Do you have a Jeep that you are thinking of regearing? Adding up new parts to your Jeep and changing its outlook that’s pretty fun, isn’t it? I’m sure it is. But the cost behind every modification is not something you can spend without thinking.
Though regearing is often done out of necessity, to enhance the Jeep’s performance, you should have a proper idea of how much it is going to affect your wallet. How much does it cost to regear a jeep? It depends on multiple factors like the Jeep’s model, tire size, gear ratio, labor, additional parts, etc.
Today, we will talk about everything you need to know about regearing, why you should regear, the benefits of regearing, things that can add up to the cost of regearing, and many more. So, do you want to tag along with us on the journey? If yes, what are you waiting for!
What Does Regearing A Jeep Mean?
Your Jeep comes with ring gear and pinion gears set in a ratio to be compatible with the tires. They are set to give you the perfect grip, torque, and balance while you are on the road. Regearing simply means altering the pinion and rear gear ratio for better performance.
Regearing Jeep is nowadays a common practice. Especially if your Jeep is used for carrying loads, you probably often need to change the tires according to the weight of the loads. When you switch tires, it is essential to regear the Jeep to maintain the balance between torque and speed.
Why Should You Regear Your Jeep?
There are many reasons for which you can decide to regear your Jeep. But the most important one is when you are not satisfied with your vehicle’s performance. Do you feel your Jeep gear is not giving its best when speeding on the highway? Or does it feel sluggish when you are climbing a hilly area?
In both cases, changing the rear might be helpful. You just have to set the gear ratio according to your needs. For example, scaling up the gear ratio is beneficial if you plan to go high on speed or through a rough area. It is also applied when you switch to large tires. If you don’t regear despite switching to a larger tire, there will be too much pressure on the axles, which can be quite damaging.
Similarly, if you plan to change the current tires with a smaller one, you should go one scale down in the gear ratio. It will help you maintain the same speed and mileage without stressing the axle.
Can Regearing a Jeep Help Reduce the Cost of Fixing a Power Steering Leak?
Regearing a Jeep can potentially minimize the power steering leak repair cost. By modifying the gear ratio, the engine’s torque can be better utilized, reducing strain on the power steering system. This optimization helps prevent further damage, resulting in lower repair expenses and a more cost-effective solution overall.
What Are the Benefits Of Regearing Your Jeep?
Do you know that regearing can cut into your fuel cost? It may be hard to believe, but it’s true, especially for jeeps with small to medium-sized tires. If properly regeared, it puts less stress on the axle, ensuring smooth operation.
On the other hand, large tires tend to put a lot of stress on the Jeep’s internal parts. So, if the Jeep is not geared according to the tire’s size and diameter, it may damage different body parts like the axle, drivetrain, etc. It also wastes fuel to a great extent that will surely put a hole in your wallet.
Here are a few reasons why you might consider regearing your Jeep:
- Ensure the stability of your Jeep
- Maintain the balance between speed and torque
- Better off-road situations, climbing, towing
- Enhance the overall performance of the Jeep
- Better optimization and control in accelerating when you are driving through urban areas
- Keep up the performance when you switch tires
- Save up fuel
How Much Does Regearing A Jeep Cost?
Now that you know the benefits and why you should regear your Jeep, let’s talk about the Jeep regear cost now. How much does it cost to regear a Jeep? Depending on your jeep model, your preference for regearing, shop selection, and regearing can cost from $1500 downscale to $3000 on a large scale.
You may ask why there is such a big difference. Before you take the regear service from any shop, you should ask what is included in the service. You should know where you are putting your money. Do they include both axles or only one? Do they provide the 500-mile inspection test after regearing? Are the fluids included in the package?
You may find shops doing regear at low charge. However, they often tend to put extra charge for every single thing. So be sure to check that.
Here are a few things depending on which the cost of regearing can vary. Take a good look at them to have a better idea about your Jeep regear cost.
1. Jeep Model
Do you drive a Wrangler Or Gladiator? Which year model is it? Is it a regular model or a limited edition? These are the questions you will first encounter when you take your Jeep to regear. If you have a limited edition model, naturally, its parts will be hard to find. Hence, the pricing will automatically be more than regular regear.
But for usual models, the cost for regearing Jeep Wrangler is around $2000 to $2200. Regearing Gladiators are slightly more expensive than Wrangler. The difference is not much, though, ranging from $50 to $100.
2. Single Axle or Both Axle
Your car has two axles, front and rear. When you regear the Jeep, it is necessary to regear them both! You will find many shops offering to regear your Jeep at half the regular price. But they will only regear a single axle. Never go for this!
The worst thing you can do to your car is regearing only one of its axles. When you do so, the balance between the four wheels is lost. They start to move at different RPMs, which makes the vehicle unstable. And it damages other internal body parts, too.
So, always regear both axles simultaneously, even if it costs more. If you are running short of money, wait and save up. But do not regear one axle.
3. Additional Parts
Some Jeep owners play a little smart when they send their car for regear and ask to add a few additional parts, too. As both axles are already open during the regear process, installing extra parts like better axle shafts, ball joints, and rear seals doesn’t require much work. But if you do it separately, it will cost quite a lot.
4. Expertise
When you choose a shop to regear your Jeep, choose one who has been doing regearing for quite some time. Efficient ones have more practice and can do the job more precisely. Also, they charge less for labor as they don’t have to spend much time on it. But a new shop with less experience will charge you more as they will spend more time to regear.
5. Labor
The labor cost for regearing is more or less the same, $500. It may vary a little depending on the place, though. If you live somewhere where it is hard to find a shop that does regearing, you will have to pay a little extra for the labor cost.
How To Check The Gear Ratio?
The most important thing about regearing is selecting the perfect gear ratio to accommodate the tire. Usually, it is said that for every extra 300 lbs, you should go up one scale on the gear ratio. But for that, you have to know the current ratio first.
Do you know how to check it? Let’s find it out.
1. Jack The Jeep
First, start with stopping the engine and make sure the brake is in place. Now, lift the car using your rear axle and stabilize it using jack points.
The back tires should be on air at this point.
2. Shift The Driveshaft
Now, keeping the car in neutral, use your hand to turn the rear driveshaft.
3. Count The Revolutions
The next thing is to count the revolutions of the driveshaft for each revolution of the tire. It means you have to count how many rotations the driveshaft completes until the tire completes a single revolution.
Focus on one point of the tire or mark it if necessary so that you can understand the rotation properly.
4. Jeep Gear Ratio
After counting the revolutions, you have already found the gear ratio for your Jeep. If the driveshaft has completed 3 revolutions for one tire rotation, the ratio should be 3.05:1.
Here is a the regular gear ratio chart for your better understanding:
- 3 turns = 3.05:1
- 3 and ½ turns = 3.54:1
- 3 and ¾ turns = 3.73:1
- 4 turns = 4.10:1
- 4 and ½ turns = 4.55:1
Final Words
All kind of alternation modification comes with great value. While some take it as a hobby to modify their Jeep occasionally, some do it out of necessity. Whatever category you belong to, if you are regearing your Jeep, you better have an idea about its cost. In today’s article, we have tried to put everything we could find about regearing, including the costs, why you should consider regearing, and even how to select the gear ratio! Did it help? How much does it cost toregear a jeep? Do you know it now? Hopefully, you do. We hope for you to have a pleasant experience with your Jeep!
Cycling training tips and camps with Joel Chavez, Pan-American Gold Medalist has been writing about savings and finance since 2016 and analyzes thousands of products to find you the best deal. He will help you save money while you shop. They cover huge products including home, garden, car, business, tech, and many more for making the best financial decision.