I've been looking at early 2000 Sahara's and Sports and everything I see has 3.07 rear end. I know there were 3.73 rears optional. Is 3.07 OK for general off road use or is it really too high? No rock climbing, just mud and general off road. I will be putting a 3"-4" lift with 33's on it.
3.07 Rear End
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I had a 2003 TJ, with the 3.73 and 32's. It is a good ratio, for both on and off road. It should also be good for 33's.
I recommend that you stay away from the 3.07 and the Dana 35 rear diff.
Make sure that you go with the Dana 44 and the 3.73 ratio.
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^^^The top is the Dana 35, with the round rubber fill plug. Stay away from that one.
The bottom one is the Dana 44, that's the one that you want. It is a better design, and more durable.
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I had a 2003 TJ, with the 3.73 and 32's. It is a good ratio, for both on and off road. It should also be good for 33's.
I recommend that you stay away from the 3.07 and the Dana 35 rear diff.
Make sure that you go with the Dana 44 and the 3.73 ratio.
^^^The top is the Dana 35, with the round rubber fill plug. Stay away from that one.
The bottom one is the Dana 44, that's the one that you want. It is a better design, and more durable.
TJ Tech Forum - Jeep Wrangler Forum
^^^You are in the Jk section, 2007 through 2015's.
So just click on this Thread, and you will be in the TJ Tech section.
Good Luck on your TJ search......:thumb:
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I ran 33s with the 3.07 for 10 years. It was fine if I never used 5th. Starting in 1st was fine. City Highway fine. It excelled at forestry roads. Climb to the lookout in second, 4H. Come down in 3rd, 4L. And never need to shift or touch the brakes.
The 3.07 gives a much broader speed range to each gear. But OD with anything bigger than stock tires will be useless. Course with the 3.07 and 33s the rpms are just right in 4th for up to 25mpg.
Depends on your use but as a DD for 10 years my YJ with 33s and 3.07s was ideal.
In my current TJR I find myself constantly shifting the 6 speed.
The 3.07 gives a much broader speed range to each gear. But OD with anything bigger than stock tires will be useless. Course with the 3.07 and 33s the rpms are just right in 4th for up to 25mpg.
Depends on your use but as a DD for 10 years my YJ with 33s and 3.07s was ideal.
In my current TJR I find myself constantly shifting the 6 speed.
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12,108 Posts
Steer clear of the 3.07 gear ratio with 33's unless you are planning a regear. With a 5 speed and 33's you will only be able to use 5th gear above 65mph and have very little power even getting there. 1st gear will also be way high and terrible off road. I ran mine like that for about a month before regearing to 4.56.
3.73's with 33's, not as bad, but still not optimum. 4.10's, depends on engine and transmission you're talking about.
If you are looking to buy for serious off road trails, look for one with a Dana 44 rear end.
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if you regear the rear, you have to regear the front....otherwise you can't use 4x4.
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If my D35 ever does go out then I will look to a D44 and step up the gears a bit to welcome some 33's. But for now it works just fine for me. I can't get too crazy with mods because it still has to tow nicely behind the motorhome. That is first and foremost.
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They have to be geared the same, but the D30 (as a differential) is okay to have in the front...if that's what you're asking.
Unless you're looking at a Rubicon model, you will either find D35 in the back and D30 in the front, or D44 in back and D30 in front.
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2WD thru the D44 takes the full load.
4WD thru the D30 is only taking half the load.
That's why they build with a stronger rear axle.
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Sorry to interup. My dana 35 rear has just went out on my 04 wrangler. If I put any dana 44 in its place. Will I be good with my 30 front axle without changing anything? Can I still safely use my 4x4? And is 3.07 gearing any good with towing? Thinking that may be what shot my rear-end? Need wisdom please
04 lj with GRTOPS half cab conversion 05 rocky mountain 06 rubicon with banks sidewinder turbo
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05 rocky mountian came factory D44 rear D30 front
you can run a dana 44 in the rear, if your front is 3.07 gears you will need a dana 44 that is 3.07 or re gear the front to match the gear ratio of the dana 44.
as far as towing, the 3.07 is a high gear and not the best for towing, tire size makes a lot of difference also. if you are running the stock tires you will probably be okay.
mine has 3,07 gears, 4.0L and 5 speed with 32" tires. 5th gear is almost never used, when towing my 12 foot aluminum boat 4th gear is almost never used.
2004 Wrangler TJ, 42RLE auto trans. F/R lockers, 5.38 gears, Warn Winch, Currie 4" Suspension
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50,140 Posts
You can install the Dana 44 in the rear and drive on it but to use 4x4 you'll need to regear so the front and rear axles match. And since you'll be regearing, I'd definitely regear at least the front axle to get rid of that abysmal 3.07 axle ratio.
Without knowing more about your TJ like what size tires you run and how you were driving it when the rear axle broke it's hard to say what happened. Also let us know 1) what engine you have, 2) which transmission, and 3) what its model year is so we can guide you on an appropriate axle ratio to regear to. All three of those answers are critical to recommending what the best/most appropriate ratio would be.
But so long as you don't shift into 4Hi or 4Lo, you can safely drive without regearing after installing the new rear axle. Some may insist you remove the front driveshaft until both axle ratios match but so long as you don't shift into 4Hi or 4Lo that's not necessary.
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