Agreed on all fronts. The GTI has so much untapped potential from the factory. AWD is fun until you calculate your mpg and realize those numbers are coming from a compact car. But most subie owners don't care tho, part of the mindset.
Re-gear or Supercharge?
- Thread starter thedern
- Start date
Mark my word, you won't be disappointed by a supercharger. It will blow you away how much more power you have on tap.
The only catch is that you'll be forced to use premium fuel. For the cost, there's simply nothing else that can beat it.
Am I the only one who doesn't understand how installing a Supercharger to try to overcome a misgearing/incorrect axle ratio issue makes any sense whatsoever?
It makes sense to me to do gearing first, and then do the SC if you really want it. Otherwise, at least to me, it seems like it would just still be lugging, but with a higher power motor. I'm sure some power might shine through, but is it good for the drive-train? Analogy...cat is clogged, so let's put a higher powered engine in to overcome the flow limitation (different I know, but this is the best analogy I could think of).
Called 3 local shops, described my needs, provided my VIN, etc... all 3 shops quoted over $2,100. Maybe its my locality or prices have gone up on parts? Dunno. I have a 4th shop of which I know the owner. I will see where i get with that one. In general, it seems that $1,000 per axle is the standard here in Richmond.
Chris S
TJ Enthusiast
If you arent in a huge hurry, sometimes places like 4wheelparts runs deals on labor and inventory prices.
Calling is one thing, they're just going to quote list prices. Going to the counter to negotiate a better deal face-to-face with a more reasonable cost is quite another. Most shops will quote full-bore list prices up front and then only start offering a discount when pushed.
Chris S
TJ Enthusiast
Im in the richmond area and have visited the 4wheelparts i think youre talking about, they all seem to be really nice there.
I've also been quoted the 1000-1200 per axle in Northern California, but here you get a blank look trying to negotiate any price break at the local 4wheel parts anyway, the only choice you have is which day you want to have the work done on in following month and even those spots are limited. We have a lot of beautiful JK's on the roads around here and the good shops aren't hungry and I'm kind of afraid to take a chance on a the others.
I agree with Jerry Branford 100% about the gearing just wish I had a fraction of his knowledge, we are lucky to have his help here.
I agree with Jerry Branford 100% about the gearing just wish I had a fraction of his knowledge, we are lucky to have his help here.
They must be charging a bunch for labor. When I did mine I bought gear sets, bearings, Truetrac, Aussie, and misc other stuff and it ran me about 1300 for both front and rear. The gear sets and install kits were only 408, and a shop will certainly get them deeper than that.
These 2 things are independent. If your gearing is wrong for what you do, regear first. Adding a supercharger to a driveline under stress from incorrect gearing will just increase that stress and lead to breakage.
Add the forced induction if you want/need more power and are already correctly geared for what you do.
Gears before supercharger, just like lockers before lights
My LJ setup is not that far from yours. I’m running 35’s with a 6 speed and 4.56 gears and I really like that combo for all around driving. My TJ is on 33’s with an AT running stock 3.73’s. The TJ is a dog and would be much better off with 4.56 or 4.88’s.
The transmissions make a big difference. The 6 speed doesn’t have as much overdrive as the 5 speed or AT so you might not want to go as tall as others suggest. My recommendation is always 4.56 gears paired with the 6 speed if you are running 35’s or less. Running 37’s you should step to 4.88’s or 5.13’s.
A regear in NorCal ranges from $1200 to $2000 depending on the shop. I have a trusted backyard Jeep guy who specializes in gear changes that does them for $1200, Four wheel parts runs specials from time to time and gets close to that price. Front and rear gear swap kits can be had for $600 off eBay or on sale from Northridge or elsewhere. Labor should range between $300-600/axle.
Build your local Jeep network and tap available local resources. Find some rock crawler folks in your area, they will know where to find good resources. Avoid regular mechanic shops, stick with specialty off road shops.
While you are doing gears you should consider lockers? My sister bought a TJ after getting infected with my Jeep disease, you know it’s very contagious! She doesn’t plan to beat on her Jeep in the rocks like me but it now has bumpers, rockers, winch, and 4.88’s with TrueTrac lockers (limited slip technically). She will be joining me on a trip with her Jeep through the Rubicon next month.
Another option would be to source some take out Rubicon Dana 44’s with lockers and 4.10 gears. They go for $3000-$3500 a set used in my area. Driveshaft mods are about $100-200 to have shortened. Labor and you might be looking at $4000-5000 but that would get you a much better off road vehicle with reasonable gearing with 33’s behind your 6 speed.
Save for the supercharger later...
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Go see Hunters 4x4 in Citrus Heights or my friend Paul in Lafayette, you will be down in the $600-800/axle range.
Thanks, I'll check them out. Without knowing some references I've been reluctant experiment and shop around And other than the ratio my axles are working perfect, last thing I'm looking to do is buy myself a bunch of headaches with a poor gear setup. Citrus Hights might be a bit to far although to get the best work I'd rather make a drive once rather that 10 trips back to a local place chasing issues, Lafayette's only an hour away, any idea how much time a shop needs on average assuming things go as planned to do both axles if they have the parts on hand?
Shops seldom if ever have all the parts needed to do a regear... there are just too many axles & ratios to stock all possible combinations of. Once they have a signed agreement they'll order the parts & you'll be scheduled for the install. A regear of both axles can be done in one day if everything goes well. Typically 3 hours of labor for the rear, 4 hours for the front.
Jerry, thank you it's good to know what to plan for... now I just need to somehow work this into a short vacation and night out with my wife while I get my gears tweaked.
That is a big reason why the shop I worked in was so popular. We had a full parts dept next door and rarely needed to order anything. 99% of customers could walk in the shop, get the work done, and walk out the same day within 2-5 hrs, depending on the work performed.
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