Jeep Wrangler Gear Replacement Questions

Here is a question I got over email froma customer I sold a custom Jeep Bumper Hoop too. I thoguth I would post the questions and answere here so other can see what I have to say and correct me if you think I am wrong.

Intro:
I am the guy with the Red Jeep who ordered the hoop from you last year with continuous plate and tow rope tabs. My Jeep pictures are posted on your website. With your profound knowledge on the Wranglers, I wonder if you can give me some insight on gear ratio. Beside my Red Rubicon, I have another 2004 Wrangler Sport TJ Manual 5 speed (25,000 miles) with:

2” Coil ProComp Lift
MX-6 Shocks
32x11.5x15 BFG Mud Tires
Dana 44 rear
Dana 30 front
3.73 gear ratio
ARB Snorkel
Gas mileage averaging 13.5 to 15 mpg
Freeway driving speed: no more than 75 mph

Power is okay on flat but once is on hills, it goes way down. I had to down shift to 4th and 3rd just to stay moving. I am thinking of changing the gears to 4:10 (Genuine or Superior ?) and add the $250 “LockRight” locker in the rear. This is my everyday vehicle. I don’t do any hardcore off roading but don’t want to get stuck on ski trip in the snow….. that is why I want to the add the locker in the rear. I have to stay under $1K budget for parts and labor.

Questions:

Q: Is changing gear ratio to 4:10 the right way to gain power?

A: The big power stealers are the tires. They have two bad effects, they are heavier and they go farther on a single rotation compared to the stock 30 inch tires. So changing to lower gear bring the number of engine rotations back in line with the factory specs. You will feel more torque and have better acceleration and be able to keep hills in 5th but 4th for sure.


Q: What are the down sides in changing to 4:10 ?

A: Lower gears multiply the torque at the wheels, so when you need more torque to turn big tire this puts more stress on all the u joints gear and axles. This is more of a technical engineering point, I have 4.56's a 4-1 transmission and 33's when I am hard core wheeling I can break axles and u joints, But with 4.10 and 32 inch tires you should be fine.


Your speedometer may be off, but getting it aligned is a simple 10 dollar part that is easy to change right on top of your t-case.

I think the Dana 30 has a carrier break at either 3.73 or 4.10. If you go past this you will need a new carrier which will add to the expense. Ask about this or look it up. I know my d-44 I had to get a new carrier for the 4.56's so I went with a Detroit.
I looked up Carrier breaks on Pirate 4x4 and you will be fine with the front but will need a new carrier for the rear end Dana 44

Dana Diffs Carrier Break

Dana 30 3.54 and down; 3.73 and up
Dana 44 3.73 and down; 3.92 and up
Dana 60 4.10 and down; 4.56 and up


The locker will make it drive a bit weirder on the street. Mine is fully locked and it gets jiggly some times.


Q: Will my gas mileage go down or up?

A: I don't know the tires are the big gas hog, but the gears will bring things back in line with the factory specs. I don't really even know what gas mileage I get on the freeway, maybe 15 with mine. I trailer it and then wheel it, and when wheeling I get about 10 or less mpgs. You may want to consider 4.56 gears if you are ever going to go with 33 or 35 inch tires.


Q: Can freeway driving go higher than 75 after this mod?

A: Yes, I am guessing, but my Jeep wobbles all over the place to I stay at 75 or below.



Future Mods. include:

Q: Electric Fan?

A: Everyone I talk to says a motor fan is a lot better than electric, unless the electric is an extra. Jut move you factory shroud up and jeep the factory fan.


Q: 1" body lift with 1/2" motor mount lift

A: This will help you clear the bigger tires, and make it look taller. an easy thing to do.


My Final Answer:
Good luck, let me know what you find out after making the changes.

Kids Games for Christmas., Mario Kart Wii

I need to say I love the Christmas Holiday season. Maybe a bit too much, what I mean is each year I get caught up in the video game craze, I talk to all the kids in the neighbor hood and the guys at work, and find out what is hot and what is not. Then I have to have it. This year is Mario Kart for the Nintendo Wii I just have to have it, from me, and no one else. I have searched high and low and I was able to find a copy at a local store tonight. Lucky for me, but if you are not so lucky there is still hope if you want to pay a bit more. Amazon has sellers that still have it available and you can still get it for Christmas, or you can turn to ebay, and pay your money and take your chances.



And if you get this game I think you need an extra wheel or two.

The Wii is still one of the best game system around, our family loves it and the kids get a work out when they turn it on and try to compete at an Olympic level. The Wii game console is available this year so if you don't have one you should consider it. I even saw one at a store tonight, sitting behind the counter ready for sale, unlike last year, but that's another story. You guessed it last year I had it have it ended up with two and lost 100 bucks selling the extra one. Oh well live and love.

Jeeping Trip pictures, finally added to the website.

Last June The Wasatch Outlaw Wheelers went to the Rubicon Trail and most all the group can now say they are "Trail Rated". Unfortunately I can not, I was smacked down hard by the Rubicon, my self esteem and self worth were so Shattered, that is has taken until now to face the challenge of writing about my trip and posting my pictures. (how's that excuse vs. I am to lame and busy to do it.)

To recap, we broke 4 rigs on the first set of serious rocks, me a front ring and pinion, two Dana 35 c clip axles, and a ring and pinion in a Samari. One D 35 got fixed the rest of us limped home.

Here are my pictures and some more witty banter:

http://redjeepclub.com/trails/rubicon2008/rubicon2008.php

Here is another FANTASTIC write up by Todd Adams:

http://wasatchoutlawwheelers.com/events/rubicon08/rubicon08.php




The Wasatch Outlaw Wheeler Invaded Moab Utah a couple of weeks ago. Here are some pictures to satisfy your deep inner web wheeler feelings.

http://www.wasatchoutlawwheelers.com/events/moab08/moab08.php

Or Check out the rest of the Wasatch Outlaw Wheelers website here:

http://www.wasatchoutlawwheelers.com/

New Pictures Of the Summer Rubicon Trail Adventure.

I got some time and put picture on my website of my past, attempt to run the Rubicon Trail, in June of 2008. I say attempt because I was a victim of the Rubicon, I got smacked down my the trail and did make the full trip.

This trip was the first trail test of the off road trailer I built. It did very well, it was my Jeep that suffered a front ring and pinion explosion.

Check out the Red Jeep Clubs adventure on the Rubicon Trail

JD2 Model 3 Manual Bender Hydralic Conversion

I have a JD2 Model 3 Manual Bender with Degree Ring, with a manual push bar. I have pumped a lot of iron and am now ready to convert it to an automatic machine. For my reference I searched and found these links. I wanted to add them here so I can easily get back to them as I find the parts. I will be building the conversion parts and stand once I collect a ram and pump.

http://www.mindspring.com/~jayk5/bender/

http://reference.toolandfab.com/writeups/hydrobender_webpage/index.htm

Jeep Wrangler TJ Lift and Tire questions

I just got this question from a fellow Jeeper and I thought I would post it and answer it here.


I have some questions and your help would be greatly appreciated. I want to run 35 inch tires on my Jeep Wrangler TJ. I know this is tough to do but that is my ultimate goal. Here is how i was thinking about doing it. I am going to buy Skyjacker 2.5in coils because i already have shocks that will work for a 3 inch lift. I will also buy some track bar brackets. On top of the front coil i was going to do a 1 inch coil spacer to level it. Then i will throw on a JKS 1.25 inch body lift. Then make a TC (Transfer case skid plate) drop with bolts and washers. I already have quick discos for the front sway bar. What what about my rear sway bar do i need to worry about that. Any help would be appreciated. I am doing this as money allows and eventually i will get a SYE and CV drive line and a D44 rear and 4.88 gears with a Detroit in back and maybe an Aussie for my front D30 what do you think about this?

thanks, Will

PS. as you can tell i am on a budget lol :)

I forgot to add that I do not off road much just some small stuff no rocks or anything crazy like that. With the lift that i mentioned i think i will get about 4.5 total inches maybe a little more how will that look and function? Like i said i don't do anything crazy.

Thanks again

Ok Will, go for it, from my experience you will need 4 inches of lift on a Wrangler TJ to clear 35 inch tires. Even more if you plan to really stuff the tires and Rock Crawl with the big boys. You mentioned your jeeping style is more mellow, so I think the lift you have planned may accommodate 35 inch tires. You shocks may still be too short, if you add 3.5 inches of suspension lift to the front end. The worry if your shocks are too short is they will limit your wheel travel versus the full extension of the suspension limiting it. I wouldn't worry about the shocks, you will probably be ok.

Another thing you will need to think about is the possibility of getting some adjustable control arms. These are needed to control the front caster if you experience any "Death Wobble" or front end wobble after the lift. You may be fine you may not, it's kind of lift and see what happens issues. The control arms can also reposition the rear pinion to point up to the transfer case. This eliminates the rear drive line vibration that you may get.

Track bars brackets are good and will solve the issues of axle alignment. The rear sway bar should be fine with only 2.5 inches of lift, you can look at it before an after the lift and notice the difference, the angles won't change that much.

The other thing you have planned sound good, if you don't get vibrations you can hold off on the SYE, a Dana 44 rear end is a very nice thing to have, When a Dana 35 clip breaks it can make for an adventure getting the Jeep home. I run 4.56 gears in my TJ with a 5.5 inch suspension lift and 33 inch tires. I may go to 35's but I currently own 33 and am afraid of breaking more axles if I upgrade to 35's.

With 35's you may also need to change out you speedometer gear. This is very easy to do, it is mounted in a window on the transfer case. A new speedometer gears about 10 bucks at your Jeep dealer.

Jeep Parking only sign.

I was stumbling around on Amazon today, as if you couldn't tell. I found this sign and had to have and had to share.





It will look great on the wall in my Shop, now If I can just get my motorcycle outta the way I can designate a spot for the Jeep.





I am sort testing the look of the feel of the Amazon sales links. Note this is a shamless plug for Jeep stuff, If oyu buy it will get about 12 cents which helps suport my Jeep habit.