Topic: ? about 32s or 33s with 411s

[sharpxmen]

How about the pinion of a 4.88...wouldnt that get too small for the forces that it has to withstand?
Id like to keep my stock axles and regear to 4.88 but fear the weakness of the pinion...

not by much, but it's weak to begin with - it's the tooth dimensions that matters most (the shear force that it can withstand).

[streetmaster]

Thats what the big complaints about, sticking a wod of $$$$$$$$ into a crappy axle like the D35

[Jeffy]

How about the pinion of a 4.88...wouldnt that get too small for the forces that it has to withstand?
Id like to keep my stock axles and regear to 4.88 but fear the weakness of the pinion...

It's not really an issue.

[chrisfranklin]

5th is OD not a passing gear.  You're not supposed to be in 5th on hills anyway.

   Know that, but can tell almost all the traffic, either-side, is taking the highway hills in top-gear or OD.   Wanna be like them ...they're probably going  when  I have to downshift

[Higgs]

I have 4.88's on 31's and must be in 4th on most of the steeper highway hills. On a couple of the hills of the 14 North of LA I can barely hold 55 in 4th gear. I generally have no problem with freeway driving as long as I don't expect to be doing much over 60-65.

[jfrabat]

How about the pinion of a 4.88...wouldnt that get too small for the forces that it has to withstand?
Id like to keep my stock axles and regear to 4.88 but fear the weakness of the pinion...

I have wheeled the snot out of mine and have yet to have any issues.  In fact, I changed the rear ring and pinion thinking it was the problem from my last wheeling trip, and it ended up being the drive shaft, not the ring and pinion...  And I wheel with lockers and chains (for improved traction on mud) on my 33's, so they do get beat on.

[Jeffy]

  Know that, but can tell almost all the traffic, either-side, is taking the highway hills in top-gear or OD.   Wanna be like them ...they're probably going  when  I have to downshift

I doubt that.  Even when I'm driving a car I've got to downshift for the Grapevine.  Unless it's an auto without an OD then it sits in 3rd.  In the Jeep, with my 35's and 4.56's I had to sit in 3rd as it gets steep and 4th was a bit too high.  But if I wanted to stay at 50-55mph I had to rev it up to 3000 and hold it.  With the skinny 33's I suspect I'll be able to hold 4th.

[chrisfranklin]

I doubt that.  Even when I'm driving a car I've got to downshift for the Grapevine.  Unless it's an auto without an OD then it sits in 3rd.  In the Jeep, with my 35's and 4.56's I had to sit in 3rd as it gets steep and 4th was a bit too high.  But if I wanted to stay at 50-55mph I had to rev it up to 3000 and hold it.  With the skinny 33's I suspect I'll be able to hold 4th.

I could see doing some skinny 33s next tire change.  Doesn't look like the Firestone Destinations I got last go around come in a "narrow" 33" size, though.  Ticks me off because those Destinations have been decent on/off-road, wet/dry, and they even seem like they are wearing well.

So I'd probably do skinny 33" BFGs next go around

I can handle downshifts to 4th.  But using 3rd and turning 4000-4500rpm to keep pace with traffic up highway grades at 65-70mph for any length of time  -- definitely the case when driving from LA to Las Vegas, and maybe like when driving from LA to San Jose/SF/Oakland, and back --  makes my "squirrels" scream, maybe makes "them" burn up a little synthetic motor oil and definitely makes it feel like I am "wailing" on a 1970 Toyota Corolla rental with the 55hp 1.2L...Miserable deal    

[Jeffy]

I could see doing some skinny 33s next tire change.  Doesn't look like the Firestone Destinations I got last go around come in a "narrow" 33" size, though.  Ticks me off because those Destinations have been decent on/off-road, wet/dry, and they even seem like they are wearing well.

So'd, probably do skinny 33" BFGs next go around

I can handle downshifts to 4th.  But using 3rd and turning 4000-4500rpm to keep pace with traffic up highway grades at 65-70mph for any length of time  -- definitely the case when driving from LA to Las Vegas, and maybe like when driving from LA to San Jose/SF/Oakland, and back --  makes my "squirrels" scream, maybe makes "them" burn up a little synthetic motor oil and definitely makes it feel like I am "wailing" on a 1970 Toyota Corolla rental with the 55hp 1.2L...Miserable deal   

There are only a few companies that make skinny tires.  The most variety are from BFG.  They have the 33x9.5 KO's 33x10.5 KM and KM2's.  There are also 255.85R16's.

If you want to be doing 65-70 on the Grapevine then I suggest an engine swap or else get a second car.

[chrisfranklin]

I've got to head up to SF/Oakland/Berkeley later this month for work.  Am either going to fly, then rent when I get there or drive a rental all the way up and all the way back.   Probably going to look at renting a Town Car or Crown Vic if I'm driving round-trip...

[Jeffy]

I've got to head up to SF/Oakland/Berkeley later this month for work.  Am either going to fly, then rent when I get there or drive a rental all the way up and all the way back.   Probably going to look at renting a Town Car or Crown Vic if I'm driving round-trip...

When I head to LA, I usually rent a car up here and drive down.  I usually get the compact, one up from the sub-compact.  The subcompacts get blown around too much on I5.  I really liked the Mazda 6's that I've had in years past.  Earlier this year I got a Ford Focus which wasn't bad though.  A lot better then the older GenI Focus I rented once.  Loved the mileage.  I was getting 37MPG by driving the speed limit.

Although when I get AC in the Jeep, I'll probably drive the Jeep.  I think I'll be able to get into the 20's if I drive 60-65MPH with the new tires.

[grumpygy]

Me I just bypass the Grapevine and go thru Lancaster and go down 14 or 138 depending on where I'm going down there.  That gets me by a lot of the traffic also.