I'm looking at gearing my xj I have a Dana 44 out of a 87 xj in the rear and the stock 30 in the front it has 3.73 gearing right now I want to jump up to 4.88 I know...big jump but I'm wanting to go to 35's (I'm at 33's right now) stock gears suck with 33's...but my question is when I'm looking at gears it says 4.88 are for 3.73 and down carriers or 3.73 and up? Which one do I need? How can i tell if i need the gears for the larger carrier or smaller one??

 

With a set of 3.73 gears already installed you will not need a new carrier. Is your D30 a stock 2000 one the LPD30 or was it changed to the better 99 and down HPD30? The HP is stronger and has more ground clearance just FYI.


I run a 4.56 gear with my combo of 33's and 35's on beadlocks for off road the combo works well for me in a Chy 8.25 29 spline/D30 combo and the gears were under $500 for the set with master install kits from Rustys. They are high quality Motive gears the same I run in my race cars.

 

What he said.

Just did 4.56 Motive Gear in mine, and I used a 3.73+ carrier because my 3.55 carrier would not work with the new gears.

 

Guess he didn't come back, wonder why he swapped a D44 for a Chy 8.25 29 spline that came in his 2000 XJ about the same strength of it, or if he just had the D44 on hand? I wouldn't waste the time doing that swap for really no gains really.

 

I got rid of my 8.25 and put in a d44 for the resale value

 

I wonder if the cost/return factor would be there on resale the only real advantage is the availability of aftermarket parts, would you not agree? The front I completely get.

 

Its the stock LPD30 yeah I was looking at those Motive gears they look like good gears for the price that's the cheapest I've seen them anywhere and I did the 44 swap cause I'm planning on building that axle and I found it at the wrecking yard for 60 bucks thought why not? Do You break axle shafts left and right with that 30 in the front on 35's just out of curiosity how well does it hold up? And are you open dif all around?