Build a D-44?

[advrider]

D-44 w/4.56 gears out of an 87' XJ is for sale locally (may be one of you selling it). Should I to replace my D-35 w/3.55's...and will 4.56 be too much with 31's (95% street use)?

hasta

 

[x2elite]

4.56's in 31's will definately be a change. Are you planning on ever going bigger?? If so then I would say go for it, if not I would say just get some 4.10 gears.

 

[advrider]

Not going bigger right away, as the tires are brand new, but I'm sure the next set will be 33/35's. I'd read where someone with 33's and 4.56's was only turning 2500rpm @ 70mph, and being that I'd like to do a couple Colorado trips each year was thinking the extra rpm would be good for hauling up those long passes at speed.

I'm also looking to find the rear section from a 2-door to make into an adventure trailer this winter, so if pulling that uphill at altitude I'm sure the extra "grunt" would be nice.

 

[x2elite]

4.56's is great for 33's/35's a lot of people will tell you that you need to go with deeper gears, but I run 35's on 4.56's, and mine does great. I still get decent highway mileage. Last time I drove it to hot springs I got almost 18 MPG (in town my gas mileage still sucks though). LOL I have towed my popup camper tons of time before I sold it, and I have towed my motorcycles, and my parents boat behind it before as well.

 

[SpartyKrunk]

Question: so basically, the bigger the gears, the more tug you get right? But since they're bigger, you can't go as fast. Bigger axles support bigger and heavier tires too, but that case being; the use of that vehicle daily is now limited. Am I right so far? I'm tryin to understand it better, nobody's ever explained it to me.

 

[advrider]

Question: so basically, the bigger the gears, the more tug you get right? But since they're bigger, you can't go as fast. Bigger axles support bigger and heavier tires too, but that case being; the use of that vehicle daily is now limited. Am I right so far? I'm tryin to understand it better, nobody's ever explained it to me.

Yes, the higher ratio "gears down" the drivetrain to make up for the increased circumference of the tires. So, you're trying to get everything back in the correct RPM range for your intended majority usage. Running a little higher RPM while being used as a daily driver is not as hard on an engine/transmission as lugging it around with low ratio gears and big tires.

 

[MischiefMan]

There are many tire/gear combo charts, such as THIS ONE to help you decided on what gearing you want for your tire size.

DG runs 35's on 4.10's because her XJ sees more street than trail time. I currently have 33's with 3.73 gears, but will be going up to 4.56 if I keep the XJ because my Heep never does street duty.

There is also a debate concerning the lower gears (higher numerical value) being more susceptible to breakage, so research before spending the coin IMHO.

 

[TLowery04]

i just realized i dont know anything about gears.

do front and rear have to match to maintain the same speed?

and how do you identify your gearing?

 

[xxmidianxx]

First off... YES, your gear front and back do have to me the same or something like atleast no bigger diffrence them 10% (Don't know for sure... I have just be told that) OR you will have a BAD DAY! Your TC will blow up!

There are diffrent ways to check your gears. One is that some alxes have to stamped tag till bolted to the diff cover bolts, another is the ring has the numbers stamped into it and a few more ways.

 

[bmpweXJ]

Not going bigger right away, as the tires are brand new, but I'm sure the next set will be 33/35's. I'd read where someone with 33's and 4.56's was only turning 2500rpm @ 70mph, and being that I'd like to do a couple Colorado trips each year was thinking the extra rpm would be good for hauling up those long passes at speed.

I'm also looking to find the rear section from a 2-door to make into an adventure trailer this winter, so if pulling that uphill at altitude I'm sure the extra "grunt" would be nice.

Please post about this as you're building it.... I've thought of doing the same.

 

[advrider]

Please post about this as you're building it.... I've thought of doing the same.

Will do....hope to get started late this month.