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3.73 versus 4.56

4K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  beachrat 
#1 ·
I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport, 2.5" lift and 35" tires.

Considering gearing to 4.56, adding a locking differential, and a dana 40.


Not a daily driver, this vehicle will be a bounce around town car on the weekends, used as a camping vehicle, and I will be doing some overlanding in it. I'm not a rock extremist, yet...

What are the benefits of going to the options above?

What are the downsides?

Would you stick with the 3.73 based on use I mentioned, or upgrade?


Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
I have a 2014 Willys with 3.73. Last summer I did what you are contemplating:

4.56 gears
Eaton e-lockers front and rear
4:1 rubicon transfer case
34" (285/75-17) tires on OEM wheels.
Flat fenders

I absolutely love the setup for off-roading, especially in the rocks. It's not ideal for on-road -- the 3.73s were better -- but I just drove it 1900 miles to Utah without it bothering me. Noisy, but that's more a function of canvas top and MT tires.

If I were wanting to save some money I would chop the following, in order:

4.56 gears. I had the 3.73s for about a week after going to 34" tires and it was noticeable but not troubling. The only reason I really changed at that time is that Eaton (and probably others as well) lockers require you to get one size for 3.9-ish and under, and a different size locker for higher (numerical) gearing. I didn't want to commit to always being 3.73 or having to replace my lockers, so I went ahead and moved up to 4.56. If I'd have already had 4.10s I wouldn't have changed.

Front locker. Useful in extreme situations amongst the big rocks, for sure. But used a whole lot less than rear locker.

If I was only doing 2 things it would be rear locker and 4:1 transfer case.

For the record, I didn't change out the Dana 30 to a 44 in front. May have to some day but with skinny 34s there doesn't seem to be a need at this point, even with the 4.56 and locker up front.
 
#4 ·
Personally, I'd never bother to go up one size, i.e. 3.73 to 4.10. If 4.10 is the "best" answer to your problem, 3.73 is close enough that it's not worth messing with. Which is not to say 4.10 isn't the best answer -- just that it's a lot of money to spend to only get that much difference.
 
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