re-gear question???

[berick1]

I'm looking for some advice on whether or not to re-gear my Jeep. A bit of background:

2015 2 Door Sport
3.21 gears
2.5" lift
285/75 tires

I've noticed since the lift / tire upgrade that the throttle responsiveness has suffered as I drive around town, especially as I encounter any sort of hill. Also while wheeling on rocks I've been unable to negotiate obstacles that a Rubicon with the same lift and tires crawled right up. I understand there a number of differences between my Sport and the Rubicon (gear ratio, transfer case, lockers), and I know re-gearing won't fix all those differences.

My question is will re-gearing to something like 4.10s give me a noticeable increase in throttle responsiveness on the road AND will it provide me a noticeable benefit while wheeling. If I re-gear I would likely add some form of locker to the rear as well.

Thoughts / Recommendations / Suggestions? Thanks in Advance.

 

[White_JKU]

I'm curious about the obstacles u can't overcome.......I've wheeled over pretty gnarly rock gardens in a 2012 with 3.21's and 35's......never even considered re-gearing.....

But anyway, if your gonna re-gear.....do it once. I'd go 4.88's if u plan on bigger tires in the future.

I'm still surprised that your having that much difficulty though.

 

[Gravedigger11]

I would go with 4.88 or better. You will want more at 4.10. And do both lockers. Gears and lockers just help use less skinny pedal and make things more simple when wheeling

 

[DelvecchioForza]

theres a chart out there but anyway im running 35's and I regeared to 4.56 and wouldn't have changed a thing. runs amazing now.

 

[MR.Ty]

It would make a noticeable difference but, in my opinion, not one that will be worth the cost.

You'll pay upwards $1000 just for a little more pep on the highway and to go slightly slower (at a higher RPM) while off road. True, it will put you in a better power range but the flip side is that you'll learn to control your Jeep better. Plus if you decide to go to a bigger tire size you'll put yourself back into the exact same position you're in now.

Personally, I don't recommend regearing until you are at least on 35s and I don't recommend regearing to anything less than 4.88s.

 

[AllAmericanInfidel]

I'm looking for some advice on whether or not to re-gear my Jeep. A bit of background:

2015 2 Door Sport
3.21 gears
2.5" lift
285/75 tires

I've noticed since the lift / tire upgrade that the throttle responsiveness has suffered as I drive around town, especially as I encounter any sort of hill. Also while wheeling on rocks I've been unable to negotiate obstacles that a Rubicon with the same lift and tires crawled right up. I understand there a number of differences between my Sport and the Rubicon (gear ratio, transfer case, lockers), and I know re-gearing won't fix all those differences.

My question is will re-gearing to something like 4.10s give me a noticeable increase in throttle responsiveness on the road AND will it provide me a noticeable benefit while wheeling. If I re-gear I would likely add some form of locker to the rear as well.

Thoughts / Recommendations / Suggestions? Thanks in Advance.

Automatic or manual? If automatic, did you use a programmer to compensate for the larger 285 tire diameter?

 

[benatc1]

I managed pretty well with 33s and 3.73 gears open for a bit. but if you want to continue to wheel harder stuff your only going to push your jeep harder. re-gearing 4.10s would be a waste unless you never plan to go over 33s- even then id gear it lower (higher #) but if you have to ability just do lockers/and gears at the same time and save yourself in the long run. i currently have a 2012 with 4.88s, ARBs, and 35s- absolutly love the set up and the recover of power as well as a pretty good crawl ratio.

 

[berick1]

Automatic or manual? If automatic, did you use a programmer to compensate for the larger 285 tire diameter?

Auto. Yeah I used an AEV ProCal to correct the speedo. Someone suggested using the ProCal to "trick" the computer into thinking I was running a lower gear, but I'm not convinced that would work...

 

[berick1]

I'm curious about the obstacles u can't overcome.......I've wheeled over pretty gnarly rock gardens in a 2012 with 3.21's and 35's......never even considered re-gearing.....

But anyway, if your gonna re-gear.....do it once. I'd go 4.88's if u plan on bigger tires in the future.

I'm still surprised that your having that much difficulty though.

It was some ledges, nothing too terrible. I'm pretty sure it was the lack of locker (and the inexperience of the guy behind the wheel) that hurt more than the gear. I wanted to knock out anything in that area at once though, which is why I am looking for gear info.

 

[berick1]

Personally, I don't recommend regearing until you are at least on 35s and I don't recommend regearing to anything less than 4.88s.

That's what a number of folks have said. I seem to be in that not-so-sweet spot. I don't plan on going 35s, but I've realized enough about this hobby to know I have no idea what I will end up doing...

 

[Gravedigger11]

That's what a number of folks have said. I seem to be in that not-so-sweet spot. I don't plan on going 35s, but I've realized enough about this hobby to know I have no idea what I will end up doing...

I'd really consider what tire size you want and if you are going to keep the stock axles or not before regearing and locking

 

[DWiggles]

That's what a number of folks have said. I seem to be in that not-so-sweet spot. I don't plan on going 35s, but I've realized enough about this hobby to know I have no idea what I will end up doing...

This to me would be a red flag. I would hold off regearing until you have a plan on mind. If you stay where you are and decide you are going to stay there, gears will always be available. If you regear now, and later decide you want to run a 35 or even a 37, you will be in the same boat you are in only with $1k+ in gears that are no longer suited. Hold off until you have a plan. My $0.02

 

[10abadilla/jk]

This to me would be a red flag. I would hold off regearing until you have a plan on mind. If you stay where you are and decide you are going to stay there, gears will always be available. If you regear now, and later decide you want to run a 35 or even a 37, you will be in the same boat you are in only with $1k+ in gears that are no longer suited. Hold off until you have a plan. My $0.02

Exactly. Indecisive. Hold off.

 

[Draconianwinter]

definitely

This to me would be a red flag. I would hold off regearing until you have a plan on mind. If you stay where you are and decide you are going to stay there, gears will always be available. If you regear now, and later decide you want to run a 35 or even a 37, you will be in the same boat you are in only with $1k+ in gears that are no longer suited. Hold off until you have a plan. My $0.02

have to agree with him on this for sure. For one thing you I can about assure you that you will eventually go to at least a 35" tire. hell I said I would never go over a 35 inch tire and already I am thinking I will be going to a 37 inch once the jeep is paid off in a few years and be doing to an axle swap to a dana 60 front and rear. Like me and many others you think right now you will never want to go bigger, but after you wheel more and start seeing the other guys doing things your own rig cannot even hope to do you will likely change your mind. Only reason I will be holding off till after the jeep is paid off is because its going to be expencive to replace both axles at one time. around 12k. I see many people wheeling with the dana 30 on 35 inch tires and they seem to do very well, but will definitely be adding some gussets to it and regearing. if you decide to go that rout I would say at least a 4.88 gear is what you will end out in so might as well go right to it if you do regear.

 

[Crso8541]

Auto. Yeah I used an AEV ProCal to correct the speedo. Someone suggested using the ProCal to "trick" the computer into thinking I was running a lower gear, but I'm not convinced that would work...

I'm not sure what all the procal does but I'm pretty sure it doesn't "trick" the computer. However a tuner that has "tunes" will change things like shift points and fuel flow that will compensate for larger tires. This might be something you look into, super chips have a couple tuners (Flashpaq and traildash) that come with "tunes" and help. It may be a cheaper option for the interim. Plus you can find them for sale used and it will be a cheaper option for now. Re-gearing is expensive and you'll want to do it right the first time ie for bigger tires and lockers. My vote is wait until you go bigger.

 

[Rb1boxer_3]

I hate to jack this thread but I didn't want to make a new one for 1 question. But can I just swap out my ring and pinion for one that's been lightly used without having to do master installs. Kinda like just unbolt and bolt back in and add a shim or two if it needs for backlash.

Out in the Boonies

 

[WJCO]

I hate to jack this thread but I didn't want to make a new one for 1 question. But can I just swap out my ring and pinion for one that's been lightly used without having to do master installs. Kinda like just unbolt and bolt back in and add a shim or two if it needs for backlash.

Out in the Boonies

Yes. You can replace gears without bearings all day long. But usually with that kind of involved labor, since you have to press bearings off the pinion anyway, why not replace them (especially with higher mileage). You will just need to re-set up everything properly. I would highly recommend a new crush sleeve though. For the cheap cost, just do it.

 

[Rb1boxer_3]

Yes. You can replace gears without bearings all day long. But usually with that kind of involved labor, since you have to press bearings off the pinion anyway, why not replace them (especially with higher mileage). You will just need to re-set up everything properly. I would highly recommend a new crush sleeve though. For the cheap cost, just do it.

Ok thanks. I also forgot to mention I need a carrier too since I'm going from 3.21 for 4.88. I

Out in the Boonies

 

[JKDream]

I'm not sure what all the procal does but I'm pretty sure it doesn't "trick" the computer. However a tuner that has "tunes" will change things like shift points and fuel flow that will compensate for larger tires. This might be something you look into, super chips have a couple tuners (Flashpaq and traildash) that come with "tunes" and help. It may be a cheaper option for the interim. Plus you can find them for sale used and it will be a cheaper option for now. Re-gearing is expensive and you'll want to do it right the first time ie for bigger tires and lockers. My vote is wait until you go bigger.

It re-programs the computer.
The Procal has already adjusted his shift points via the speedometer calibration.
An octane tune etc isn't going to help.
FYI, if you program the CPU to a different gear ratio to "trick" the CPU to run differently, you'll go directly into limp mode.