Gearing and carriers

Maximus

JK Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 3, 2020
Messages
186
Location
Wilmington, De
Started looking at putting money aside to get new gears and this is what I think I’m going with (4.88)
However I keep seeing people asking questions about carriers. What is a carrier and would I need one when I upgrade my gears?
Thanks!
 
A carrier is the section in the center that the ring gear bolts to, depending on what gears you have and what gears your getting there could be a chance you will need a new carrier. It would be best to call a place before ordering to make sure the gears you want will fit on your stock carrier.
 
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It's done all the time, maybe THEY don't. A real shop will be able to do both the front and rear.
Right that’s what I figured. Now as far as the carrier....apparently I have to get a new carrier because I have the 3.21 gears going to 4.88. Would that be the same part number for both front AND back?
 
Right that’s what I figured. Now as far as the carrier....apparently I have to get a new carrier because I have the 3.21 gears going to 4.88. Would that be the same part number for both front AND back?

No, front and rear will be different carriers if you have a Dana 30 front and Dana 44 rear. Also pretty sure the rear Dana 44 is what's called a New Generation.
 
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No expert here but your rear diff shouldn't need a new carrier, just the front (Dana 30 needs a new carrier, d44 doesn't). I've got the same and im looking at 4.56 gears (I'm on 35s). Check another shop, most will do it. Not sure why they wouldn't. Guess they don't need money like most shops do lol...
 
Since I have 3.21 gears, I was told anything less than 3.54 in the front and 3.73 in the rear would need new carriers (was told that by Quadratec).

As far as the 4.88’s the shop that told me they couldn’t do it apparently doesn’t know what they’re talking about