Is it time for an UPGRADE?

[puddlejumper]

1048096

BAD NEWS!!! I think I have broken some teeth off of my ring and pinion gears in the pumpkin. The jeep tracks normally then all of a sudden it feels like nothing is catching and then a bang! and a very rough transition(grinding). Also I was under the impression that w/posi traction when you turn one wheel the other should turn in the same direction. one my jeep now when you turn one wheel the other doesn't turn at all! WHATS THE DEAL?



What is the suggested upgrade?



thanx

[addsig]

 

[BigBlackJeep]

1048103

How often does your Jeep do the grinding? Is it a repeating and predictable pattern, or is it random? If you did break off the teeth on the ring, I would recommend getting those changed ASAP. If one of the teeth end up coming back around on the ring and get between the pinion, it will lock it up and will cause A LOT more damage, this happened to a friend of mine at the dragstrip on his transmission, ended up twisting his driveshaft and also snapping the output shaft on his Camaro. If it is a predictable pattern then I would lean towards the ring having broken teeth, if there are, it will happen very often.



With the rear, are you sure you have posi? You will be able turn one wheel without the other turning, if it is on the ground. If both tires are off the ground, one tire will turn one direction and the other will turn the other way with a typical axle. I would also try and jack the Jeep up in the rear and have a friend put the transmission in gear and engage it. Then you could get close to the rear pumpkin and listen to try and hear any grinding.



Hope this helps-



BTW- An axle out of an old Bronco should be a good upgrade if the one you have is toast- but it sounds more like gears than the axle itself...



-A Jeep always looks better with tires off the ground

-[addsig]

 

[puddlejumper]

1048149

thanx for the replies, I am sure I need gears replaced, so what is the desired ratio for jeepin' and what company supplies the strongest gears?

[addsig]

 

[BigBlackJeep]

1048151

The largest gears you can fit in your stock axles are 4.88's. It depends on what you want to do with your Jeep and what you are going to do in the future. If you plan on putting on anything bigger than 31's, I would change the ratio. Anything bigger than 31 and you have changed your ratio enough to hurt performance considerably. Look to spend around $150-200 a set, depending on what ratio you decide on. The smaller ratios are a little cheaper. As to what company to buy from.. it is kinda up to you and what your favorite companies are. Here is a good link for some Jeep parts to help you get started-Gears and Lockers-



If and when you decide that you are going to buy gears and tires, here is a good formula to use



new tire dia. X original ratio

------------------------------- = new ratio

old tire diameter



Hope this helps, gears are a good place to start with your off-road machine and they do change things considerably....



-When you wave at other Jeeps even when driving a Saturn, you know you have Jeep fever...-[addsig]