[mike481]

I just got some 32x11.5x15's for my TJ. It only took one trip over the hills to the coast to realize that I need new gears. Luckily I've got a D44 with 3.73 (It would have REALLY SUCKED getting over some hills with anything less)

My real question here is what gears do I need and how hard will it be if I change them myself? I don't see extreme rock crawling in my future but there will be some moderate trails.

As far as my mechanical aptitude goes I would say I rank fairly well (No problem doing engine, tranny swaps, etc.)

Any help you guys can give will be great since I have my accountant (wife) talked into this so I need to get something before she decides that money is better spent on antiques.

[Jerry Bransford]

If you think 33" tires are ever going to be in your TJ's future, I'd regear to 4.56. If 32" is max, then 4.10 is a good ratio. These ratios assume your TJ has the 5-speed.

Though I'm very mechanical and do just about everything on my TJ, I won't mess with installing new ring & pinion gearsets. Too time consuming, too tedious (testing/measuring/changing shims etc.), and just a lot of work. And if you don't get it perfect, the new gears will be ruined in short order. It's not a simple weekend task for joe-average weekend wrench turner, that is for sure.

[mike481]

Thanks for the quick response.

How much do you think a good shop would charge me for a gear swap (I do have the 5-speed tranny) to the 4.10 since I probably won't go to anything bigger than the 32's.

Since your not too far from me, you wouldn't happen to know a good shop in bakersfield ( I've only lived in CA for about 6 months)??

Thanks

Mike

[Jerry Bransford]

Somewhere close to $1200 for parts & labor is in the ballpark. As you probably just now noted, gear swaps are not cheap so carefully think through this swap from 3.73 to 4.10 which isn't that much of a change. Many who think they're never going to a larger tire size than what they have end up getting the "bug" and going bigger.

You're too far from me here down by San Diego for me to have any recommended shops to have do the gear swap.

[BlaineWasHere]

Get the 4.56's they will work fine with your 32's and if you ever go bigger you will be set. If you get the 4.10's later you might be wishing you spent that money differently...

[Sledgehammer]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Somewhere close to $1200 for parts & labor is in the ballpark.

My local shop gave me a quote of $1350 for a 4.56 regear using the Spicer kit, as compared to $1200 for their fallback kit which is a Yukon. Is the Spicer upgrade worth the extra $150?

[mike481]

Can anybody tell me what kind of r.p.m. range I am looking at if I'm cruising flat land around 65mph when running 4.56 gears?

I don't usually drive real fast unless I'm in the world's fastest and most indestructable vehicle ever made ( rental car )