The gearing ratios aside:

- Is there a quality difference between gear manufacturer's? That is, who makes the best quality ring and pinion gears?

 

US Gear makes 4.88's for JK D44's. (these are reported to be made in the US, using a better metal)

Regardless of the name on the box, all other 'JK' gears are still being produced overseas. Compare price and warranty, and check with your installer to see which they suggest.

 

Really? Do you have a chip? That's exciting news if you so.

 

I had 5.13's installed on my automatic today and I just got back home from my my second 20 mile break in drive. It's a night and day difference and well worth the money. Milage is at 17.8 when it used to be 14.6 and I can actually go up inclines without having to downshift.

Keep in mind I have the Superchip Flashpaq and I've setup my new gear ratio. Very, very, impressed!

 

Ahhhhh! Can't wait to get mine in this weekend!

 

I dont have a chip....just easy on the skinny pedal, either way you will enjoy the difference it makes

 

What kind of average costs are you looking at for gear installation and how long is installation time?

 

Installation costs vary from shop to shop. I dropped off my jeep last night and it's getting 5:13 gears and an ARB installed. With install and the other parts needed (install kits and compressor) I'm at $2400. If it were just the gears it would have been about $1100. Install time varies too

 

Man, glad to have friends who know how to do gears!!! Only going to have cost of gears and install kits in mine, so I have roughly $600 bucks in it all together. Got gears at dealer cost....

 

Well said. I have and auto with 5.13s and I am very happy. 4L has an awesome crawl ratio and I got 2 mpgs back....up to 17 HWY.

The overall drivability has improved 100% over stock as well.