Thanks for all the info y’all, it does help clear my mind some.
Most of the wheeling will be forest service roads and trails around the USA. Something like the Smoky mountain 1000, trails in Colorado, Maine , Kentucky and so on.
No hard core rock crawling.

 

I have 5.13s and 39s on both a JK and a JT. No issues.​​​​​​​

 

Also, more gear relieves driveline stress.

 

My point just being.....there will ALWAYS be a weak link in any setup. For a D30 with 5.13s, that weak link is the pinion gear. That doesn't mean it it not adequate, but for some folks that are going to add traction control and push that axle in big rocks.....when something gives, it will likely be those pinion gear teeth.

Without going into lengthy backstory.......I'd tell you guys I got a PR60 rear axle that, for reason, has hubs with 5x5.5 wheel pattern. It was delivered to the original purchaser with 1/2" wheel studs instead of the 9/16" studs ordered. Would anyone care to guess what the weak link is in a PR60 with eaton locker rolling around on 115lb MT tire/beadlock combo while using five 1/2" wheel studs rotating those tires/wheels around? There's nothing like being 8 hours from home in the boonies and noticing there are a few things missing.

 

I just re-gear my willys with a set of Yukon 4.88s and noticed a whirl sound from 0-25 MPH. I was in the break-in period when I noticed this.

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I used the same setup on my Gladiator with no issues
shop listened and diagnosed a bad bearing so I'm getting that replaced as I write this.

 

Well, since Revolution has a miscount in their warehouse, I’m going 4:56 gears. They may not have 4:88s for a few months. 😂

 

Got the Jeep back today and now the fun starts…heat cycles and break in

 

Just for the record, and since we were talking Yukon up higher, bearings are almost never bad right outta the box. Poor install and improper preload is what causes quick death of a bearing.

Hope all goes well. It's nice to have a jeep that drives as it should ​​​​​​​

 

Yukon has a rep for noisy gears these days.

 

You’re right about that. Just over a hundred miles so far on the gears and man what an improvement over those 3:21’s