Topic: 98 Wrangler Gear upgrade

[kawstxf15]

My 98 Wrangler  (2.5L) has 33 x 12 1/2 tires and it is lugging the motor.  What gears do you recommend and who do you recommend for parts & service.  Thanks

[BarneyJeep]

4.88's

[jcsanders79]

yep 4.88's at least.  I've got 33X10.50's and 4.88's. also got a D44 in the rear and a D44 waiting to go in the front so I can go 5.38.  The 4.88's are ok (I've got an auto) but plan on 35's.  The only time they aren't great is when I'm trying to go up a muddy hill and need some wheel speed.  4H isn't enough and 4L is too slow.

[jfrabat]

I agree; AT LEAST 4.88.  I have 33's and 4.88, and I need to downshift to 4th if there is a head wind or if I go up an overpass.  I really liked the performance of the 4.88 and the 31's I had before, so I would say 5.13 (IIRC that is the next step for a D44) would be ideal for 33's, but you can only go up to 4.88 with the stock axles.

[Castr8r]

4.88's for sure!  I couldn't get out of fourth gear on the hiway and lo-lo was too fast for some of my crawling.  After the 4.88's were installed, I can use fifth gear to run 70 mph on the interstate and crawling is better, much better.

[neale_rs]

yep 4.88's at least.  I've got 33X10.50's and 4.88's. also got a D44 in the rear and a D44 waiting to go in the front so I can go 5.38.  The 4.88's are ok (I've got an auto) but plan on 35's.  The only time they aren't great is when I'm trying to go up a muddy hill and need some wheel speed.  4H isn't enough and 4L is too slow.

Why not use 4L and second gear?  4L and third gear is pretty close to 4H in first.

[aw12345]

He has a terra low which makes for a big step between high and low range.
Sand and mud hills ask for power and a lot of momentum which is not easy with a 4 banger

[neale_rs]

Then he has 2nd and 3rd to experiment with (with a 4:1, 4L and 4th gear is very close to 4H in first).  But I agree, the 4banger is not the best for those terrains, sometimes a low gear will give you acceleration but not a high enough final speed (engine revving too much) and a higher gear will not get you to the needed speed due to slow acceleration on the typically short approach.  I´ve noticed this on sand hills where the 6 cyl Jeeps tend to do much better.

[aw12345]

Yup sand takes a higher gear and grunt to keep er going