Choosing the proper gear ratio.
#31
CF Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PA KOTUFU!
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Year: 1998
Engine: 4.0L 162,000
I have an XJ all done up at about 5000 pounds! with 4.56 and 33s and it screamed a little on the highway but was great off road. It was still a dog on the street.
I changed to 35s and it is much better on the street and highway, still good off road, and still a 'slow dog'. It needs a supercharger kit soon.
Click here to see various Cherokee weights. You'll be surprised.
#32
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Ferndale, WA
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Year: 1985, 1996, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5, 4.0, 4.0
I like boosted engines, but I am thinking huffing an XJ will result in broken parts somewhere, at some point. LOL My foot is nowhere near as heavy as it was when I was younger, but I can still see me getting snagged in some rocks and goosing it a little to bounce out and snapping a shaft...or more likely a ujoint.
Cheers!
Offio
Cheers!
Offio
#33
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: York, PA
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I've been running 33s and 4.56 for a couple years now...and initially it was awesome. But now that I moved and have to cruise on the highway for hours to get to any good wheeling, I really don't like 4.56's. I wish I would've went 4.10s instead. Also, 4-lo is just ridiculous with 4.56s. One slight tap of the gas launches the rig. I personally don't care for that too much.
#34
CF Veteran
I've been running 33s and 4.56 for a couple years now...and initially it was awesome. But now that I moved and have to cruise on the highway for hours to get to any good wheeling, I really don't like 4.56's. I wish I would've went 4.10s instead. Also, 4-lo is just ridiculous with 4.56s. One slight tap of the gas launches the rig. I personally don't care for that too much.
#35
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Burlington, NC
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Year: 1994...mostly...
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L I6 HO, Lot's of Bolt Ons
I had 4.56s with 33s and loved it!
Was good on the highway however, only lacked in the 40-50mph range.
To low for 3rd gear and to high for OD when going through mountains.
Everywhere else though it was great.
Now I'm on 4.56s and 35s and I miss the get up an go.
I'm lacking in the 55mph - 65 mph range when going through mountains for the same reason I stated before.
I wouldn't mind being on 35s and 5.13s... Top speed would be about 75mph
Was good on the highway however, only lacked in the 40-50mph range.
To low for 3rd gear and to high for OD when going through mountains.
Everywhere else though it was great.
Now I'm on 4.56s and 35s and I miss the get up an go.
I'm lacking in the 55mph - 65 mph range when going through mountains for the same reason I stated before.
I wouldn't mind being on 35s and 5.13s... Top speed would be about 75mph
#38
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Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Colorado
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Six
I have had 33" tires on my XJ with 4.56 gears. I live in CO, so I drive at high altitude where the engine makes less power. On the easy grades of I25 the automatic tended to hunt gears a little bit. So sometimes I wonder if 4.88's would have been better, or engine mods for more power. Otherwise the 4.56's work great.
Kevin
Kevin
#39
::CF Administrator::
I had 4.56s with 33s and loved it!
Was good on the highway however, only lacked in the 40-50mph range.
To low for 3rd gear and to high for OD when going through mountains.
Everywhere else though it was great.
Now I'm on 4.56s and 35s and I miss the get up an go.
I'm lacking in the 55mph - 65 mph range when going through mountains for the same reason I stated before.
I wouldn't mind being on 35s and 5.13s... Top speed would be about 75mph
Was good on the highway however, only lacked in the 40-50mph range.
To low for 3rd gear and to high for OD when going through mountains.
Everywhere else though it was great.
Now I'm on 4.56s and 35s and I miss the get up an go.
I'm lacking in the 55mph - 65 mph range when going through mountains for the same reason I stated before.
I wouldn't mind being on 35s and 5.13s... Top speed would be about 75mph
Plus, I don't mind going a bit slower, life is about the journey, not the destination...okay, zen moment over, haha
#42
Moderator CF K9-unit
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alaska
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Year: 2000 sport
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: New 4.0l from s&j engines
But I did this vid... AW4, 4.56 on 32" tires.
In this vid I kept the jeep in O Drive.. I also installed the correct speed gear for the tire size
Hope it helps.. Plus Welcome to CF
Last edited by Dumajones; 09-26-2017 at 12:04 PM.
#43
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Location: New Mexico
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Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Thanks for your input! I plan on going up to 33s in the future but not sure if i'm quite ready yet so I want to go with 32s for now and am regearing to 4.56.