Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Darrenmcd1]

Hi folks,

Bought my first Jeep (Wrangler TR2) a fortnight ago and I'm in love haha 

However, I have a problem with the power distribution which is starting to niggle a bit. Whenever I'm in fifth gear on even the slightest of inclinations, the speed starts to drop meaning I have to drop into fourth. The same goes for fourth gear on slightly higher gradients. In fifth gear at 60mph I tend to see around 1500RPM which seems very low.

The car has been lifted a couple of inches, had the suspension etc upgraded and has some 33" cooper discoverer stt's on there. I'm thinking the previous owner did all the necessary upgrades barring new gear ratios. Obviously the increased weight and tyre circumference will have a big effect.

I'm thinking maybe 4.56:1 would be the way forward but would like to know what you guys out there are running?? I'm hoping to achieve increased acceleration (nearer factory spec again)and would like the jeep to be able to cruise along at 60 in 5th without having to drop to 4th every two seconds!!   

A rough estimate on price would be fantastic also from anyone who has already done this.

If this has already been covered elsewhere on the forum, please point me in right direction. Ran a quick search earlier which came up blank.

Cheers

[wildwood]

Price will vary  dependant on if you go full bling ARB or Detroit locker or LSD type of thing at the rear and LSD up front.
If you go full Detroit front and rear then it will be great offroad but compromised on road......how do I know this?..
Cost me about a £1K each end a few years back.......

More Birties will be along to give prices more up to date.....

4.56 are spot on with 33s but if you are even thinking 35s go 4.88 again speaking from experience here.

[willo]

Price will vary  dependant on if you go full bling ARB or Detroit locker or LSD type of thing at the rear and LSD up front.
If you go full Detroit front and rear then it will be great offroad but compromised on road......how do I know this?..
Cost me about a £1K each end a few years back.......

More Birties will be along to give prices more up to date.....

4.56 are spot on with 33s but if you are even thinking 35s go 4.88 again speaking from experience here.

  I even have a pair of wrangler axles for sale with arb's chromoly shafts and 4.88....

[gordy]

If your ratio now is 3.07 (given your symptoms it would appear this is the case) you need to replace the carriers as well as the ring and pinion gears.  You may wish to go with lockers or as I did Detriot Trurtrac limited slip differential carriers front and rear.  Great thing about Truetracs is it's like having open diffs on the road and in the mud or slippery surfaces both wheels lock up rather than one side spins, although to be honest the Truetrac will never behave exactly like a locker, there's a compromise.  FTE, Essex did mine and with the master build kits and labour was not cheap, but defiantly worth it.  About 1500 quid ea axle all in.

4.56 is good although you could go 4.11

[j33pky]

Nice... You may as well buy willo's axles at that money though

[gordy]

Nice... You may as well buy willo's axles at that money though

Absolutlely.

[Arno]

Im in the same boat here..

I currently have 3.07 gears on 31", but 33" in the near future..

I bought myself a set of 4.56 gears, but now, decisions decisions.. I know I would need carriers, but why not lockers, while everything is apart, this is the perfect time to add a set..   But what lockers, and where to get it all installed..  (for my own reasons, I'll steer well clear from FTE)

[JamesH]

MJS - Bubba on here

[gordy]

I put it all on a 0% card and payed monthly over 3 years, did'nt notice it that way.

[Darrenmcd1]

Thanks for the replies people!

I do like the idea of the selectable ARB's, seems like the best of both worlds really. Not priced this, but I imagine it ain't cheap.

I guess a compromise would be to have selectable on the front and something like the Detroits mentioned by Wildwood. Although I've heard that the Detroits are very clunky and noisy on the roads??

I'm happy with the 33" just now. Maybe be nice to get some 35s also. I realise that 4.88 is optimised for 35" but maybe you could get away with that on the 33" tyres as well although I reckon that this would probably be the limit. Feel free to disagree as this is all new to me!!

[Arno]

I do like the idea of the selectable ARB's, seems like the best of both worlds really. Not priced this, but I imagine it ain't cheap.

You looking at around £1000 per axle for ARBs, then you need to get an onboard compressor as well...

[JamesH]

Go deeper with the gears, if 33s are definite and you are even considering 35s I suggest you go 4.88s.

How much and what offroading you do should guide locker choice. If you are considering full re-gear and lockers with garage labour then Willo's axles are a good deal.

[isle of man]

I concur   

[bigjeepzj]

 

[Darrenmcd1]

I live up by the Cairngorms so there are some great routes nearby. A fair bit of rock crawling and some mudding for fun. I'm in the oil industry and work offshore so whenever I'm home the jeep gets a blast almost every day

Heading offshore in the morning so I should have plenty time to do some more research while I'm hard at 'work' haha. Maybe get some more info from Willo

[willo]

maybe, what do you need to know?