anyone have 35's on 3.55 gearing

[clean4drxj]

35's with 4.88's is fine, The only thing is you will also want a lower Lowerange especially with crawling and better braking(WJ swap or whatever). 35's are a good size step financially either way.

 

[mcguyver_xj]

35's on 3.55's sucks been doing it for a couple months now

 

[90xj_zach]

These people are ridiculous.

"YOU HAVE 31" TIRES BUT DON'T HAVE 6.42 GEARED ROCKWELLS?! ZOHMYGAWD YOU'RE KILLING BABIES!"

You want an honest answer? In my 1990 renix 4.0 auto, I daily drove with 35's with 3.55 gearing. It was not able to hold Overdrive going up hills, and you will be using the brakes way more on the trail than the guy running with 4.56s. However the power was still there to wheel in 4 low, no problem. Guess what, 20 thousand miles later, the jeep still ran perfect and the tranny still shifted great. I was 18 at the time and did not have the funds to do gearing.

Almost every person here knows it is NOT ideal and it is in fact easier on the vehicle to match the gearing for the tire size. All I'm saying is if you really do have a great deal on some 35's, and bolt them to your Jeep, the World will not end.

FWIW, on a 98 Cherokee I owned, it actually had the power to hold Overdrive.

It isn't recommended so do it at your own risk, but posted above was my experience with it.

 

[in4aride]

I kinda agree with this kid ^ as well as others. It depends a lot of what you are using your jeep for and where you live.

Sisters rig (4.0 5speed) is still on stock gears and 33's. Its just a winter commuter. It still outruns my dodge 1/2 ton and cruises in 5th no problem. Ya requires downshift for hills but it did stock too, im at just under 6k feet :dunno:

I wheeled my green 96 on 35's and stock 3.55's. Ya, it sucked. and wasnt the best. But to be honest when I regeared my 90 to 4.56's with same tires, it didnt really make any difference on the road. I still ran 2nd gear over the passes and it still sucked ass. Was easier on the trail, but on the road was about the same.

You will always get different opinions. Just try things out and see whats up. If you dont like it, its really easy to trade back down to 33's.

Just my .02

 

[zachandandy]

I ran 35's with 3.55 in my 89 for almost a year. Very steep grades meant 40mph in second gear, but you do what you gotta do to get out and wheel. I bought the jeep with bald 33's knowing new tires would stretch the budget. It's primarily a weekend toy, so the tires would last years. Why save for gears and wait to wheel? Why buy tires you don't want because you can't afford to build the entire rig at once? Do what you want, just know what your getting in to.

 

[scheetz_21]

im running 35s with stock gears on highway with a 2 hr drive twice a week and mine does not gear hunt... i do loose a lil speed on hills but not much.. so run it! thats our motto when somthing breaks then build it stronger! haha

 

[DanMan2k06]

^ it doesn't gear hunt, cuz you have the shifter in the 1-2 range

OP: yes, it sucks. Yes, it's doable. No, it's not suggested. No, you rig won't fold like a taco the day you bolt them on. Well... Actually it may. YMMV.

I'd rather put that money into other beneficial parts, than slap on 35's and know I'm not using them to their full potential.

 

[BlueCuda]

It sucks but its doable like mentioned before. I have a few friends doing it, one of them has done this for years. Niether have had trans problems but I believe they both(one for sure) have the factory small auxilary trans cooler.

They are both plenty capable offroad. IMO the place gears do the most good is on the road, with 4lo offroad is still OK without regearing but lower gears are always better in most cases.

 

[JeepN4kc]

I can't imagine 33's on 3.55's either. I bought my jeep with 32's and regeared to 4.56 within a few months of owning it. Great decision, it was awesome on the highway and trails. Spend the money on the gears/locker instead of the 35s.

While I don't doubt 35's on stock 3.55 gearing wouldn't be user friendly - I'm running 33's on 3.55s w/o issue. Granted - it's not a dd, just a trail toy and occasional errand runner - but still. Would I and will I regear? Sure, eventually - 4.56s.

 

[Breezio69]

While I don't doubt 35's on stock 3.55 gearing wouldn't be user friendly - I'm running 33's on 3.55s w/o issue. Granted - it's not a dd, just a trail toy and occasional errand runner - but still. Would I and will I regear? Sure, eventually - 4.56s.

In the same boat, got quoted $1000 just labor on gearing and after my b-hole unpuckered I've been running 33's on stock 3.55 since. Not terrible but not ideal

 

[smokinlib1]

In the same boat, got quoted $1000 just labor on gearing and after my b-hole unpuckered I've been running 33's on stock 3.55 since. Not terrible but not ideal

Wow! And people wonder why the companies aren't marketing to XJ owners? $1K + parts to regear and get your power back and not lug the snot out the engine but that's too much? You spend 1K+ on tires but can't pony up to finish the deal. Save it up and do it right the first time. Not saying you need to be rich but saving up once is easier than doing things twice or you could just learn how to do gears yourself and save the labor.

 

[Breezio69]

Wow! And people wonder why the companies aren't marketing to XJ owners? $1K + parts to regear and get your power back and not lug the snot out the engine but that's too much? You spend 1K+ on tires but can't pony up to finish the deal. Save it up and do it right the first time. Not saying you need to be rich but saving up once is easier than doing things twice or you could just learn how to do gears yourself and save the labor.

"WOW", its awesome that all these people have said essentially the same thing I did, but because I put a $$$ on it, which was just about 1600 after taxes by the way... I get called out and basically called a cheapskate... if I paid as much as they wanted for the whole jeep then yeah, id do it.... can't justify two rings of steel for $1600 when I paid less than that for almost everything on the jeep, cost of it included.

And your right... there is zero market out there for xj's, I'm sure if you picked up enough catalogs you could build one from scratch. Gimme a break

and I paid 750 for 5 brand new 33"km2s with stickers still on them... so I may be a cheap skate but at least I'm a smart one, if you paid over a grand...

 

[NotMatt]

Wow! And people wonder why the companies aren't marketing to XJ owners? $1K + parts to regear and get your power back and not lug the snot out the engine but that's too much? You spend 1K+ on tires but can't pony up to finish the deal. Save it up and do it right the first time. Not saying you need to be rich but saving up once is easier than doing things twice or you could just learn how to do gears yourself and save the labor.

Seems like you need to get over yourself. Not everybody builds their rig with a large budget and a parts catalog. Who cares if anyone is marketing to XJ owners or not? If you need someone to market some bolt-on parts to you to make you feel good about owning a cherokee, I feel sorry for ya. Maybe go buy a new JK?

As far as the original question goes, I'll say it again. It's not ideal, but it will work until you can save up for a gear swap. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

 

[JeepN4kc]

Wow! And people wonder why the companies aren't marketing to XJ owners? $1K + parts to regear and get your power back and not lug the snot out the engine but that's too much? You spend 1K+ on tires but can't pony up to finish the deal. Save it up and do it right the first time. Not saying you need to be rich but saving up once is easier than doing things twice or you could just learn how to do gears yourself and save the labor.

Your avatar sig says it all - "change is all I have left"

To most folks into Jeepin it is a hobby, a way of life, etc., etc.,

But that doesn't mean we go broke in the process - that's just ridiculous, irresponsible, and stupid.
Good for you for having the ability to drop a grand on gears after dropping a good chunk of $ putting yourself into position to even need regearing - I applaud your financial well being. But when you have a wife, kids, mortgage, bills, and all the financial liabilities associated with such - not everyone can just "pony up" and "finish the deal" all at once.

 

[XJ Eric]

You'll be fine with 35s and 3.55s. I did it with 33s for about 4 years and then did 35s for another 2 years. It was fine off and on road. I eventually picked up a geared and locked MJ cheap, and so I was able to do an axle swap. I'm running 4.56 now and it's great. Just don't get stupid with the skinny pedal offroad, and you'll be fine.

 

[GordoSmasho]

Wow! And people wonder why the companies aren't marketing to XJ owners? $1K + parts to regear and get your power back and not lug the snot out the engine but that's too much? You spend 1K+ on tires but can't pony up to finish the deal. Save it up and do it right the first time. Not saying you need to be rich but saving up once is easier than doing things twice or you could just learn how to do gears yourself and save the labor.

Your paying to much. A shop local to me charges 200 per axle labor. You should be in at about 1000 total, parts gears and labor, and find a cheep locker to throw in there.

 

[Breezio69]

Your paying to much. A shop local to me charges 200 per axle labor. You should be in at about 1000 total, parts gears and labor, and find a cheep locker to throw in there.

I did some searching around and that labor cost was pretty much the norm around here. That was my direct quote from Teraflex, just under $1600.

 

[ExTankerGuy]

You'll be fine with 35s and 3.55s. I did it with 33s for about 4 years and then did 35s for another 2 years. It was fine off and on road. I eventually picked up a geared and locked MJ cheap, and so I was able to do an axle swap. I'm running 4.56 now and it's great. Just don't get stupid with the skinny pedal offroad, and you'll be fine.

In western Oklahoma. Anywhere that has some sort of hill it will suck ass. I couldn't even stand 3.55s with 31s!

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

I wanted 35s for 4 years.. my AW4 in my xj was CONSTANTLY searching for what gear to be in with worn out 33s..

I bought 35s when i could finally afford them, AND the gearing.. Even with a 5.9, and 3.73s, I hated the loss of power and MUCH higher transmission temperatures with 32x11.50s Dont get me wrong, mileage improved slightly on long road trips.. but City driving on larger tires with stock gearing WILL take its toll on parts..

It's not about being "Rich enough to have the best of both worlds" It's about having the self control to not prematurely wear out other parts just to "Look cool" There is NOTHING wrong with staying on 30"s and waiting to do everything all at once..

It's irritating to wheel with someone who has 6" of lift with short arms and some hokey 15 leaf pack setup, or Blocks etc.. on 35s, with a disco housing and stock gears, transmission's boiling, Coolant's boiling.. gas lights on.. everything's just worn out.. stay on 30s and do a budget boost, Save your money for maintenance!

Sorry for being judgmental, But the same people that find 3.55s and 35" tires to be "okay" are normally the same ones that dont think that fuel leak, or transmission leak, or rear growling noise etc etc, are that big of a deal.. and still find the $50 for fuel to go wheeling.

I dont care how old you are.. it's irresponsible.

 

[fallacist]

and I paid 750 for 5 brand new 33"km2s with stickers still on them... so I may be a cheap skate but at least I'm a smart one, if you paid over a grand...

where'd ya find that deal?