Need input on gear ratio

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
I have a 4.0 in my ZJ. I had originally planned on running 4.88s with 35" tires. I have found a deal on some 4.10s.

This is not a DD, but I do drive it on the road, and I do drive it to Uwharrie from Greensboro, so it does see highway time.

So my question is, should I even consider 4.10s with 35" tires and my 4.0?
 
If it sees highway use I would go with 4.56's. Thats what I have in my TJ with 35's. When I am wheeling I wish they were 4.88's. But they I get back on the road and I am very happy with the choice. Its as well balanced as I can hope for.
 
No!

Low = Go :driver:

Your current 31" tires with your 3.55 gears will be roughly the same as 35" tires with 4.10 gears. In order to improve your off road capabilities go 4.88. If you keep this up you'll eventually have a trailer anyway so interstate speeds will not come into play very often :)
 
I know ultimately I will go to 4.88s, but for cost purposes I am leaning towards the 4.10s right now because the axles are already geared with them. If I go with 4.88s, I will have to buy the gears, install kits, and pay someone to set them up.

So I guess my question should be, in the short term (a couple years) will the 4.10s do both on and off road?
 
No it won't be cost effective. You will spend double in the long run with bearings and setup....Will it work? yes Will it be best? No
 
Like Snap says, it'll work, sure, but if you do the 4.10s you won't be able to crawl as well, you'll use more skinny pedal resulting in possible breakage, you'll be wondering how the 4.88 would have been, it'll cost more in the long run, etc, etc. If you were a starving college kid I could see trying to get by with the 4.10s but half stepping is for the square dance crowd :)
 
Whats it worth to ya,

4.88 gears front and rear $300~
Install kits $250~
Labor $250~

So your looking at around $800~ (I guessing) to regear

So if the 4.10s aren't costing you more than a $100 I would do the 4.10s and save for the 4.88s, but if its more than $100 save it and put it toward the ones you want.
 
LOL, you guys are not helping my wallet :) But I asked for it didn't I?

OK, I will save my pennies for 4.88s

Thanks for your input :beer:
 
I'd go with 4.56's personally. Thats what I've got in my TJ on 35's. Granted yours is an auto and mine is a manual, but on the highway its perfect, and on the trail its real good. 4.10's wouldn't be enough to push it up most hills in a relaxed gear, and 4.88's would get annoying on the interstate.
 
burrellsjeep your estimate is quite low for gears and installing them. I took my TJ to a highly recomended vender on here and he gave me an estimate of $1250 to do front and rear 4.88.

So that is something he needs to consider if he doesn't want to install them himself. You can get the gears and install kits for less $500 so if you can figure out how to do it or get someone locally to help you I would install them your self.

I hate paying shops to do something I can ultimatly figure out how to do my self, but with gears it takes alot of reseach and usually some hands on training to learn how to do them and make them last but if you can save $750 it may be worth it.
 
JC said:
Thing is, the rig is hardly ever driven at highway speeds. Mainly when he takes it to Uwharrie. He'll probably have a trailer before too long :)
Click to expand...
Then 4.88's would probably be a good choice.
 
jds97Wrangler said:
burrellsjeep your estimate is quite low for gears and installing them. I took my TJ to a highly recomended vender on here and he gave me an estimate of $1250 to do front and rear 4.88.
So that is something he needs to consider if he doesn't want to install them himself. You can get the gears and install kits for less $500 so if you can figure out how to do it or get someone locally to help you I would install them your self.
I hate paying shops to do something I can ultimatly figure out how to do my self, but with gears it takes alot of reseach and usually some hands on training to learn how to do them and make them last but if you can save $750 it may be worth it.
Click to expand...

Like I stated I was just guessing, But i think it got the point across.

Hey for $250 you have a buddy put them in for a few of these :beer: and a real nice dinner.
 
"Hey for $250 you have a buddy put them in for a few of these and a real nice dinner."



Thats works for me and this forum is great place to find guys willing to do the work for a couple bucks and a case of:beer:!
 
burrellsjeep said:
Whats it worth to ya,
4.88 gears front and rear $300~
Install kits $250~
Labor $250~
So your looking at around $800~ (I guessing) to regear
So if the 4.10s aren't costing you more than a $100 I would do the 4.10s and save for the 4.88s, but if its more than $100 save it and put it toward the ones you want.
Click to expand...

i might do that for one of my friends, but no reputable shop will gear 2 axles for $250, especially when they are still in the truck
 
jeepinmatt said:
I'd go with 4.56's personally. Thats what I've got in my TJ on 35's. Granted yours is an auto and mine is a manual, but on the highway its perfect, and on the trail its real good. 4.10's wouldn't be enough to push it up most hills in a relaxed gear, and 4.88's would get annoying on the interstate.
Click to expand...
my zj come factory with 3.73 gears and 225/75/15 tires now its on 35/12.50/15's with 4.88 gears i still have the orignal spedo gear and its dead on so tell me why its annoying on the interstate. fyi i dd it on the interstate at 75-80 mph and the rpms range from 2200-2500 at those speeds.
 
novacayne75 said:
my zj come factory with 3.73 gears and 225/75/15 tires now its on 35/12.50/15's with 4.88 gears i still have the orignal spedo gear and its dead on so tell me why its annoying on the interstate. fyi i dd it on the interstate at 75-80 mph and the rpms range from 2200-2500 at those speeds.
Click to expand...
I wasn't aware that ZJ's had so much overdrive (.69 to be exact). My stock TJ had .78 overdrive, which was about 3000rpm at 80 with 4.56 gears, and with the NV4500 (.74 overdrive) it is still around 2600. I stand corrected.
 
I've got a ZJ with 4.56 and 35's. It's a great combo. I haven't 'needed' lower gears on the trail, of course, the stroker gives me all the low end grunt i need so i don't need lots of skinny pedal


If the axles are already geared with 4.10's, run 'em. You might not have enough power to hold 75-80 mph through the mountains, but it would still be very drivable.
 
I've got an '01 TJ with 4 angry squirrels under the hood. It was sitting on 33's but now it's on 35's. East Coast Gear Supply put 4.88's in it for me when they changed my D35 to an 8.8. They told me 4.56's would be good if I planed on staying with 33's, but if I want to go to 35's I should consider 4.88's.

It was kind of buzzy (high rpms) on the 33's, but when I changed to 35's this summer the rpms dropped right in line and it drives awesome.

:beer: to ECGS for recommending 4.88's on 35's in my application!
 
Just ordered 4.88s from ECGS!
 
BigClay said:
I have a 4.0 in my ZJ. I had originally planned on running 4.88s with 35" tires. I have found a deal on some 4.10s.
This is not a DD, but I do drive it on the road, and I do drive it to Uwharrie from Greensboro, so it does see highway time.
So my question is, should I even consider 4.10s with 35" tires and my 4.0?
Click to expand...

look at the grim Jeeper calculator and see how you like the Rpm's in evaluation of your motor and vehicle. easy fix.
 
Back
Top