Re-gearing questions

[ZGKarl]

Hi guys, jumping on this thread! I have an LJ on 33's, with an automatic. I'll probably leave the 33's for this summer (jeep is new to me and this is my first season with her), but will move to a 35" at some point. I run 265/75R16 studded snow tires in the winter.

Also, my jeep is basically a town car, it will almost never be on a highway let alone an interstate. I live at 8000 feet so re-gearing would be great to gain more power.

What do you guys recommend for a gear ratio to split the difference between winter and summer tires????

Thank you!

 

[ZGKarl]

sorry i should mention i have a rubicon, 4:11 stock gears.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

sorry i should mention i have a rubicon, 4:11 stock gears.

You're lucky you have a Rubicon which means you can regear to 5.38 which will be what you need for the future 35's. Yes 5.38 may sound like too low of a ratio but what makes it the right ratio is your 42RLE automatic transmission's stupid-steep .69 Overdrive ratio that drops the cruising rpms too much. Go to 5.38 and you won't regret it. And if a regearing shop tries to talk you out of 5.38, they're doing so out of ignorance of the 42RLE's .69 Overdrive ratio.

I bought my current TJ Rubicon used with 4.88 gearing, 42RLE automatic, and 35's and it was an absolute dog on the highway and the engine lugged at 65-70 mph due to the rpms being too low. It never got better than 11 mpg either and rarely that. After regearing from 4.88 to 5.38 EVERYTHING was better, even the mpg jumped up to 14.6 due to the engine no longer lugging. And even with 5.38 I still wish I had slightly higher cruising rpms, they're still on the low-side of what I'd like at 65-70 mph.

 

[ZGKarl]

this is great, thank you. its crazy how first and second are so close in gearing as well.

 

[Marklar1983]

I don't think so, don't get me wrong those look badass, but I prefer the way the 33s look and they'll get me anywhere I want to go. Have any suggestions on lift kits? I understand u get what u pay for and the sky is the the limit. But mine won't ever see any extreme wheeling just some two tracks and small hills. Don't want junk but don't want to brake the bank either.

Get the RockJock Currectlync steering when you install the 4" lift. It is the only product on the market that maintains correct steering geometry at that lift height. Do not use a drop pitman arm, that fucks everything up. The Currectlync looks like overkill, but it is hands-down the best money I've spent on any Jeep.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

its crazy how first and second are so close in gearing as well.

1st and 2nd aren't really that close in the 42RLE, 2.80 and 1.55 with 3rd at 1.0. What makes them feel closer is the torque converter that does some pretty great/magical things for us. It gives what is in effect an infinitely low 1st gear ratio plus it can increase low-end torque by up to 2-3X (really) which is great for helping to get up and over big obstacles.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Get the RockJock Currectlync steering when you install the 4" lift. It is the only product on the market that maintains correct steering geometry at that lift height. Do not use a drop pitman arm, that fucks everything up. The Currectlync looks like overkill, but it is hands-down the best money I've spent on any Jeep.

X2 exactly. And as beefy as it is it's definitely not overkill for 35's. They need it. Too many other steering kits fuck up the steering geometry without any mitigating benefits for the TJ's front Dana 30 or Dana 44 axles.