Yukon Gear High Performance Gear Set For Dana 44 JK Rear in a 4.56 Ratio
A JK that moved from stock tires to 35s feels it right away: sixth gear is useless on the highway, the transmission hunts on every grade and the engine lugs off the line. The Yukon Gear & Axle YG D44JK-456RUB is a 4.56 ring and pinion for the rear Dana 44 under the 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK, the ratio most JK owners pick for 35 inch tires. It is a new set with an 8.89 in. ring gear, a 24-spline pinion and 10 ring gear bolts.
The pinion takes power from the rear driveshaft and turns the ring gear, which is bolted to the carrier and drives both axle shafts. A 4.56 ratio means the driveshaft turns 4.56 times per tire revolution. Taller tires effectively make the gearing taller, and a 4.56 set pulls it back down so the engine works in its power band again and the transmission stops searching for a gear. It is a step deeper than the factory options on most JKs without going as far as the 4.88 and 5.13 ratios usually chosen for 37s.
The JK rear Dana 44 is standard rotation. Yukon's notes for this set call out a ring gear that is double drilled for both 7/16 in. and 1/2 in. ring gear bolts, so it bolts to the carriers used across JK trims. Reuse or buy the bolt size your carrier is tapped for.
Read the tag on the rear housing to confirm a Dana 44 and note the current ratio. Revolution Gear notes that nearly every JK left the factory with a Dana 44 rear, but fewer than a thousand early 2007 trucks got a Dana 35 instead, so check if yours is an early build. Then match the ratio to the tire you actually run; our re-gear after bigger tires guide shows how tire height and transmission gearing work together. If the complaint is noise rather than tire size, pull the cover and inspect the oil and the contact pattern, and read our Dana 44 problems and rebuild cost guide before deciding.
Yukon's fitment table lists this set for the rear Dana 44 of the 2007-2018 Wrangler JK and Wrangler Unlimited across the trim line: Rubicon, Sahara, Sport and Sport S, the X and Unlimited X of 2007-2010, and the 70th and 75th Anniversary editions. It is listed for both the Rubicon and non-Rubicon rear axles, and for the two-wheel-drive Unlimited trims on the list as well. The "RUB" in the part number does not limit it to Rubicons. It does not fit the JK front axle, the TJ Dana 44 or the 2018-up JL. For a Rubicon front, we carry a 4.56 reverse-cut front Dana 44 set. Not sure what is under yours? Send us your year, trim and VIN. You can compare ratios and kits in our JK regear kit buyer's guide.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YG D44JK-456RUB |
| Fits | Yukon Gear High Performance Gear Set For Dana 44 JK Rear in a 4.56 Ratio |
| Type | Final Drive Gears |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
Yes. Yukon lists it for the rear Dana 44 of both Rubicon and non-Rubicon JKs, including Sport, Sport S, Sahara and X trims. The bearing kit is what differs, so order the master overhaul kit that matches your trim.
4.56 is the common choice for 35 inch tires, especially with an automatic. Owners running 37s usually step to 4.88 or 5.13.
Yes. Both axles must have the same ratio or the drivetrain will bind in four-wheel drive. Rubicons use a reverse-cut front Dana 44 set; other JK trims use a front Dana 30 set.
No. The JL uses a different Dana 44 (M220) rear with its own gear sets. This set is for the 2007-2018 JK rear only.
Use the gear oil grade listed in your owner's manual, and change it after the break-in miles because new gears shed fine metal as they wear in.
Yes. Update the tire size and axle ratio in the vehicle computer with a programmer so the speedometer, shift points and stability control use the right values.
