Help with gears!!
JK Newbie
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
I just got my 5.13's in the mail. ( Thanks Dave at Northridge 4x4 )
I have checked with one shop here in town, told me $500 per axle and they break in the gears....
i guess they had some trouble with people not breaking in the gears correctly.
The price seemed a little steep when i am providing gears... but maybe not.
I have checked with one shop here in town, told me $500 per axle and they break in the gears....
i guess they had some trouble with people not breaking in the gears correctly.
The price seemed a little steep when i am providing gears... but maybe not.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
I bought my 5.13 gears and overhaul kits from Northridge.
My jeep dealer wanted $1600 for labor.
Another dealer told me they wanted $850 for labor.
I decided to have AEV do it for about $800. I had to drive/trailer my JK 350 miles (each way) to have AEV do it, but I decided it was more important that I have a shop with experience in JK gear installs. It was worth the extra gas money and time to me.
The AEV tech told me that the 5.13 Superior gears are a little touchy and take at least 2-3 times to get right. He also told me about the tricks to get the Rubicon locker sensor re-installed correctly.
Besides, I got to see the finishing touches of the Warn SEMA vehicle (probably the coolest rig I have ever seen) before AEV shipped it off:
My jeep dealer wanted $1600 for labor.
Another dealer told me they wanted $850 for labor.
I decided to have AEV do it for about $800. I had to drive/trailer my JK 350 miles (each way) to have AEV do it, but I decided it was more important that I have a shop with experience in JK gear installs. It was worth the extra gas money and time to me.
The AEV tech told me that the 5.13 Superior gears are a little touchy and take at least 2-3 times to get right. He also told me about the tricks to get the Rubicon locker sensor re-installed correctly.
Besides, I got to see the finishing touches of the Warn SEMA vehicle (probably the coolest rig I have ever seen) before AEV shipped it off:
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque
I have my 5.13's sitting in the garage (Thanks Dave @ Northridge 4x4) and I have been calling around for install prices. The quote for labor to install both front and rear, the dealer was $745, and several national chain 4X4 shops $750-$800. I don't have a good warm fuzzy feeling about the dealer, as they couldn't answer how many they have done in the past. So I am going with a local shop with a good reputation for quality at $800.
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
From: Canisteo, NY
I have my 5.13's sitting in the garage (Thanks Dave @ Northridge 4x4) and I have been calling around for install prices. The quote for labor to install both front and rear, the dealer was $745, and several national chain 4X4 shops $750-$800. I don't have a good warm fuzzy feeling about the dealer, as they couldn't answer how many they have done in the past. So I am going with a local shop with a good reputation for quality at $800.
Smart man! I doubt the dealership does very many gear swaps.
JK Super Freak
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 0
From: Grand Junction, CO
He's right on the sensor. My sensor siezed up (they're a spring loaded plunger) and could barely be moved by hand with difficulty. You don't just screw the sensor in from the side.
You made a good decision. I tell everybody to make sure the shop has lots of experience doing gears. And while I'm sure there are a few dealers out there with a tech that can do a good job - most dealers can't.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Corona, CA
I paid just over 1400 and change including gears. Offroad Evolution would have done them 1200 complete but they were a bit far from my office (read PITA to get there and back during a work day) and they didn't have them in stock.
Ditto on making sure they have lots of experience.
Ditto on making sure they have lots of experience.
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 89
From: Arizona
Mine was $1300 for the 513 gears and overhaul kit. That includes the installer removing the diff covers at 500 miles to inspect their work to make sure everything is meshing up OK. Better service then just simply draining and refilling the lube!
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
I paid $1300 for my 5.13s. This included the front/rear gears and labor for both axles. If you count the $200 I paid for the ProComp programmer then the total cost was $1500.
If you do the gears I would highly recommend a programmer. You'll definitely want to adjust the computer's value for your tire size and gear ratio. This will allow your JK to run as if it were stock. What's the point of getting better gears if your JK still thinks it's using the old gears? It will also relieve the stress on the transmission from being under geared. The point is that if you don't reprogram the CPU then you won't be getting the full benefit the better gears offer because the CPU will still be controlling the JK as if it were stock. Performance will suffer and your investment will be wasted.
If you do the gears I would highly recommend a programmer. You'll definitely want to adjust the computer's value for your tire size and gear ratio. This will allow your JK to run as if it were stock. What's the point of getting better gears if your JK still thinks it's using the old gears? It will also relieve the stress on the transmission from being under geared. The point is that if you don't reprogram the CPU then you won't be getting the full benefit the better gears offer because the CPU will still be controlling the JK as if it were stock. Performance will suffer and your investment will be wasted.
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
From: Canisteo, NY
But if your going up in tire size and down (higher numerically) in gearing isn't that essentially like staying stock? I mean I know the benefits of the different map charts the programmers use, but if you go up in tire size and down in gearing proportionally I don't think it's that big of a deal to reprogram the computer.