[tgoat]

Okay I have 5k to spend on my jeep. I have a '02 TJ.

Upgrades I currently have:

33x12.5x15 (heavy 10" steel wheels)
Dana 35 rear locked(not sure the locker brand)
Dana 30 front (open)
4"skyjacker lift
1" body lift
Warn rock guards
3.11 gears(horrible in the hills of SoCal)
Manual tranny
4.0L
Flowmaster 40 exhaust
Manga light 6" hid offroad lights
CB with firestick
Upgraded sound
Bluetooth hands free head unit
Soft top stinger front bumper(would like something beefier)

Possible suggestions?

Regear to what? 4.11 or 4.55 (would like to go to 35" mt)
Lock the front?
Get rid of the 15x10 steel for 8" alloys?
Long arm 6"? (Brand)
Cold air intake(not for hp mostly cause its hot as hell in 29 palms)
Winch?
Front and rear bumper?




Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[endlesshydro]

I have a AEM Cold air intake in the for sale section...

here --> http://www.wranglerforum.com/f14/cold-air-intake-aem-brute-force-194363.html

and if you're going to 35's regear to 4:88's No doubt!

 

[tjike]

Everyone is going to suggest to stay at 33's until your are set up to run 35's. but if you do run 35's with a 5 speed I would regear to 4.88's if you stay at 33's reagear to 4.56. You wont need a 6'' long arm for either of those tires. i would stay at a 4'' suspension lift with a 1'' body for 35's dont forget you will have to get a sye and cv drive shaft. Others will chime in on what they think, just giving my opinion. but i would get rid of the steel wheels and get 15x8 alloy's.

 

[tgoat]

Aghh forgot about that... Correction, I also have a sye and double cardan drive shaft.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Seeing all that, my first priority would be to replace that locked Dana 35c or strengthen it with a Super 35 kit. In stock form, a Dana 35c rear axle is nowhere near strong enough for a locker. No exaggeration. For 33" tires and 5-speed, 4.56 (not 4.10) would be optimal for the street. Trail too of course. If you replace or strengthen the rear Dana 35c and go with 35" tires, 4.88 would be the optimal axle ratio.

Replacing the 15x10 wheels with 15x8 wheels would be a good thing to do. I would not waste my $$$ with a CAI. Once you get your rear axle situation figured out, an 8,000-9,500 lb. winch would be a good idea. My winch recommendation would be #1 Warn, #2 Ramsey, #3 Superwinch X9 or S9000. All of those are US made, all of the other winches are made in China. Then after that, a front locker is good if you're doing tough trails. An Aussie or Lockrite are both good front locker choices. Both of those click a bit on the street which is minor. If you don't want any clicking, $100 more gets you a Powertrax No-Slip locker which is silent and undetectable.

Having had both short arm and long arm suspensions, I'm no longer a fan of long arms. My previous TJ spent too much of its time with its long arms hung up on the rocks. Literally. My current short-arm 4" Currie suspension and 1" body lift is perfect for my 35" tires and they perform better offroad without getting hung up.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on it so far.

 

[tgoat]

Thanks for your input.

I'm aware of the weak re axle issue. How reliable is the Dana 35 if you buy the kit for it? Or would it be better just making an axle swap?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The Dana 35c becomes very reliable for up to 35" tires and a locker once a Super 35 kit from Superior Axle is installed. The shafts that come in Superior Axle's Super 35 kit are hardened alloy 30 spline which are stronger than the Dana 44's OE 30 spline carbon steel shafts. You're good to go with 35" tires with this particular kit which includes your choice of several lockers. Your Dana 35 came with unhardened carbon steel 27 spline (smaller diameter) axle shafts.

I keep including Superior Axle's name with the Super 35 kit I'm recommending, they are the original developer of the Super 35 kit. I am doing so because Superior Axle neglected to patent their Super 35 product name and there are now copycats selling cheap/weak kits claiming to be "Super 35" kits which aren't worth installing.

 

[tgoat]

Sounds good to go. Thanks for your input.

Now just gotta get some quotes on installs around here and see what the shops say. I'd do it myself but the marine corps unfortunately doesn't allow for much time for DIY projects😕

 

[tgoat]

Question?

Can the super 35 kit be purchase with a higher gearing that 3.53's it seems like that's all I can find. It would be a lot cheaper having it installed that way and just having the front regeared all at once I'd imagine.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Higher gearing as in a lower ratio like 4.56 or 4.88? Absolutely. In fact their lockers are most commonly installed with lower ratios like 4.56 and 4.88. Technically speaking, a 4.88 is a lower ratio than 3.73 is.

 

[tgoat]

Yeah that's what I meant by that haha. Atleast I got my point across forgive my lack of mechanics. Awesome thanks again sir!