OP
Yeah, that's a really good point! I may take it for a quick spin to get a feel for what 2700-3000 feels like. Good idea!
Looking for thoughts and advice on axle swap and re-gear
- Thread starter 97TJNM
- Start date
Try not to pay too much attention to the engine noise on your test drive, because at 60 mph plus the wind noise does a good job of drowning out...lol
OP
Hahahahahahaha
kinda like "fixing the rattling noise" by turning up the stereo, eh?
Yes sir!!!Hahahahahahaha
I recently re-geared to 5.13 from my 3.07. In advance of running 35in tyres. These 5.13 gears with my still 31in tyres, man this thing is zippy with my 5 speed. Still in the break in period of 500 miles,
I am of the opinion, install those axles you bought.
I am of the opinion, install those axles you bought.
OP
Man, thanks! I'm appreciative of all who have offered opinions, but comments from people who have dealt with a similar issue help most. Thanks for the input.
I’d run the 4.88s with 31’s without thinking twice. I did my time on 4.10 and 31’s and while it was still very good, it certainly wouldn’t have been bad to be lower. 4.88 on 31’s with the 5 speed is about the same as 5.13 on 35’s with the 6-speed. Plenty of people love their 6-speed with 5.13/35. 70 mph @ 3000 rpm should be great especially when you make less power way above sea level.
OP
So I just went for a quick spin. 3k has me around 56-57 on my speedo (which is about 60 in reality). 3k seems the max rpm I'd want to run it for an extended period of time, but 27-2800 rpm feels "good". So, yeah, good advice on getting an actual feel for it rather than just running numbers and guessing.
Two things to keep in mind after you just did that.
1) 3000 will be around 70 on 4.88, not 60.
2) factory 3 speed autos cranked out 3150 at 70 on the 28” tire 3.73 factory combo. So don’t let 3000 or revving regularly slightly above that scare you too much, it’s no big deal.
Something to also remember is that while 3000 seems drastic (it’s in a whole ‘nother section on the tach, gasp), it’s really just a little bit more to the engine.
OP
Keep in mind in 5th gear your RPMs are not going to change as rapidly with MPH change as they do in 3rd gear. There is lots of testimony from long time forum members who like cruising around at 3k
OP
Thanks. After all this direct feedback I'm feeling much better about my decision to buy the 4.88 axles. This community is awesome. Shoulda joined sooner.
Yup good point. Set the 5 speed and the 3 speed equal with both at 70 @ 3000, by the time they hit 80 the 3 speed will be revving higher than the 5 speed.
The testing a lower gear thing gives you a ballpark idea, but is not really representative of life with a regear. It makes everyone think the regear will be much more drastic (in a bad way) than it actually is, when really it’s not bad at all.
OP
Well, forum members, you've convinced me. Looks like I'm going to forge ahead with the axle swap. My plan is to tackle buying the components needed (brackets to relocate the stabilizer and sway bar arms back to original locations, Tom woods drive shafts, new e-brake cable, compressor for air locker) over the next couple months as funds allow. Then I will schedule a weekend with my brother and bring the front axle down to him to get it fixed up for mounting, then a couple weekends on my back in the carport. Looks like my winter project is set, and hopefully I can be wheeling around on my new axles by early spring! (I try not to get in a rush on these things and make sure I do them right.)
Thanks for everyone's input, and believe me, I'm sure I will be asking questions along the way as I am going back together with it! Again, I can't say enough good about this community. I've been able to solve so much just by checking old posts here, and within 9 hours of my first post, yall have given a ton of advice (4 pages!) And helped me get my brain wrapped around a plan of attack. Thanks guys, and I'm looking forward to tackling my first REAL mod! (Not minor things like installing a winch or light bar.)
Wranglertjforum is awesome!
Thanks for everyone's input, and believe me, I'm sure I will be asking questions along the way as I am going back together with it! Again, I can't say enough good about this community. I've been able to solve so much just by checking old posts here, and within 9 hours of my first post, yall have given a ton of advice (4 pages!) And helped me get my brain wrapped around a plan of attack. Thanks guys, and I'm looking forward to tackling my first REAL mod! (Not minor things like installing a winch or light bar.)
Wranglertjforum is awesome!
I would still swap the rear in first. Just order your new rear driveshaft and once you receive it swap in the rear so you'll have less to do at your brothers.
Second thing is I finally got a chance to look at the pictures since my internet was down for most of the day.
Can you take a picture of the passenger side knuckle & tie rod?
Next I'd leave those swaybar brackets where they are. You can get some swaybar linkage kits and make shorter links. Those are TeraFlex brackets and are VERY nice and heavy duty brackets. If you decide to upgrade to a RockJock anti-rock or ORO swayloc they will come in really handy. Also I never had a steer stabilizer on my TJ so you could just not run one for a while. To me it looks like they did a TRE swap where they raised the drivers side but the passenger is still under the knuckle.
https://www.4lowparts.com/shop/currie-tj-front-antirock-sway-bar-kit-end-link-heim-joints/
Or a whole anti-rock
https://www.4lowparts.com/shop/currie-ce-9900-antirock-front-sway-bar-kit-jeep-tj/
Or this from ORO
https://offroadonly.com/shop/other/swayloc-link-kit/
And this
https://offroadonly.com/shop/swayloc/swayloc-rod-end-kit57-00/
Or use something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R89SW7P/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Second thing is I finally got a chance to look at the pictures since my internet was down for most of the day.
Can you take a picture of the passenger side knuckle & tie rod?
Next I'd leave those swaybar brackets where they are. You can get some swaybar linkage kits and make shorter links. Those are TeraFlex brackets and are VERY nice and heavy duty brackets. If you decide to upgrade to a RockJock anti-rock or ORO swayloc they will come in really handy. Also I never had a steer stabilizer on my TJ so you could just not run one for a while. To me it looks like they did a TRE swap where they raised the drivers side but the passenger is still under the knuckle.
https://www.4lowparts.com/shop/currie-tj-front-antirock-sway-bar-kit-end-link-heim-joints/
Or a whole anti-rock
https://www.4lowparts.com/shop/currie-ce-9900-antirock-front-sway-bar-kit-jeep-tj/
Or this from ORO
https://offroadonly.com/shop/other/swayloc-link-kit/
And this
https://offroadonly.com/shop/swayloc/swayloc-rod-end-kit57-00/
Or use something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R89SW7P/?tag=wranglerorg-20
OP
Fair enough. I will definitely check them out thoroughly before doing away with them. It just seems like they would be almost touching the sway bar where they are at.
As far as pics of the passenger knuckle, I have attached one. But I will likely do away with the knuckles and put my knuckles from my dana 30 on this axle.
Well they will work with a Anti-Rock so I don't know why they couldn't be made to work with the stock swaybar.
Here are the swaybar mounts that you have now. He'd swapped out to them because he did the high steer.
https://teraflex.com/shop/axles/tj-high-steer-sway-bar-mount-kit.html
You would need to make a link that looked like this for the stock swaybar.
And I attached the install instructions.
Attachments
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OP
Just as long as you get those light bars in place BEFORE the lockers. I mean, priorities right?
OP
Heck yeah, man. Gotta have the ride looking cool before you hit the trail, right?
Actually, I'm totally guilty of this. Looking back, I know where my priorities for the TJ should have been, but when I first bought it? Not a clue man. At least I'm learning, right?
