I have a 96 XJ and getting ready to install my new 12" lift. However I have heard that guys prefer to use 4:56 gears over the 4:88. I was wondering if there is a reason for this, something like the 4:88 are easier to break then the 4:56. I'm running Dana 44's with upgrades axles and planning to run 36"-38.5" tires, have not decided yet. That's why I was planning to run 4:88 and I will be driving this on the road occasionally on weekends to shows, etc. What is your thoughts?

 

www.grimmjeeper.com and use the gear ratio calculator to see the performance differences.

I'd wager that 99.9999% of people that rant about the weakness of the pinion have never had one fail or even been on a trail ride where it allegedly happened.

Any part can and will break if exposed to the correct amount of stress, abuse, skinny pedal or poor decision making.

For the average wheeler that uses a little bit of common sense and chooses his/her lines wisely, it's not a problem at all.

 

Hey serious, will you pleas check you PM's I sent you one last night

 

That's good to know seeing as I'm about to install 4.88s.

 

It all depends on what size tires you want to run.

 

12" lift? If you plan on 38s and have D44s a 5.13 or 5.38 would be a better choice. I've got 4.56s and run 38s and they aren't low enough. Also plan on building the pee out of a D44 to hold 38s. I've broken several chromo stubs and one inner shaft. Just curious why so much lift. I'm running 38s on 6" of lift.

 

well, if youre going over 37s 44s are too small IMHO, especially for a rear axle. and 12" of lift is a silly amount. i run 5.13s with 35s with an auto, and plan on going to 37s. if you are going to a 38.5 i'd go to 5.38s.

 

I've only seen (with my own eyes) sheared 4.88 pinions on dana 30's. I'd do 5.13's if its a D44 front. And I've also seen a lot of D44 breakage on 38's when rock crawling. Twisted rear splines and broken front shafts. But they seem to handle 37's pretty well. All my D44 friends have since stepped up to 1 tons

are you planning on mudding or something? 12" of lift is usually the equivalent of going full retard. I'll be running 37's on 4.5" of lift

 

12" Lift? That's a huge lift for 38.5" tires. You should be looking at built 1 tons and 42" tires or bigger with that much lift. Some professional bike painter on here has 12" lift on 35s and it looks like he has 30s on a 6.5" lift.

 

To you and the OP, the only rants for the pinion was on d30 since they do have small gears. Since OP said he had 44's for axles. That isn't the case for him since the 44 gears are very much bigger.

 

Look into it more, it's the d30 that the 4.88 gears are more incline to break, not the 44's gears.

 

4.88 in a c 8.25 is prone to breakage and gear noise from what I have read

 

Never had either of those happen with any of the ones I've installed.

 

Almost made me spew beer all over my keyboard. I literally thought the same thing when I read the original post..

 

Amen.
Some people amaze me with their ignorance. I wish i had more money than sense.

To the op:
A) you don't need 12"of lift. There's guys that run 43's on 7" tj springs.
B) if you're going to spend money re-gearing a 44 and building it to handle 38.5's (chromos, etc.) Why don't you spend that money on some tons and be done.