I am looking to put 4.88s in my axles with a front locker and for the time being Im gonna run some 33x12.50s until I can get a set of 35s. Is this an ok idea for around town and on the highway every once in awhile? How much will this affect my mpgs? The XJ is my DD right now and I do plan on heading to the beach with it this summer so I dont wanna go with such a low gearing that will bog down easily in the sand like 3.55s will.

 

its fine for a while but ull hate the highway. i run 4.56gears and 33's but i have a manual tranny and i can ride 5th gear all day at 35 mph

 

Dang man must be nice. I wish mine was a manual at times but then again Im glad its not lol. I dont travel the highway much but I do plan on a 3-4hr trip to uwharrie after I gear. But like I said it mostley sees 50mph and under in the city and some 65mph areas going to a few wheeling spots. So Im looking for a good wheeling/DD set up

 

same boat as u Slim. Same style of DD too. so i'm curious. I don't plan on goin 35's.

 

Why not 35s are awesome

 

you should be able to do freeway speed around 2450 RPM with an auto trans
dont fear the gear! get the 4.88's the difference between 4.88 and 4.56 will be about 250 RPM at 65 MPH

just please ditch your rear axle before regearing.

 

Your gas mileage will improve around town because your RPMs won't be as high at those lower speeds.

Its the higher speeds that you have to make up for at those gear ratios. Your engine's RPMs will be higher and you will burn more gas.

With 33's if you don't offroad much you'd be fine with 3.55s, 3.73s, or even 4.10s.

 

With 33" tires if you want to match as closely as possible how everything is now (assuming stock gears and tires) 4.11 gears are as close as you can get. However if you plan on going with 35, you should go at least with the 4.56.

 

Definitely ditch that rear axle first.

 

Are you saying the 8.25 isnt a good axle

 

Your forum stats indicate a Dana35 youd be fine with the 8.25

 

as long as it's 29 spline it's good enough

 

Its out of a 98

 

29 spline then.

 

Awesome it just needs a new yoke put in it and gears but thatll happen when I save up the money. I did find 4.88 for the front axle with master install kit for 125 that Im gonna try and get. Any one know where I can find cheap but good 4.88s for the 8.25