• RME Gear & Apparel

Any thoughts...

utekrawler

utekrawler

Active Member
Location
Cedar Hills
I am looking into upgrading my yj and into making it a better off roading jeep but im not sure what the best course of action is.. do i start with lockers or gearing? Any thoughts on what kind of lockers and the gearing? i want it to be drivable being is it is my daily driver but i also want to be able to keep up in moab and other places... any thoughts? (i already have a 5.5 inch lift and 33's)
 
Brett

Brett

Meat-Hippy
Location
Salt Lake City Utah
Ditch the D35. Spring it over (about the same height using stock springs) gear it, lock it. Bang, wheeling machine.

That's my thing

Which motor and trans?
 
ChestonScout

ChestonScout

opinions are like Jeeps..
Location
Clinton, Ut
how much money do you want to spend?

Since you have a lift and tires already I would say lockers next. You probably have 3.55 gears and with 33s and being a daily driver I would say you dont want to go lower than 4.10s. They will use the same carrier as the gears you have now so you can get lockers now and upgrade gears later.

It is going to be hard to get away from the rough ride and no flex. Best option is to link it with coils or coilovers. Big money either way. There might be some new good leafs out there for a YJ. There were no options when I had mine 10 years ago.

Remember though....your axles are weak. If you put lockers in chances are you will start breaking shafts.


The cycle never ends :rofl:
 
Brett

Brett

Meat-Hippy
Location
Salt Lake City Utah
ChestonScout said:
how much money do you want to spend?

Since you have a lift and tires already I would say lockers next. You probably have 3.55 gears and with 33s and being a daily driver I would say you dont want to go lower than 4.10s. They will use the same carrier as the gears you have now so you can get lockers now and upgrade gears later.

It is going to be hard to get away from the rough ride and no flex. Best option is to link it with coils or coilovers. Big money either way. There might be some new good leafs out there for a YJ. There were no options when I had mine 10 years ago.

Remember though....your axles are weak. If you put lockers in chances are you will start breaking shafts.


The cycle never ends :rofl:
Click to expand...

Carrier break on a D30 is 3.55/3.73, so if he geared (and started with 3.55) to 4.10's, he'd need a new front carrier.

Rough ride on 5.5" springs.....spring over and actually have a flat spring that isn't looking like the letter U.

Axles, front is fine for 33's, rear 35 is junk no matter what. Find a D44 or Ford 8.8. Both are fine for 33's.
 
mbryson

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Location
Bountiful, land of rocks
Your wallet is basically the limit. That rear axle is quite a pile, but you should be OK on it for a while with 33" tires if the previous owner didn't wheel it or stress it at all. :D I wouldn't spend the money for a locker on a D35. In fact, gear oil is a questionable investment.


My suggestion. Use it for now and learn what you want it to be for YOUR use. Then build from there.
 
Last edited:
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
44 carrier break is 3.73/3.92, so a D44 will need a new carrier for 4.10's as well. ;)
 
Cherokeester

Cherokeester

Registered User
Location
Wellsville Utah
I wouldn't spring over, just my thoughts. Keep your lift and go with lockers for the first upgrade. Do you have your sway bar hooked up? You should be getting a decent amount of flex now. What kind of springs are on there?
 
jesse

jesse

Masshole
Location
Everywhere
with leaf springs it won't be too hard to swap the axles and you will be time and money ahead if you just find some built 1/2 ton axles in the for sale section. thats also a good opportunity to find a front axle with a flat top knuckle to get a good crossover steering setup that could work around a springover setup
 
Last edited:
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
Brett said:
Lame....I had thought I was only going to have to find a front carrier later this year....way to ruin my plans buddy!
Click to expand...

You do have the option of running a thick gear, that'll let you use the low-ratio carrier. I forgot about those, and I even have them here. :ugh:
 
L

LT.

Well-Known Member
Location
Los Alamos, New Mexico
The key is to spend money on any one thing only one time. You will not want to upgrade your stock axles and then decide that they are too weak and start over with a new set of axles. If this is the platform that you are wanting then you need to sit down and think of what you want your end result to be. This will be vital as you start building. Remember, if the parts will only do for now then you may want to start thinking about upgrading what ever it is so that you are only spending the money once.

LT.
 
chans

chans

Registered User
Location
Sandy
I Lean said:
You do have the option of running a thick gear, that'll let you use the low-ratio carrier. I forgot about those, and I even have them here. :ugh:
Click to expand...

Are the thick gears stronger than normal ones? Is it just a spacer ring that goes under a regular ring or is the ring itself thicker?
 
I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
chans said:
Are the thick gears stronger than normal ones? Is it just a spacer ring that goes under a regular ring or is the ring itself thicker?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't think they're any stronger OR weaker, really. The ring itself is thicker, so it bolts onto the carrier exactly like a thinner one does, but it's thickness just makes up the difference in the flange position between the low-ratio and high-ratio carriers.
 
UNSTUCK

UNSTUCK

But stuck more often.
Brett said:
Lame....I had thought I was only going to have to find a front carrier later this year....way to ruin my plans buddy!
Click to expand...

I think he saved you. I remember my first D30 gear swap, to 4.88's. I was throwing wrenches across the shop after so many shim adjustments. Then I called Superior to yell at them.... they set me straight. :D


On another note, I am ready to sell my Scout D44's if you're interested:
Front: 4.88, ARB, Chevy flat top knuckles, High steer arms, Warn Premium hub conversion, stock shafts with a pair of stock spare shafts.
Rear: 4.88, Spool, Disc brakes

Set up for spring over. Around 300 miles on these axles.

You will need an outboard kit for the front and a pass drop t case. I have a d300, and can build/ install an outboard kit for you. Check out PSC's kit. I have it and love it. Good price too.
You can buy/ install all this stuff for the price of having your axles built.

PM me for prices if you're interested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top