PBone

So after months and months of reading horror stories about 3.21 gears and how you HAVE to get 4.56 or whatever, I decided to say screw it. My setup:

2012 Unlimited, Auto, 3.21 Gears, 315/75/16 Cooper STT (Measure 34.4 mounted)

Absolutely 100% tolerable. The difference over stock isn't even that noticeable. The main difference is in braking. Will I re gear someday? Eh, maybe. Definitely not a priority right now at all. I'm not much of a rock crawling person anyway.

Drove this setup over 1,000 miles to Tennessee and back so it has seen plenty of hilly driving. If you've been thinking about throwing 35s on your daily driver with 3.21 gears, do it. I really don't understand why people say that 35s and 3.21s will be a nightmare. Maybe on the older engines, but this engine is perfectly fine with it.

JK505

If you don't mind me adding to it, (Also 35's and 3.21, but 3.8 Manual):
I agree! 100% tolerable. If this is the DD and you don't wheel a bunch, you'll be fine like this as long as you stay out of 6th gear at speed with hills. As the OP said, I'm sure the newer engines are even better

That being said, the axle swap and jump to 4.56/4.88 is already in play because I've been wheeling 2-3 times a month pretty consistently lately.

rob_engineer

I'm glad to hear these posts as most are negative about 3.21. Now, understanding that you are satisfied with your daily driver, would you have preferred to have the 3.73? In other words, for someone buying a jeep and all other things being equal, would your advice be to go with 3.21 or 3.73?

PBone

Absolutely I would have went with the 3.73s if I was able to. I purchased mine slightly used though and the deal was too good for me to pass up.

JK505

Same boat as you. 3.73's would be better but I have a feeling I still would be moving to 4.56/88 for the rocks. My buddy runs the 4.10 gears with his 3.6L and says he has never even thought about regearing for overlanding and DD.

PBone

I'll definitely be going with 4.10s in a couple years when I order a new one

Rtittsworth

When I bought my jeep (2nd owner) it already had 35's with the 3.21's. It had 47,000 miles on it. Fast forward two, almost 3 years later and I still have the same gearing with 315's. Odometer now reads 82k and some change. I would like to re-gear in the near future and will when I can but the stock gears haven't been awful. If I was you I would go with atleast something over 4.

Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum

JK505

I actually think I'm going to go with 3.73's next time. I'm not getting rid of my 2 door, I'll make it my trail rig and probably buy a JKSU (or JLSU? ) for future family surprises and camping trips. I've already turned one JKX into a rubicon (almost) so why buy another one?

catahoula

I've posted this before...I drove a 2 dr with new engine and 33's, 3.21 gears and auto. Very impressed with it. I have a 2011 with older engine, 3.73's, auto and will probably go to 33-34" tires.

ACJK22

Thanks for the honest opinions! I am putting on a lift and 35s this month and was really concerned about regearing. I have 3.73s and was hoping to be able to put up with them since this is my DD/weekend warrior.

I have heard that tuning makes a huge difference (also on my list to do once we have the 35s) so that is something to consider if you don't want to put out the $$$ to upgrade the gears. Curious about the braking part though...can you explain that?