Sending a bunch of extra power through a driveline with incorrect ring and pinion gearing sounds like a good way to break things, especially your transmission. 1,500 on a re-gear is cheaper than a new tranny.

 

^
werd x2

 

hard to argue with that so, hmm... Maybe some J B Weld to fix that shattered ring and pinion eh?

Silly me, I didn't consider how the gearing affects mpg since with stock gears the engine would be running at very low rpms with oversized tires thus causing the engine to serverly lack power.

But if the scenario is just a little more get up and go for when cruising on the freeway, how would more engine power break the ring and pinion and wreck the tranny? As far as I know, that kinda thing happens from pushing the peddle too hard with old Lead Foot Louie off the line and during racing escapades, or from overheating components, lack of regular maintenance, or simply neglect to all of the aforementioned.

 

It depends on the range of hp/tq you're talking about. Some trannies aren't built to handle a lot of hp/tq...the parts are just too weak. I have seen the ring and pinion break...which usually IS caused by hammering the throttle. This was on a '95 Wrangler, 9" lift, 35" Boggers...stock gears...snap.[8D]

 

if you are thinking about re-gearing ur truck these numbers may help you. i figured them out when i was looking for gears to help out my 5.2 get down the road. I have 285/75-16 tires(33 inchers). I had 3.55 gears and with my auto tranny in drive i did 2250rpm at 62mph. in OD it was 1550rpm. with 4.10's, rpms were 2600 in drive and 1800 in OD. with 4.56's, rpms were 2900 in drive and 2000 in OD. i went with the 4.56's and i have much more pulling power and the 5.2 seems to like it at 2000rpm going down the highway. I hope the numbers will help you out. oh, by the way before i swapped gears my fuel economy was 15mpg in drive and 12mpg in OD. engine lugging too much. now im at 14mpg in drive and 18mpg in OD. i lost a mpg in drive but i gained 50% in OD. it was well worth the money for the swap.

 

My 1500 came with 3.90 gears from the factory, look around in the wrecking yards it may be worth it to just replace the axles because you would also get larger brakes in the rear but still keep the 5 lug pattern. Mine is not a sport or offroad edition.

 

Whoa whoa whoa, jeep wranglers come with dana 35s` don't they? Those things are bound to break on practically any setup other than stock since they are so thin. At least that is what I've heard when it comes to getting bigger tires on them wranglers without upping the axels and drivelines.