Gears and ring and pinion size

[Morks]

Slowly gathering the essential components for 35's on my sport tj. I was wondering what gears to get with the 4.0 and 5 speed. I know the consensus is 4.88's. However not sure how the higher RPMs will be with long road trips (I have one small hill in those 8 hr trips that I have to get by, with a headwind towing with 3.07's I typically never downshift, it is VERY flat where I live). I do lots of highway driving, I haven't owned my jeep for 2 years and have put nearly 70,000km on it... The nearest actual wheeling spot to me is around a 6 hr drive. I also do many trips further 8hr + to go wheel/fish. I am set on 35s and doesn't matter if it takes me multiple years to save and do it right. As much as I'd like to slap a super 35 kit in and call it a day, I am not sure about the size of the ring and pinion. If an axle shaft snaps (44 or 35) so be it, but ring and pinion, not so much fun. The wheeling in my area is a far drive, and deep in the bush (in uni as much as I want a tow rig not happening right now and I'm young so I'm going to be dumb and mash the gas pedal every once and a while because I take that as fun, even when I know I have to drive that same rig home 6 hrs, LOL). My concern comes from seeing people breaking spider gears and ring gears on 33s in person, and yes we all bring spare parts, just not ring and pinions. I also completely understand that gas breaks things and can snap a Dana 44 ring and pinion, but have never actually seen someone break a Dana 44 in person with good amounts of abuse in rocks where I wheel. Any knowledge on gear selection for the many km on the road, or R&P size would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

A Super 35 is MORE than up to 35's even on extreme level trails. Your R&P gears will be fine too, that combination was (and is) very well proven on some of the toughest rock crawling trails in the US, in Johnson Valley CA where they hold the King of the Hammers events.

Don't give your R&P gears a second thought with a Super 35 and 35" tires, even on very tough trails. Really.

 

[Morks]

A Super 35 is MORE than up to 35's even on extreme level trails. Your R&P gears will be fine too, that combination was (and is) very well proven on some of the toughest rock crawling trails in the US, in Johnson Valley CA where they hold the King of the Hammers events.

Don't give your R&P gears a second thought with a Super 35 and 35" tires, even on very tough trails. Really.

I am in no doubt just odd you don't see it more... Anywhere to get that combo with the Detroit locker, I know straight from revolution you can get the kit and the locker. Are there different setup bearings that need to be purchased for the detroit? Thanks!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I am in no doubt just odd you don't see it more... Anywhere to get that combo with the Detroit locker, I know straight from revolution you can get the kit and the locker. Are there different setup bearings that need to be purchased for the detroit? Thanks!

So far as I know all the lockers available with a Super 35 kit use the same carrier bearings. The Detroit Locker is a common locker used with a Super 35 kit, that's my favorite locker.

 

[Morks]

So far as I know all the lockers available with a Super 35 kit use the same carrier bearings. The Detroit Locker is a common locker used with a Super 35 kit, that's my favorite locker.

Have done tons of reading on it including a bunch of your posts, nothing but good things that I've heard about it!

 

[machoheadgames]

I’d go for 5.13 with a 4.0, 5MT and 35’s.

The rpm will be just fine, roughly 2800 at 70.

The R&P will be fine size wise. It’s not a typical failure point. The shafts and spider gears are what fail on the 35.

As for bearings, most of the aftermarket lockers upsize the carrier bearing journals to a larger size, which means you need a bearing with a larger inner diameter and the same outer diameter. That is usually LM102949 for the bearing and LM102911 for the race. Those were parts originally used as carrier bearings in GM 7.5/8.5 axles.

There are “super 35 regear kits” on the market now that can help you bridge the gap between your stock 35 and what the new locker needs.

 

[Morks]

I’d go for 5.13 with a 4.0, 5MT and 35’s.

The rpm will be just fine, roughly 2800 at 70.

The R&P will be fine size wise. It’s not a typical failure point. The shafts and spider gears are what fail on the 35.

As for bearings, most of the aftermarket lockers upsize the carrier bearing journals to a larger size, which means you need a bearing with a larger inner diameter and the same outer diameter. That is usually LM102949 for the bearing and LM102911 for the race. Those were parts originally used as carrier bearings in GM 7.5/8.5 axles.

There are “super 35 regear kits” on the market now that can help you bridge the gap between your stock 35 and what the new locker needs.

Thanks for the info, definitely going to call around tomorrow and see what's all needed. If the super 35 is decent hope to have this thing buttoned up before summer!