Hey Jeep fans, I'm getting ready to start on my JK. I bought a JKS ACOS kit to lift 3" for larger tires. Looking at 35's. and stock 18" (Sahara) wheels. I put on spidertrax 1.5 spacers and it looks better already.

Local shop quoted me $440 to put on the ACOS kit for me.. AND said they were running a $1000 special for a gear swap. I have 3.73 now..

Soooo, What's the better move... all the way to a 5.13 ( I have no intention of larger than 35's) or since 4.88 would do, just stick there.?

I'm going to use this as a DD, not an extremist. Want to look good, but good to go for trails and light-duty off road .. not rocks or heavy mudding or the rubicon trail.

Interested in not running the rpms up super-high when hwy driving... so the 5.13 may be too low, right? Anyone that's done this or thinking about it, I'd appreciate feedback. $1K inclusive seems like a fair price. I'm thinking about letting them do the ACOS so it'd be done exactly right, though I'm sure I could do it... it's the "right" part that $440 buys. One time... and done.

Also looking at adjustable trackbars and Toyo OC M/T's or A/T's on the stock 18's for now... this shop said they deal in them and could set me up on the whole deal.

Whatta y'all thinK? I know... pics when I'm done. Having the tub sprayed next week, so this whole thing is at least two weeks away and I still have my ARB frt bumper to put on...

 

A push of the SEARCH button and a quick perusal of the FAQ will show that the popular opinion is 5.13s for auto and 4.88s for 6 spd unless you want a higher bias towards off road then move up notch in numerical ratio or bias towards MPG then move down a notch numerically.

 

Thanks. I have done several searches and read a lot on here , I have checked and couldn't get the search engine to give me threads or post that asked what I asked. I'll keep trying

 

I would do the 5.13's. Believe me, you will want to go bigger than 35's.

 

Don't forget a Flashpaq to go with it.

 

yeah, a flash-thingy for the tire/ratio/speedo deal. I figured I'd have to do that. wondering if I need to replace shocks now with the ACOS or stock ok till they wear out... thanks for teh feedback. Also on the 5.13. The more I read, the more I don't see a downside except for higher rpms and impaired gas mileage. Going from 16 to 12mpg doesn't bother me so much if it's a good driver... I like to drive... I'm a good driver

 

Ha! We'll see. Right now I can't even imagine how great 35's are going to be with the little BB and all. It really makes sense to get the 5.13 if I'm going to the trouble of doing it. Let us/me know how you like the regear... I'm guessing you'll really like it...

 

Ha, I'm stuck on 35's as well unless/until I figure out how to fit 37's under the garage door. Now there'd be a mod for the ages.

Oh, no 5.13's won't drop your gas mileage. The OD loves them.

 

Yeah, I've been measuring the garage door clearance and I think 35's with a 3" lift is going to put me right up there close... we'll see... I can see the garage as the limiting factor bigtime!

 

Open the FAQ's again, plug some numbers into the RPM chart, and ask yourself just how much more 'impaired' your mileage will be with 5.13's than with 4.88's. Mileage goes down with the taller tires and lift, it goes back up with proper gearing.

Just an opinion, but there are too many "OMG, your rpm's will be screaming with 5.13's" posts, without actually looking at any numbers. At 70 mph, there is a whopping 116 rpm difference for an auto, 141 rpm difference for a manual.