Is the 4.0 that lacking on power or do I need to regear?

LaneTJ

LaneTJ

Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
51
Location
Wahiawa, HI
I’m a new Jeep owner, I’ve fanangled in TJ’s and JK’s before with buddies of mine and visited several off road parks but I don’t know sh*t about axles. My TJ has an axle swap from the PO but I don’t know what they are geared at. Cruising on the interstate seems suck the life out of the jeep
 
Find out what gearing you have now as well as which transmission and tire size you have to get an accurate recommendation.
 
Rob5589 said:
Find out what gearing you have now as well as which transmission and tire size you have to get an accurate recommendation.
Click to expand...
Okay, I believe it’s just the normal 4 speed auto that came on 2005 Wrangler Sport but has Dana 44’s geared at 4.56 and 33’s
 
The 4 spd needs 5.13 with 33's. Front and rear 44's you could even do 5.38. 4.56 is the recommendation for 33's and the 5/6 spd trans.
 
Rob5589 said:
The 4 spd needs 5.13 with 33's. Front and rear 44's you could even do 5.38. 4.56 is the recommendation for 33's and the 5/6 spd trans.
Click to expand...
Thank you, is there a certain brand that will provide a higher quality? Or which gears I would need if I am looking into doing off-roading ass well which would be a happy-medium?
 
LaneTJ said:
Thank you, is there a certain brand that will provide a higher quality? Or which gears I would need if I am looking into doing off-roading ass well which would be a happy-medium?
Click to expand...

IMHO (and many on here), Revolution makes some fantastic gears. That's what I always recommend to people.

Re-gearing will make a huge difference, especially on the highway!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Bransford
Chris said:
IMHO (and many on here), Revolution makes some fantastic gears. That's what I always recommend to people.

Re-gearing will make a huge difference, especially on the highway!
Click to expand...
Alright! That’s really where it is most noticeable. Driving around base or town it’s fine at 35 or 40 it’s not horrible but push past that and I really start feeling the lack of power to the ground. Definitely an investment I’ll make very soon. I was planning on making the 13 hour trip home in the Jeep but it couldn’t handle the interstate that long I didn’t feel like, so no wheeling for me anytime soon. Upstate New York doesn’t have much to offer.
 
LaneTJ said:
Alright! That’s really where it is most noticeable. Driving around base or town it’s fine at 35 or 40 it’s not horrible but push past that and I really start feeling the lack of power to the ground. Definitely an investment I’ll make very soon. I was planning on making the 13 hour trip home in the Jeep but it couldn’t handle the interstate that long I didn’t feel like, so no wheeling for me anytime soon. Upstate New York doesn’t have much to offer.
Click to expand...

Putting on bigger tires without re-gearing is an instant recipe for this sort of sluggishness you speak of, I can attest to that first hand. Mine was the same way until I re-geared it. After re-gearing it, it totally transformed the way the Jeep drove, both in town and on the highway.

A Jeep Wrangler has some of the worst aerodynamics possible. It's never going to be a good highway cruiser like a nice BMW or Lexus would. However, with the right gearing it won't be nearly as bad as it is now, I can promise you that.
 
Chris said:
Putting on bigger tires without re-gearing is an instant recipe for this sort of sluggishness you speak of, I can attest to that first hand. Mine was the same way until I re-geared it. After re-gearing it, it totally transformed the way the Jeep drove, both in town and on the highway.

A Jeep Wrangler has some of the worst aerodynamics possible. It's never going to be a good highway cruiser like a nice BMW or Lexus would. However, with the right gearing it won't be nearly as bad as it is now, I can promise you that.
Click to expand...
I’m new to the community and really appreciate the help. I’ll make sure to update and if I have any other questions be sure to ask. Very helpful and much appreciated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris
If you plan to wheel much and are considering a locker, when you regear is the time to install it as it saves you money in the long run. That is if corse providing your budget allows it.

Also when regearing plan for the largest tire you would like to run, it sucks to pay to regear a second time because you changed tire sizes.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fouledplugs
Drizit said:
If you plan to wheel much and are considering a locker, when you regear is the time to install it as it saves you money in the long run. That is if corse providing your budget allows it.

Also when regearing plan for the largest tire you would like to run, it sucks to pay to regear a second time because you changed tire sizes.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
Click to expand...

This is where I'm at now. Just installed 33" - had 32"s before. Installed 4.88 gears April 2017 and have less than 7000 miles on them...we'll see how bad it is now. New gears are about $450 + install.

+1 for revo gears; that's what I used and got them from allens offroad @AOR
 
basic said:
This is where I'm at now. Just installed 33" - had 32"s before. Installed 4.88 gears April 2017 and have less than 7000 miles on them...we'll see how bad it is now. New gears are about $450 + install.

+1 for revo gears; that's what I used and got them from allens offroad @AOR
Click to expand...
You have the 4spd I assume? 4.88 won't be horrible but I wouldn't go bigger than a 33 on them.
 
basic said:
This is where I'm at now. Just installed 33" - had 32"s before. Installed 4.88 gears April 2017 and have less than 7000 miles on them...we'll see how bad it is now. New gears are about $450 + install.

+1 for revo gears; that's what I used and got them from allens offroad @AOR
Click to expand...
How did your TJ do with 4.88 & 32s?
 
Rob5589 said:
You have the 4spd I assume? 4.88 won't be horrible but I wouldn't go bigger than a 33 on them.
Click to expand...
Yes, 42LRE with it's silly 0.69:1 overdrive...

as for how it did on 32" - it was pretty good actually. If I kept the speed under 60; i could get decent gas mileage. rarely had to reach for the OD off button. Now with 33" that are much heavier; I'm thinking 5.13s may be in the future.
 
It's the +install that's painful. 4.88 on 33s is about the norm up here, honestly though most people don't ever regear until they go to 35s, at least not if they had 3.73s to start. I think it's the nature of the fairly flat roads and the 60mph max highway speed limit here. It let's them get away with the wrong ratio. That and it seems to be a tire size that's getting skipped at lot. Everyone seems to go from stock to 35s these days. I think there may also just be a lot more hack job tjs here as you can get em for a few grand or even less sometimes.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
 
  • Like
Reactions: derekmac
Drizit said:
If you plan to wheel much and are considering a locker, when you regear is the time to install it as it saves you money in the long run. That is if corse providing your budget allows it.

Also when regearing plan for the largest tire you would like to run, it sucks to pay to regear a second time because you changed tire sizes.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
Click to expand...
Its got lockers in both the front and rear already, this is currently the only issue I have with it. Can I run 35’s with the Dana 44’s? They have chromoly shafts in them.
 
Yep, just remember, it's not a one ton, if you keep it from bouncing too much it'll hold up just fine. The front is where you really want to be careful. Even with chromoly shafts the u joints will only take so much. When they go, they have a tendency to take out the ears as well. If you are smooth though, no problem.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
 
LaneTJ said:
I’m new to the community and really appreciate the help. I’ll make sure to update and if I have any other questions be sure to ask. Very helpful and much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Have you tried disabling OD? I am not saying don't re-gear at some point but it will make a huge difference especially on the highway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bird
Thanks then, I’ll look into 35’s then. I do plan on wheeling, although there aren’t any options I know of near me. Just wanna make sure it’s ready when I do.
 
Top Bottom
Back