Gearing

[Garth Libre]

Doing rear end work is highly specialized. I knew a pro mechanic that said he wouldn't touch the inner workings of a rear end. He's retired now and lives in Thailand, so I can assure you he's quite familiar with a tight rear end.

 

[Shran]

I also know a couple people that have been lifelong professional mechanics and they farm out gear setup to other people. Mostly because it is a tedious trial & error process and their time is better spent elsewhere, not so much that they simply don't know how to do it.

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeah, the garage I go to when I can't be bothered with whatever it is doesn't want to mess with rear ends pretty much just because of the time it takes.

When I had the lsd put into my 2010, the guy running the shop said it took them 6 or 7 tries to get everything happy.

 

[Shran]

6 or 7 tries to get everything happy.

Usually that's how me and rear ends work too. More than 3 seconds inside one is an awful lot of work. Front ends, I can really concentrate on though.

 

[Blmpkn]

More than 3 seconds inside someone's rear end always leaves you nice and smelly too....

 

[00t444e]

I wouldn't put 5.13 gears in a Dana 35 the pinion gear on both the 4.88 and 5.13 ratios on a Dana 35 is very small and it is weak. 4.56 is the lowest gear ratio I would use.

 

[superj]

that is the axle that the jeep guys all complain about, the "turdy-five".

i never had an issue with a 35 in any jeep i ever owned though

 

[00t444e]

that is the axle that the jeep guys all complain about, the "turdy-five".

i never had an issue with a 35 in any jeep i ever owned though

Must have never been offroad then, it is a weaker axle in the rear than in the front.

 

[superj]

not rock climbing. we don't have rocks here. its all sand in south texas

 

[00t444e]

not rock climbing. we don't have rocks here. its all sand in south texas

You don't need rocks, I have seen them break in the sand, mud and even on the street from just letting the clutch out too quick.

 

[superj]

thats what people say, it just never has happened to me in many many jeeps worth of d35s. i only ever had 31s as the largest tire though so maybe that is why. i never liked the huge stomper looking tires that would hit the fenders and tear stuff up.

 

[sgtsandman]

Too big of a tire will snap an axle. Match the tire to the equipment. I believe 33” is the max recommended for the D35 SLA. Personally, with the off roading I’ve done, 31” is just fine.

 

[00t444e]

Too big of a tire will snap an axle. Match the tire to the equipment. I believe 33” is the max recommended for the D35 SLA. Personally, with the off roading I’ve done, 31” is just fine.

The Dana 35 front in the Rangers both the TTB and SLA are much stronger and have far less issues than the Dana 35 rear that some Jeeps have.

 

[4x4junkie]

I wouldn't put 5.13 gears in a Dana 35 the pinion gear on both the 4.88 and 5.13 ratios on a Dana 35 is very small and it is weak. 4.56 is the lowest gear ratio I would use.

Have you broken one?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm with Junkie, I've abused mine with 5.13's (I doubt tractor pulling with a turbo 4 cylinder is recommended... only did that once with the 5.13's though) and neither axle has cared... I even went all out and went with Nitro gears back when I did it because I was cheap... both sets are fine...

Now back in the day when they made 5.13's for a D28 and 7.5", now that wouldn't be recommended