with 35" tires!!!

I cant wait!!!!!!!!