Has anyone rebuilt the 42RLE and went with a different overdrive gear?

[Chris]

I'm no transmission expert, so I'm not even sure this is possible. However, I'm curious if anyone has rebuilt their 42RLE transmission but gone with a different overdrive ratio, as oppose to the horrible, horrible .69 stock setup.

This is of course as most of you know, the real downfall of the 42RLE. If it wasn't for that overdrive gear, it would be just fine!

 

[glwood]

I'm no transmission expert, so I'm not even sure this is possible. However, I'm curious if anyone has rebuilt their 42RLE transmission but gone with a different overdrive ratio, as oppose to the horrible, horrible .69 stock setup.

This is of course as most of you know, the real downfall of the 42RLE. If it wasn't for that overdrive gear, it would be just fine!

I don't know either, never heard of anyone doing that. You'd sure see a lot fewer axle gear changes if you could...

 

[BendLarry]

Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing? I have an 06 Rubicon with that auto and stock 4:10 gears. I run 33 inch tires and don’t mind the gearing at all. When I want to speed onto a freeway I sometime turn off the overdrive, but other than that it’s just fine for me.


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[cliffish]

Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing? I have an 06 Rubicon with that auto and stock 4:10 gears. I run 33 inch tires and don’t mind the gearing at all. When I want to speed onto a freeway I sometime turn off the overdrive, but other than that it’s just fine for me.


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agree have no issues with 31.5 on my 05...never give it a thought.

 

[KMG]

Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing? I have an 06 Rubicon with that auto and stock 4:10 gears. I run 33 inch tires and don’t mind the gearing at all. When I want to speed onto a freeway I sometime turn off the overdrive, but other than that it’s just fine for me.


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Could the Rubicon vs Non Rubicon rear end ratio be the difference?

 

[BendLarry]

Could the Rubicon vs Non Rubicon rear end ratio be the difference?

I said above I have 4:10 gears, which are stock Rubicon gears.


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[KMG]

I said above I have 4:10 gears, which are stock Rubicon gears.


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I saw that in your post. I have a stock Rubicon with stock size tires and wish the OD wasn't overdriven so much. I think it would be even worse with a non Rubicon rear ratio.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

From all the negative posts regarding that .69 Overdrive over so many years someone would have posted up there's a way to convert it to a better ratio by now if there was a way.

And for those who don't see the problem, it's because you haven't driven one with a better ratio to know the difference. Like someone brought up on rice & beans or boiled sea slug, they're happy with it until they taste a medium-rare Ribeye steak. Or someone who has never seen or driven anything but a 1.6L econo car made in Moscow and doesn't know there's something better out there.

 

[Chris]

From all the negative posts regarding that .69 Overdrive over so many years someone would have posted up there's a way to convert it to a better ratio by now if there was a way.

And for those who don't see the problem, it's because you haven't driven one with a better ratio to know the difference. Like someone brought up on rice & beans or boiled sea slug, they're happy with it until they taste a medium-rare Ribeye steak. Or someone who has never seen or driven anything but a 1.6L econo car made in Moscow and doesn't know there's something better out there.

I thought the same thing Jerry. But maybe it's just that no one has bothered to look into it? I have to imagine it's possible, I just don't know what's required, or if it would take more money than it's worth.

 

[BendLarry]

From all the negative posts regarding that .69 Overdrive over so many years someone would have posted up there's a way to convert it to a better ratio by now if there was a way.

And for those who don't see the problem, it's because you haven't driven one with a better ratio to know the difference. Like someone brought up on rice & beans or boiled sea slug, they're happy with it until they taste a medium-rare Ribeye steak. Or someone who has never seen or driven anything but a 1.6L econo car made in Moscow and doesn't know there's something better out there.

The same could be said for the TJ 4.0. Once you drove one with a turbo you couldn’t stand a stock 4.0. It comes down to reasonable performance. A TJ isn’t a performance rig.


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[Rob5589]

Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing? I have an 06 Rubicon with that auto and stock 4:10 gears. I run 33 inch tires and don’t mind the gearing at all. When I want to speed onto a freeway I sometime turn off the overdrive, but other than that it’s just fine for me.


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By the very fact that a huge number of people that run the 4 spd end up with gear swaps after moving up in tire size is evidence that you are in the minority. But of course that road has been traveled...

 

[BendLarry]

By the very fact that a huge number of people that run the 4 spd end up with gear swaps after moving up in tire size is evidence that you are in the minority. But of course that road has been traveled...

I’m not sure but I think you just insulted me for having independent thought.


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[Rob5589]

I’m not sure but I think you just insulted me for having independent thought.


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We all know your opinion on the stock gearing and 33's. No need to come into a thread that has nothing to do with gearing recommendations to tell everyone, again. On top of all that, I do not recall ever seeing a thread, ever, asking about changing the OD gear.
Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing?

 

[BendLarry]

We all know your opinion on the stock gearing and 33's. No need to come into a thread that has nothing to do with gearing recommendations to tell everyone, again. On top of all that, I do not recall ever seeing a thread, ever, asking about changing the OD gear.
Every time I see a thread like this I ask myself, what am I missing?

So sorry I don’t fall in step with group think.


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[Rob5589]

So sorry I don’t fall in step with group think.


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I have done thousands of gear swaps. They were done based on experience, increased performance, and simply what worked. Had nothing to do with following the crowd. Even Jeep engineers knew they needed lower gears when they designed the Rubicon which they spec'd with a larger tire.
But again, you are happy with your combo, great. But it gets old when you jump into gearing threads questioning why anyone would want/need lower than stock because yours, in your opinion, works so well.

 

[BendLarry]

I have done thousands of gear swaps. They were done based on experience, increased performance, and simply what worked. Had nothing to do with following the crowd. Even Jeep engineers knew they needed lower gears when they designed the Rubicon which they spec'd with a larger tire.
But again, you are happy with your combo, great. But it gets old when you jump into gearing threads questioning why anyone would want/need lower than stock because yours, in your opinion, works so well.

I’m not the only one here who has taken the same position.


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[Andy5150]

That overdrive isn't horrible. It allows you to run nice short gearing around town, and then lets you cruise comfortably on the highway. When you're geared too tall for the tire size, all the gears are too tall, and turning off the od doesn't help. Like Jerry said , until you've driven a properly geared vehicle, you don't know what you're missing. With 33,s , 5.13 or 5.38.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I have done thousands of gear swaps. They were done based on experience, increased performance, and simply what worked. Had nothing to do with following the crowd. Even Jeep engineers knew they needed lower gears when they designed the Rubicon which they spec'd with a larger tire.
But again, you are happy with your combo, great. But it gets old when you jump into gearing threads questioning why anyone would want/need lower than stock because yours, in your opinion, works so well.

Exactly. A classic case of not knowing WTF he's talking about and claiming everyone but him is wrong. Same old ignorant bullshit.

 

[Thunderhead]

Do we need to start a
*Sticky* BendLarry is very happy with his stock gears. He loves them and sees no reason to regear with E rated 33’s

 

[glwood]

I was actually hoping to learn there might be a way to modify the 42RLE...until this turned into yet another discussion of why people should be happy with their stock gears. After all, some are.

Mine is adequate, not great, with 32s. If I could change the O/D, I'd be all over 33s.