lukc22

I will be going with a 3.5 inch lift and 33's for now.... I want to add lockers/lsd as well... while i am in there, i figured i would regear.... I am thinking of going 4.56 with the assumption that I will be eventually going 35's.... i dont care about gas mileage, but wondering what others think... thanks guys!

89Laredo

4.88
Lunchbox rear
Selectable front
8.8 swap and at least new front shafts while you're at it.

lukc22

I think im gona beat on the 8.25 as long as i can... probably an lsd rear and aussie up front... 4.88 seems a litte much for 35's right???

aj2494

If you drive it on the highway at all, it seems like the general consensus is to go 4.56. Your 8.25 will probably be fine unless you go stroker/FI. You can always upgrade the shafts too.

89Laredo

29 spline I hope.
Limited slip is not ideal for off road, better off with a lunch box or selectable locker.

4.88/33=2609
4.88/35=2406
@70 w/AW4

I'd rather be over geared vs under geared.

lukc22

Does the 4.88 give better low end than a 4.56, or vice versa?

2000CHERO

If you're plan is to stick with the 33's. Then I says 4:56. If you're plan is to add a bunch of weight like bumpers and armor, go 4:88, even on the 33's. If you EVER plan to go 35's, get 4:88. If you don't care about gas get the deepest gears you can now.

You can look at charts all day on where your rpm's might end up with certain gearing, but real world experience is best. My rpm's at 70 with 4:88 and 33's is closer to 3000; a little over 2900 actually. A lot of things can be different from vehicle to vehicle.

I did the 8.8 (good swap for the money, I know I'll never have to mess with it again for the most part), and hp30, both with 4:88. I built my rig for 35's so that's why I went that deep. I use it 95% for dd too. With that said, between the front and rear bumpers, rock sliders, my self, and any other passengers/added weight, I wouldn't have Ben happy with 4:56. Even on the 33's I feel it could be better haha. But I was limited by the d30.

Do some searches, there's tons of info already out there on swaps and what gearing to choose!

aj2494

Higher ratio always gives better low end up to a certain point. Then the motor just can't handle it anymore, but that's way beyond the ratios we're talking about.

2000CHERO

I agree with this as well.

And LSD may not be "ideal" for off-road. But are awesome for a dd in the rear, and I can get mine to fully lock if I want. I don't have off-road experience yet with mine however.

And a lunchbox in the front is a good, cheap way to go.

srb53150

i did 4.56, its a better all around gear for 33 & 35's, plus the pinion gear stays a little bigger, stronger & makes more contact on the ring gear then w/ 4.88. off road you have low range to get you plenty low for crawling.if you really plan to wheel this jeep, i would avoid lsd & lunchbox lockers. one barely works the other isnt called a junkbox for nothing. they are noisy & break or wear out too soon. in other words you get what you pay for. if you can afford it go w/ a detroit locker rear & a e-locker front. rear is a auto locker, front is selectable. not cheap , but you get what you pay for. btw i been wheelin jeeps for 32 years, i have learned a few things.

2000CHERO

I don't doubt your experience, but I have yet to read more than one or two threads across all jeep forums of broken ring pinion because of the contact or it being "weaker". Yes it happens, but usually in a situation that would also break a 3:55 gear set, or as a result of installation error.

There are literally thousands running "junk boxes" without issue, on bigger than 35" tires too haha.

I do agree that a Detroit is a solid locker, and even on ice one can learn to deal with the characteristics.

I do also agree that off-road you have low range to do most of anything you want. But 95% of most people's driving, unless it's a dedicated trail rig, is street. For that the gears in the axle do more good than anything you can do to the rest of the driveline.

2000CHERO

Def stick with the 8.25, it can handle 35's, however locker selections are more limited, and usually a little more than the same locker for another axle.

lukc22

I have other dd vehicles so this is just a toy.... but i do want it streetable...

srb53150

i should have added IMO, i have never used a lunchbox locker, but i know two pro. drive train mechanics that wont recommend them, but they love replacing broken ones for all the fools who run them w/ 37" tires.so your point of 35's is well taken.

Fred/N0AZZ

Excellent info!


I do have a 8.25 29 spline rear but have no plans of going larger than the 35's I now run off road only, 33 for the highway and some trails. I do run auto lockers Detroit's front and rear wish I had a selectable in front an OX. These lockers are full case lockers and very strong and quiet and do an excellent job for me. You do need to reconsider a lsd for an off road XJ period they are lacking for that application.


The one thing I did do wrong was to go with 4.56 (matched for a 33" tire stock) gears I should have used 4.88's and been done with it as mine is mostly an off road toy.