Need Help: 4.88 Mopar Re-Gear Issue

[FloridaMan]

Long story short, Dealership is re-gearing my JT Rubicon with 4.88 Mopar gears. Parts Manager only ordered the ring & pinion sets and assumed it would come with new bearings if needed. Evidently, it doesn't and I'm told the 4.10 bearings don't fit. For nearly a week now they have been "looking" for the right size bearing but are telling me they haven't managed to figure it out and Jeep Performance hasn't returned their calls. The Re-gear was supposed to take 2 days, they've had my Jeep for 10 so far. I am loosing confidence in the dealership to figure this out as they have made no progress since last Wednesday when they became aware of the issue and I'm regreting having them do it in the first place. I chose them in order to keep the warranty in place with Mopar and they told me they "do it all the time" regarding re-gearing JLs/JTs.
Anyone have any insights as to the part number I need or how to find out? I can't be the first person to re-gear with the 4.88 Mopar set to run into this issue. Thanks for any help you can offer.

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[Renegade]

All of the gear ratio install sets look the same to me for each axle. Good luck.
Front

Rear:

 

[FloridaMan]

So... It turns out that while Mopar sells the after market 4:88 ring and pinion they don't sell the bearings... At least that is what I am being told. So now, the dealership is ordering the Dana 44 bearing kit. I'm told its compatible as Dana actually manufactures the Mopar ring & pinion. Still working through how this will affect the warranty...

 

[Mrbizkitt]

Curious what the dealership is charging for this swap?

 

[calipoontappa]

2 DAYS!? That’s insane, took my shop 3 hours.
good luck hope they figure it out and get you back on the road soon.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The bearings shouldn't be any issue - there's standard numbers on the cones and cups and I bet "Standard Bearings" has them on a shelf. The rest - crush sleeve, any shims, etc - that could vary. But I've not seen bearings be different for different ratios in others, the carrier is the same, the pinion's shaft should be the same regardless of ratio.
Even shims would be the same, perhaps how many of what thickness gets used varies, but that's also standard stuff.

 

[Bonanza]

Having a dealer do a re-gear is like taking am ambulance for a paper cut. The cost must be earth-scorching.

 

[tommyp]

Having a dealer do a re-gear is like taking am ambulance for a paper cut. The cost must be earth-scorching.

Probably costs as much as a new entire rear axle. I am quickly coming to the realization I am going to do all of my own work because even if stuff breaks It wouldn't be that costly to source what I need and would would save me trying to deal with a dealer for warranty work. But I also have a garage with a lift and a lot of no pro repair experience so YMMV

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Having a dealer do a re-gear is like taking am ambulance for a paper cut. The cost must be earth-scorching.

About 20 years ago I had a Jeep dealer do a regear and it was a flat $300/axle for labor. And that was still a deal back in those days. Sometimes the dealer will surprise you with a low price on a job or part.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

About 20 years ago I had a Jeep dealer do a regear and it was a flat $300/axle for labor. And that was still a deal back in those days. Sometimes the dealer will surprise you with a low price on a job or part.

Ankeny dealer would do it cheap and do it well and they guarantee their work and the parts are also warranted by MOPAR.

Now when it comes to things like this - you are paying a premium........... but for a customer to come in and have work done, they are pretty reasonable.
(this is the land of "good luck" when trying to find other shops to do gear work, etc. It's a whole nuther world here in many ways)

 

[Hootbro]

Just wondering, does that dealership actually have a "gear guy" that is well versed on doing gear swaps, or is the job just assigned to the next tech that needs work?

 

[Chris262]

Just wondering, does that dealership actually have a "gear guy" that is well versed on doing gear swaps, or is the job just assigned to the next tech that needs work?

Yes gears break all the time and they need to be covered through the warranty. By all the time I mean they have them in for gears regularly enough where they all need to be able to install them. There's a lot of Mopar product out there with solid axles

 

[rmerkushen]

for $200 in parts, peace of mind is priceless.. Reputable local shop specializing in regearing told me that. How much are you paying for your dealer to do the job?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes gears break all the time and they need to be covered through the warranty. By all the time I mean they have them in for gears regularly enough where they all need to be able to install them. There's a lot of Mopar product out there with solid axles

Heck yes. If you are a certified mechanic you know what to do.
I spent weeks in college on differentials. It's not a thing you need to have just one person doing.

Hypoid gears all require the same sort of setup - the methods to get there vary, but the concepts are the same.

Anyone who is a worthwhile mechanic should know how to do it. I'd be more concerned about an engine guy than a gear guy.

Not just gears have problems, but bearings go bad, too.
A friend had a "reputable gear guy" do his differential and it blew the pinion bearings before he got far from Kenosha a few years back. And I mean so bad the whole thing locked up solid. I rebuilt the differential for him and it's been fine.

 

[FloridaMan]

Just wondering, does that dealership actually have a "gear guy" that is well versed on doing gear swaps, or is the job just assigned to the next tech that needs work?

I was told that the tech doing my gear swap has been a master mechanic for over 20 years with Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and is their go to guy for gear swaps. Part of the reason I went with the Dealer is because they told me they do this all the time and this tech in particular does most of them...

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