meteor1960

Hello all im a new member. I juts got a simple question ive been doing a lot of reading on gearing and im just still a little confused. I have a 96 grand Cherokee limited 5.2 and I busted my front diff now I use to have a 97 Cherokee and I had another one for parts I still have the parts one so I was going to take the front diff outta that one and put it into mine grand Cherokee but found out the gearing is different. My questions is I guess what will I loose buy putting in the 3.55. I do a lot of highway driving back and forth to work but I also like to play around on the weekends any input would greatly appreciated

maverickdan

Are you only changing the front diff? You will have to change the rear to match the front or you'll need a tcase next. The 3.55s you wont accelerate as fast as you would with 3.73s. You will have a lower cruise rpm and you may get better gas milage on the highway.

sandaddik2

the lower the numbers the higher the gear so 355s are higher than a 373 if thats what your wondering.
373 is better for wheeling 355s better for highway driving

meteor1960

I understand that the gears have to match front to back. But why would I have to change the transfer case? I plan on changing it anyways because I have the 249 and I swapping it out for the 231 simply the fact I like to decide if im in 2wd or 4wd. but it sounds like I should just find the right gears to put back in. I thought my gears from my chrysler 8.25 wont fit into my Dana 44. but from what I read I am wrong about that ?

maverickdan

What I was saying about the tcase is I thought you were only trying to change the front axle gear and leave the rear the same, which if you did you would need a tcase because the front drive shaft would be spinning faster than the rear one causing it to break. Sorry about the confusion. And I dont think the 8.25 gears will fit into a d44