I'm picking up a d44 rear axle with 5.38 gears in it. Is this gear ratio and tire combo good for a DD around town and highway? Is it going to rev out of controll? Theres alot of misinformation about this and i'd like to clear the air. Also will i NEED a programer since the new gears and 35's go on?

 

What Yr Jk, and is it a auto or manual? either way really i would think 5.38s will be over kill for 35s on a DD. If its 2012 and up i would suggest(my opinion) no more than 4.88s for a mainly DD rig

 

Definatly gonna whine a little high on the highway. 4.88s I believe put you at a rubicon ratio with 35s. So you will be 2 steps higher than that. 38s wouldn't be a bad Idea. I think that would put you back in line.

 

5.38 seem a lil high for 35s and if ur picking up a rear w 5.38 you will need to regear the front . The programmer is a must w automatic to change the shift points and keep the odometer right However if u have manual u can live w out it but it ain't a bad idea

 

You will also need a front D44 to run 5.38 gears. I think it will work out great for a 3.8 auto. I'm running the same output ratio on highway and wouldn't mind to run even higher rpm. But if you do any significant wheeling, then I'd stay away from 5.38 for the sake of R&P strength.

 

Its an 07 unlimited x auto

I do wheel it but not hard enough to break somthing major. I try to stay away from the big stuff untill its paid off

So 35's would be a fairly good combo with the 5.38's and programer?

 

Also im running 33's on stock 3.21's right now and i think ive been passed by multiple prius's on the highway and the ocassinal smart car..(:

 

What kinda d44 is it

 

I ran my auto trans with 5.38's on 35's for a year before I swapped to 37's. No problem at all. Drives great on the highway.

Those that tell you otherwise are guessing.

 

Its a non rubi