Revolution Gear & Axle 2018+ Jeep Wrangler JL Non-Rubicon Dana 44 Rear 4.56 Ratio Gear Package

Put 35 in. tires on a Jeep Wrangler JL Sport or Sahara and the factory gearing stops making sense: the Jeep feels heavy off the line, the transmission hunts between gears on the highway, and crawling in low range takes more throttle than it should. This Revolution Gear & Axle package (REV-JL-220/186-456) re-gears both axles of a 2018-and-later non-Rubicon JL to 4.56 at the same time. Despite the short name on the listing, it is a two-axle kit: the Dana 44 M220 rear and the Dana 30 M186 reverse-rotation front.

What the gear package does on a JL Sport or Sahara

The ring and pinion in each axle set the final drive ratio, and a numerically higher 4.56 restores the leverage that taller tires take away. On a 4x4 the front and rear must carry the same ratio or the drivetrain binds the moment you shift into four-wheel drive, so the front and rear are sold together. Revolution's package includes the front and rear ring and pinion sets plus a master install kit for each axle with Timken bearings. The gears are 8620 steel. The rear Dana 44 220 mm gear has a 28-spline pinion and the front Dana 30 186 mm gear has a 26-spline pinion, which is how Revolution separates this set from the Rubicon and Gladiator Dana 44 front and rear packages.

Symptoms that point to a re-gear

• Sluggish acceleration and frequent downshifts after moving to 33 to 37 in. tires
• Not holding top gear at highway speed, or poor drivability on grades
• Too little crawl control in low range on the trail
• Whine from either axle that changes between acceleration and coast
• Chipped or pitted ring gear teeth found during a fluid change

How to confirm before you buy

The most important check on a non-Rubicon JL is which rear axle you have. Sport and Sahara models were built with either a Dana 35 M200 or a Dana 44 M220 rear, and this package fits only the M220. The axle tag on the tube or a VIN decode of the build tells you which one is under your Jeep. If yours is the M200, use the JL non-Rubicon Dana 35 rear 4.56 package instead. A Rubicon or Gladiator needs the Rubicon/JT Dana 44 front and rear 4.56 package, because the front axle is different.

Fitment

This package is listed for 2018-and-later Jeep Wrangler JL non-Rubicon models with the Dana 44 M220 rear and Dana 30 M186 front. Engine and transmission do not change the axle parts, but they do change which ratio is right for your tire size, so pick the ratio against your tire, engine and transmission before ordering. If you are unsure of your axles, send us the year, trim and VIN and we will confirm. More differential parts are on our hard parts page.

Install notes

• Re-gearing two axles is a specialist job: pinion depth, pinion bearing preload, backlash and carrier preload all have to be set and checked with marking compound on each axle.
• Mark and measure the original setup before teardown, and press new races fully home before setting depth.
• Use the new ring gear bolts with thread locker and torque them in a cross pattern.
• Fill both axles with the gear oil spec in your owner's manual, and add friction modifier only if your rear has a clutch-type limited slip.
• Break the gears in gently for the first few hundred miles and change the oil early.
• Recalibrate the tire size and axle ratio in the vehicle so the speedometer and shift points are correct.

With both axles apart, this is the cheapest time to add a locker. Revolution pairs this package with the Eaton ELocker for the JL/JT Dana 44 M210/M220 in the rear and the Eaton ELocker4 for the Dana 30, 3.73 and up in the front. A nodular iron rear cover for the JL Dana 44 220 mm protects the new gears on the trail.

Does this package include both axles?

Yes. It includes the front Dana 30 186 mm and rear Dana 44 220 mm ring and pinion sets, plus a master install kit with Timken bearings for each axle.

My JL Sport has a Dana 35 rear. Will this fit?

No. This set is for the Dana 44 M220 rear. JL non-Rubicon models with the Dana 35 M200 rear need the Dana 35 / Dana 30 package.

Will it fit a Rubicon or Gladiator?

No. Rubicon and Gladiator use a Dana 44 front axle, so they need the Rubicon/JT Dana 44 front and rear package.

Can I keep my factory carriers?

Carrier breaks matter when changing ratio, especially on the front Dana 30. Confirm your carriers accept 4.56 before install, or add a locker set for that ratio range at the same time.

What do I need to do after installing new gears?

Reprogram the tire size and axle ratio so the speedometer and transmission shift points are correct, break the gears in gently and change the gear oil early.