I have a 2002 TJ that I use about 90% of the time on the highway but take it through some rough stuff when off-road where occasionally I do have to use my winch.
I recently had a failed seal and a leak from the rear end Dana 44 differential. While installing the pinion seal, I found a small piece of metal in front of the forward bearing on the pinion, so I removed the rear cover and checked the pinion and ring gear. Everything looked fine and the differential was not making a noise or heating up.
I had been planning for a while to go with 33-inch from 30-inch tires and regear from 3:73 to a lower ratio with air lockers in both differentials, so I decided it was time to do it as something had to be wrong in the rear end. (The TruLok had come apart and the picture shows the metal that came out of the rear end during the upgrade.)
While talking to the owner of shop about how I use the Jeep and my options for an upgrade, he recommended a 4:10 gearing with helical gear limited slip in the front and a Dura Grip limited slip for the rear instead of the air locks and 4:56 gearing I was thinking about.
I took his advice, and I am very pleased with how it came out. The gear ratio was perfect with the 33-inch tires and it drives just as it did with the old tires and the speedometer reading is accurate. The limited slips are completely invisible on the highway but immediately lock up when needed and have never failed me. I do love the setup, saved me a lot of money, and could not be happier.
I recently had a failed seal and a leak from the rear end Dana 44 differential. While installing the pinion seal, I found a small piece of metal in front of the forward bearing on the pinion, so I removed the rear cover and checked the pinion and ring gear. Everything looked fine and the differential was not making a noise or heating up.
I had been planning for a while to go with 33-inch from 30-inch tires and regear from 3:73 to a lower ratio with air lockers in both differentials, so I decided it was time to do it as something had to be wrong in the rear end. (The TruLok had come apart and the picture shows the metal that came out of the rear end during the upgrade.)
While talking to the owner of shop about how I use the Jeep and my options for an upgrade, he recommended a 4:10 gearing with helical gear limited slip in the front and a Dura Grip limited slip for the rear instead of the air locks and 4:56 gearing I was thinking about.
I took his advice, and I am very pleased with how it came out. The gear ratio was perfect with the 33-inch tires and it drives just as it did with the old tires and the speedometer reading is accurate. The limited slips are completely invisible on the highway but immediately lock up when needed and have never failed me. I do love the setup, saved me a lot of money, and could not be happier.
