If you are considering regearing your Jeep, chances are you are a Jeep enthusiast who can't wait to start customizing your vehicle. The reality of working on a car is that it costs money. Any alterations, adjustments, or upgrades are going to cost something. For this article, we have done the research and compiled the information here so you can see how much it would cost to regear a Jeep.
Depending on your type of Jeep, what you want to be done, and where you get it done, it will cost anywhere from $1,200 on the low end to $3,000 on the high end. This price range typically includes parts and labor done by a professional.
What does regearing a Jeep do? Why should you regear a Jeep? Do you have to regear both axles? Does gear ratio affect horsepower? How do you check the gear ratio in your Jeep? We have answers to these questions and more. Keep reading below!
What Costs Are Involved In Regearing A Jeep?
Breaking down the regearing costs is important because it can help you decide what is necessary and what you can live without. A complete overhaul with a new differential carrier and other parts at a premium shop could be the reason you may get a quote over $2,000. If you are looking to regear and can find an affordable shop, you could complete the whole project for around $1,500 or less.
To break down the costs, you can expect a gear overhaul kit to cost anywhere from $600 to $1,200. On top of that, you will have to pay $500+ for labor and any other parts you decide to change with it. The more you change, the quicker your cost will add up to $2,000 to $3,000. The beauty of regearing a Jeep is the flexibility you have to decide how you want to do it.
What Does Regearing A Jeep Do?
Regearing is another way of saying you are changing the pinion and ring gears on your Jeep. Many people do this with their Jeeps because it is common practice to change out the tire sizes for all sorts of reasons. For off-roading, regearing a Jeep can help give you more torque so you can climb hills easier. On top of this, regearing can also help with speed depending on how you regear it.
Regearing, then, adjusts the ratio of your gears, which allows for these kinds of adjustments in torque and speed.
Why Should You Regear A Jeep?
This is a great question and should be answered by the individual: you. If you are unsatisfied with your Jeep's performance or looking to get more out of your gears, whether you are speeding down the highway or roughing it in the forest, then regearing is a fantastic option. You may need to regear if you want to put much larger or smaller tires on your vehicle. This will help them rotate correctly.
Do You Have To Regear Both Axles?
Regearing only one axel can damage your Jeep. It is best to regear both axels at the same time. This is because they need to rotate at the same time. If one axel is already regeared separately, do not engage 4WD. This will surely cause something to go wrong.
For example, if you were putting larger tires on a Jeep, you would not start by switching the rear tires out for bigger ones and leave the front tires smaller. The vehicle would not run correctly, and further damage might be done. Instead, when someone upgrades their tires, they either upgrade them all at the same time or wait until they can afford to do them all at once.
Does Gear Ratio Affect Horsepower?
Yes. Horsepower is basically defined as a measure of the rate at which mechanical power works. The gear ratio is how many revolutions are required for a driven gear to make it through one full rotation. But how are these two related? If you are looking for more horsepower, you are going to want a higher gear ratio. This will give you more horsepower because the vehicle will operate at a higher RPM generally.
On the flip side, if you want a vehicle to be more fuel-efficient, you will want to see that the gear ratio is low numerical. This will help your engine run at a lower RPM at higher speeds and save money on fuel. Overall, this decreases horsepower but succeeds differently. At the end of the day, you get to decide which way you alter your Jeep's gear ratio.
How Do You Check The Gear Ratio In Your Jeep?
Determining your gear ratio is a rather simple project you can do yourself. However, it can be dangerous if you are not very familiar with how jacks work, so taking it to a professional is always recommended.
To check your gear ratio, start by jacking up your rear axel so that the back tires can rotate freely in the air. Once your jack is securely in place and is not in danger of dropping the vehicle, you can move on to the next step. Put the Jeep in neutral (making sure the Jeep is not going to roll) and turn the rear driveshaft using your hands.
Next, you count the number of driveshaft revolutions for the tire to make one revolution. Focus on one part of the tire or mark it with chalk so that you can more accurately see when it has rotated once. After you count the number of driveshaft revolutions for one tire rotation, write the number down or remember it.
Reference this chart to see your gear ratio:
Three turns = 3.05 : 1
3 & 1/2 turns = 3.54 : 1
3 & 3/4 turns = 3.73 : 1
Four turns = 4.10 : 1
4 & 1/2 turns = 4.55 : 1
Summary
All in all, regearing a Jeep may be a good idea for some and unnecessary for others. Its cost varies greatly based on what you want your Jeep to accomplish. Going all out will cost you more than a few minor tweaks in the regearing department. At the end of the day, if you know what you want out of your Jeep and take it to a professional to be worked on, chances are you will be satisfied with your purchase. Most Jeep owners enjoy customizing their Jeep to fit them, and this is another way for Jeep owners to make their Jeep their own.
Interested in learning more about Jeeps? Check out this article: How Long Does A Jeep Grand Cherokee Last?
Want to know more about what is under the hood of a Jeep? We give you the run-down in this article: Does Jeep Wrangler Have A V8 Engine?
