Just Went to 33s / Do I Go to 4.30 or 4.56 ?

[Jakef7]

Just bought a new to me 22 Gladiator Sport (3.73).
Went from the OEM tires to 33" BFGs and wondering if I should go to 4.30 or 4.56?
Even though it rides and drives OK, its a bit sluggish and shifts back n forth between 7th and 8th gear at regular highway speed (60mph).
Its a weekend back-roader and doubt it will see too much off-roading... Not too concerned with mpg because its not my daily driver but also don't want everything spinning unnecessarily fast if not needed.

I would really like to get some feedback from you regarding the 4.56 gear swap. I have 3.73’s in mine and I’m having the same issues you were. I’d really like to re-gear so I can have some better power down low. This is my daily and I plan on staying with a 32” tire but will probably jump from a 255 to a 285 down the road just for a wider stance. I was thinking about 4.88’s but I think that will be too steep with 32’s. What RPM are you running at 70mph with the new 4.56’s?

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[WILDHOBO]

I would really like to get some feedback from you regarding the 4.56 gear swap. I have 3.73’s in mine and I’m having the same issues you were. I’d really like to re-gear so I can have some better power down low. This is my daily and I plan on staying with a 32” tire but will probably jump from a 255 to a 285 down the road just for a wider stance. I was thinking about 4.88’s but I think that will be too steep with 32’s. What RPM are you running at 70mph with the new 4.56’s?

I personally would not recommend a regearing if you’re staying close to stock tire sizes. I’m guessing that many would agree, but I could be wrong.

 

[Jakef7]

I personally would not recommend a rehearing you’re staying close to stock tire sizes. I’m guessing that many would agree, but I could be wrong.

Why would you not recommend it though? I think all JT’s should’ve come come with at least 4.10 gears. This 3.6 L does not put out a whole lot of torque down low and swapping for a lower gear set will definitely help in that aspect. However, because of the expense, I think swapping from a 3.73 to a 4.56 could be a better choice.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Why would you not recommend it though? I think all JT’s should’ve come come with at least 4.10 gears. This 3.6 L does not put out a whole lot of torque down low and swapping for a lower gear set will definitely help in that aspect. However, because of the expense, I think swapping from a 3.73 to a 4.56 could be a better choice.

Depends on use case I guess. If town driving only, the cost and warranty loss doesn’t make sense to me at least. Rock crawling. Go balls out and get 5.13s to compensate for the higher t case ratio in non rubicons.

 

[JTGuy]

Do nothing till you are sure you won't do 35s. I went from 35s and 4.10 to 37 and 4.88 and it does the freeway much better now. 80mph is easy. If you will never go over 35s I say do 4.56s. You will like the added pep with them and 33s.

 

[DarthAWM]

Do nothing till you are sure you won't do 35s. I went from 35s and 4.10 to 37 and 4.88 and it does the freeway much better now. 80mph is easy. If you will never go over 35s I say do 4.56s. You will like the added pep with them and 33s.

How do you know when you're sure? I'm on 37s and if not for the wife and bulldog, I'd be pricing 42s right now.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

How do you know when you're sure? I'm on 37s and if not for the wife and bulldog, I'd be pricing 42s right now.

 

[Jakef7]

Depends on use case I guess. If town driving only, the cost and warranty loss doesn’t make sense to me at least. Rock crawling. Go balls out and get 5.13s to compensate for the higher t case ratio in non rubicons.

I get your point. I can honestly say that I will not be doing any rock crawling. I do mostly in town driving with some occasional highway when I go see my folks that live about 40 minutes away.

This topic does seem to be very subjective. There are many out there that are perfectly happy with running the 3.73 or 4.10 even with larger tires than OEM. However, I fall into the other group that is always trying to make it better or wanting more performance. This is actually my first Jeep. I come from of a hot rod/sports car background and I know gear swaps can make a huge improvement with acceleration and that’s what I’m looking for. Of course there are limitations and I don’t want to be running 3000 RPM at 70 miles an hour. However, with 4.56’s I think I will be in a good spot. The 4.88 would probably be too steep with a 32” inch tire for my needs. If I was planning on doing a 35” plus tire I think the 4.88 would be the route to take but I never see that in my future.

 

[Heavy D]

I would really like to get some feedback from you regarding the 4.56 gear swap. I have 3.73’s in mine and I’m having the same issues you were. I’d really like to re-gear so I can have some better power down low. This is my daily and I plan on staying with a 32” tire but will probably jump from a 255 to a 285 down the road just for a wider stance. I was thinking about 4.88’s but I think that will be too steep with 32’s. What RPM are you running at 70mph with the new 4.56’s?

My Gladiator most likely would have been OK with the 33 BFGs and the stock 3.73 gear but I didn't like it constantly switching back n forth between 6th & 7th and rarely shifting into and never holding 8th.

The gear swap is expensive but well worth it from what I've seen so far... Jeep has much more pep now and it rolls right through the gears to 8th and then holds it.

I can't answer your question about RPMs at 70 mph yet... Installer said to put 600 easy miles on so I haven't run it at highway speeds.

Be glad to report back after break-in.

 

[Heavy D]

I get your point. I can honestly say that I will not be doing any rock crawling. I do mostly in town driving with some occasional highway when I go see my folks that live about 40 minutes away.

This topic does seem to be very subjective. There are many out there that are perfectly happy with running the 3.73 or 4.10 even with larger tires than OEM. However, I fall into the other group that is always trying to make it better or wanting more performance. This is actually my first Jeep. I come from of a hot rod/sports car background and I know gear swaps can make a huge improvement with acceleration and that’s what I’m looking for. Of course there are limitations and I don’t want to be running 3000 RPM at 70 miles an hour. However, with 4.56’s I think I will be in a good spot. The 4.88 would probably be too steep with a 32” inch tire for my needs. If I was planning on doing a 35” plus tire I think the 4.88 would be the route to take but I never see that in my future.

I'm with you when it comes to these kind of mods.

I really like my drivetrain to operate in the OEM range and I may have been OK going to a 4.30 but went 4.56 because I'm most likely gonna end up with 35s on it.

The 33s on 20x10 rims I currently run make my Gladiator look like a total hooptie so I plan to get a little more sidewall on to, hopefully, unhooptie it.

 

[Jakef7]

My Gladiator most likely would have been OK with the 33 BFGs and the stock 3.73 gear but I didn't like it constantly switching back n forth between 6th & 7th and rarely shifting into and never holding 8th.

The gear swap is expensive but well worth it from what I've seen so far... Jeep has much more pep now and it rolls right through the gears to 8th and then holds it.

I can't answer your question about RPMs at 70 mph yet... Installer said to put 600 easy miles on so I haven't run it at highway speeds.

Be glad to report back after break-in.

Hey, thanks for the reply. Looking forward to your update. ?

Mine constantly goes back and forth between 7th and 8th on the highway and it drives me nuts. I know a gear swap would definitely fix this issue. The 4.30 could be an option for me too since I plan to keep the 32” tire. I just want to make the right choice if I’m going to spend that kind of money.

 

[Vtur]

I get your point. I can honestly say that I will not be doing any rock crawling. I do mostly in town driving with some occasional highway when I go see my folks that live about 40 minutes away.

This topic does seem to be very subjective. There are many out there that are perfectly happy with running the 3.73 or 4.10 even with larger tires than OEM. However, I fall into the other group that is always trying to make it better or wanting more performance. This is actually my first Jeep. I come from of a hot rod/sports car background and I know gear swaps can make a huge improvement with acceleration and that’s what I’m looking for. Of course there are limitations and I don’t want to be running 3000 RPM at 70 miles an hour. However, with 4.56’s I think I will be in a good spot. The 4.88 would probably be too steep with a 32” inch tire for my needs. If I was planning on doing a 35” plus tire I think the 4.88 would be the route to take but I never see that in my future.

I know this might not help you atm, but in your case, it sounds like ecodiesel should've been your choice of engine. You aren't happy with even stock size 32" tires and gearing. The cost of regearing can be applied to the higher cost of the diesel option and retain factory warranty on the axles. That's just my 2 cents

 

[Jakef7]

I know this might not help you atm, but in your case, it sounds like ecodiesel should've been your choice of engine. You aren't happy with even stock size 32" tires and gearing. The cost of regearing can be applied to the higher cost of the diesel option and retain factory warranty on the axles. That's just my 2 cents

I appreciate the input. However, I just bought this truck and I do not plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. I thought about the diesel but I make very short trips to and from work and around town and that can be bad on a diesel motor. I would’ve really enjoyed that low end grunt though. However, I think doing a set of gears with this NA 3.6 will make the difference I’m looking for.

 

[johnchabin]

Curious… since there seems to be no shortage of gear swaps, do people sell their used gears? Or is that not an option?

Or is the cost mostly in labor?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I personally would not recommend a rehearing you’re staying close to stock tire sizes. I’m guessing that many would agree, but I could be wrong.

100%

I've got slightly wider A/T on mine with 3.73 and just don't think it's worth any gear changes. Even towing it's ok.
I can see changing if I ever went to 33s but then a 33 like Jeep uses is 32.7 while the stock 32s are 32.2 so we're talking only a whopping 1/2" total height difference.

Curious… since there seems to be no shortage of gear swaps, do people sell their used gears? Or is that not an option?

Or is the cost mostly in labor?

That's a sticky question - it's done in classic cars a lot, but not with high mileage gears, and it's not something that I feel easy about. Unless it's low miles set and you match the pattern perfect, there's risk...... can't see it being really worth it since a big chunk of the cost is the labor of doing it correctly.
I can't imagine a GOOD shop taking on a used gear swap - they just can't guarantee things.

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