3.07 to 4.88 re-gear question

[04wrangler77]

Hello everybody !

I hate to bore you guys with another re gear question but I’ve heard some conflicting info on other threads and also friends of mine.

I got an 04 on a Dana 30/35 with stock 3.07 gears. Just recently purchased 4.88s as I plan on going to 35s here soon. Some people have told me the stock carrier will be fine and others have said I will need a different carrier. Here lies my question to you guys; will my stock carrier work when I change my gears to 4.88 ?

Thank you a bunch for any input.

 

[L J]

Go with a Super35 kit with your 4.88s and avoid the whole question as well as avoid the reliability issue.

 

[TWiG01]

4.88s will fit, but those 35s create a lot of additional costs as well. As mentioned above

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Yes absolutely you'll need new carriers. If you had bought the "thick" version of those gears you would not have needed new carriers.

It's seldom a good idea to buy gears with the intention of giving them to the installer to install unless it's a buddy. When you do there can be warranty issues if something goes wrong during or after the installation.

 

[04wrangler77]

Yes absolutely you'll need new carriers. If you had bought the "thick" version of those gears you would not have needed new carriers.

It's seldom a good idea to buy gears with the intention of giving them to the installer to install unless it's a buddy. When you do there can be warranty issues if something goes wrong during or after the installation.

Hello jerry. Thanks for your advice man. I just ordered the master install kit from quadratec I didn’t know there was a option for thicker gears. I have a buddy of mine installing them for me who is a well rounded mechanic I just want to make sure I have all the correct parts to get the job finished so there’s no hiccups along the way. Then again, nothing ever really goes to theory lol. If you don’t mind Could you please provide me with a link for the correct carriers I may need ? Thank you.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

What size tires do you plan to run with those 4.88 gears?

 

[04wrangler77]

What size tires do you plan to run with those 4.88 gears?

I plan to run 35s with them. I do understand that my axle is not ideal with 35s, however I don’t plan on doing any extreme off roading. Light trail riding is what I enjoy most. Most importantly, I want to get my 5th gear back and maybe a little bit more gas mileage if I’m lucky.

 

[Jamison C]

I plan to run 35s with them. I do understand that my axle is not ideal with 35s, however I don’t plan on doing any extreme off roading. Light trail riding is what I enjoy most. Most importantly, I want to get my 5th gear back and maybe a little bit more gas mileage if I’m lucky.

Sounds like you’ve done your research. Those are all benefits of a proper regear.

If you’re doing light trail riding your Dana 35 will be ok. If you start getting into heavier stuff where you’re hammering the rear or need a locker, new axle shafts will be a must.

Jerry is right in you needing new carriers.

 

[machoheadgames]

You will need a carrier for the Dana 30 and 35 both. Dana 30’s carrier break is at 3.73 which means 3.73+ use one carrier and 3.07-3.55 use another. So you need one for 3.73+.

Dana 35 carrier break is at 3.55, so 3.55+ is good to go, 3.07 is on its own. You have 3.07 so you need one for each axle.

I would second the notion to say that now is the time to go with a super 35 and it would be a real good idea on 35’s, even mostly on the street. Plus the super 35 locker would take care of the Dana 35 carrier. I would also suggest letting the shop you use provide all the parts including required carriers.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I plan to run 35s with them. I do understand that my axle is not ideal with 35s, however I don’t plan on doing any extreme off roading. Light trail riding is what I enjoy most. Most importantly, I want to get my 5th gear back and maybe a little bit more gas mileage if I’m lucky.

Your Dana 35 is seriously not strong enough for 35's. This is what happened to a friend with 35's on a Dana 35 while we were offroad. It can be made strong enough with a the right Super 35 kit. She's only smiling because we had just replaced that broken shaft after a 150 mile trip for a replacement axle shaft.

 

[04wrangler77]

You will need a carrier for the Dana 30 and 35 both. Dana 30’s carrier break is at 3.73 which means 3.73+ use one carrier and 3.07-3.55 use another. So you need one for 3.73+.

Dana 35 carrier break is at 3.55, so 3.55+ is good to go, 3.07 is on its own. You have 3.07 so you need one for each axle.

I would second the notion to say that now is the time to go with a super 35 and it would be a real good idea on 35’s, even mostly on the street. Plus the super 35 locker would take care of the Dana 35 carrier. I would also suggest letting the shop you use provide all the parts including required carriers.

Thank you for breaking that down !

My Dana 30/35 I will need a 3.73+ for both, correct ?

The super 35 others have mentioned I’m curious about. The super 35 comes with shafts that can handle more torque, but also comes with a locker to eliminate the need for a new carrier on the rear end. Am I understanding everything correctly ?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

No mention yet of brakes. That’s something that should be addressed with going to 35’s, regardless of the off road plans. Definitely a safety issue on the road.

 

[machoheadgames]

Thank you for breaking that down !

My Dana 30/35 I will need a 3.73+ for both, correct ?

The super 35 others have mentioned I’m curious about. The super 35 comes with shafts that can handle more torque, but also comes with a locker to eliminate the need for a new carrier on the rear end. Am I understanding everything correctly ?

You need 3.73+ for the front axle and 3.55+ carrier for the rear axle.

Yes, super 35 upgrades the shafts to larger 30-spline sizing and made out of better material. You have to install a locker as part of it, which the choices are Yukon, Detroit, ARB, and Eaton E-Locker. The locker and the shafts will each be much stronger than the stock carrier or the stock shafts, so overall it’s a huge upgrade and good enough for 35’s.

 

[04wrangler77]

You need 3.73+ for the front axle and 3.55+ carrier for the rear axle.

Yes, super 35 upgrades the shafts to larger 30-spline sizing and made out of better material. You have to install a locker as part of it, which the choices are Yukon, Detroit, ARB, and Eaton E-Locker. The locker and the shafts will each be much stronger than the stock carrier or the stock shafts, so overall it’s a huge upgrade and good enough for 35’s.

I’m having difficulties finding a carrier for a Dana 35 that will accommodate 4.88 gears. If you have time would you mind sending a link ? Maybe I’m over looking it.

For the time being a think I’ll keep my 33son there. Little bit better peace of mind when it comes to maybe breaking an axle lol. A

 

[machoheadgames]

I’m having difficulties finding a carrier for a Dana 35 that will accommodate 4.88 gears. If you have time would you mind sending a link ? Maybe I’m over looking it.

For the time being a think I’ll keep my 33son there. Little bit better peace of mind when it comes to maybe breaking an axle lol. A

Dana 35 carrier ECGS

 

[04wrangler77]

Dana 35 carrier ECGS

Thank you a bunch. You guys are always a big help.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

For the time being a think I’ll keep my 33son there. Little bit better peace of mind when it comes to maybe breaking an axle lol.

Solid decision. With that I suggest exchanging the 4.88 gears for 4.56 if you drive your Jeep on the public roads and highways. Or keep the 4.88 gearing if you are certain you'll eventually install a Super 35 and go to 35's.

 

[machoheadgames]

I’d stick with the 4.88s personally. 4.88 and 33’s is awesome on the 5 speed and still decent if changing to 35’s later.

 

[04wrangler77]

Solid decision. With that I suggest exchanging the 4.88 gears for 4.56 if you drive your Jeep on the public roads and highways. Or keep the 4.88 gearing if you are certain you'll eventually install a Super 35 and go to 35's.

Here’s my plan so far: jeep will be paid off in a couple of months. It will be strictly a toy at that point. I want the 4.88 gears with the 35s I will eventually get as it will be a trail rig. With that being said, the 33s I have now will function fine with the new carriers you guys have helped me find. Eventually, I’ll go super 35 in the rear with a locker, and then chromoly in the front with a locker. Keep the 33s on the rig until their at the end of their life and then run 35s. In a perfect world an axle swap and 37s sound great, I just don’t have the facilities for that at the moment.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

In a perfect world an axle swap and 37s sound great, I just don’t have the facilities for that at the moment.

Same here. Or the $$$ either. I will say my 35's have been more than big enough for my uses.