Yukon Gear High Performance Gear Set For Dana 44 TJ Rubicon / 4.88
This is the Yukon YG D44-488T-RUB ring and pinion, a 4.88 ratio set built for the Dana 44 axles under the 2003-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ Rubicon and the 2004-2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (LJ). Rubicon owners usually shop for it after stepping up to 33 to 35 inch tires: the factory 4.10 gearing that felt crisp on stock tires turns lazy, the automatic hunts between gears on the highway, and hills in top gear become a chore. The same part number works in either the front or rear Rubicon Dana 44, so you order two sets to regear the whole Jeep.
The Rubicon was the only TJ that left the factory with Dana 44 axles at both ends, and both are standard rotation (low pinion) housings. The pinion gear turns the 8.50 in. ring gear, and the ratio between them is the last reduction before the tires. Going from 4.10 to 4.88 multiplies torque at the wheels by roughly 19 percent, which puts engine rpm back where it was before the tire upgrade. This set is a thick-cut gear with a 26-spline pinion and 10 ring gear bolts, made to bolt to the Rubicon carriers.
Read the tag on the cover bolt or the axle code on the door sticker to confirm your current ratio and that you really have the Rubicon Dana 44 front, not the Dana 30 used on other TJs. Our Dana 30 vs Dana 44 comparison shows how to tell them apart. If the complaint is a noise rather than tire size, work through whine on acceleration vs deceleration first, since worn pinion bearings cause the same sound and need a different fix.
Fits standard rotation Dana 44 front or rear axles in 2003-2006 Wrangler TJ Rubicon and 2004-2006 Unlimited Rubicon. It does not fit non-Rubicon TJ fronts (Dana 30), JK Rubicon axles (the JK front is reverse rotation with a different pinion), or JL axles. Match the 10-bolt ring gear and 26-spline pinion to what you remove, and send us your year and VIN if you are not sure which axle is under the Jeep. Browse other Dana 44 parts in the hard parts collection.
A ring and pinion is a measured job. Yukon's set-up chart lists the Dana 44 at 0.042 in. OEM pinion shim depth and 14-19 in-lb of new pinion bearing preload, then the contact pattern is read with marking compound before final assembly. Carrier bearings are separate from the pinion side; the Dana 44 carrier installation kit covers that side if you only need carrier bearings and shims. Use new bearings, a new crush sleeve and pinion seal: the Yukon master overhaul kit for TJ Rubicon Dana 44 covers one axle, or the TJ Rubicon 4.88 gear and install kit package bundles the job for both. Fill with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil. Yukon recommends driving lightly for the first 15 to 20 miles and letting the axle cool before continuing, and lists 35 in. as the maximum recommended tire for a Dana 44. With the gears changed, recalibrate the speedometer for the new ratio and tire size.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YG D44-488T-RUB |
| Fits | Yukon Gear High Performance Gear Set For Dana 44 TJ Rubicon / 4.88 |
| 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. Both Rubicon Dana 44 axles are standard rotation, and this set is listed for front or rear. Order two sets to regear the whole Jeep.
No. Non-Rubicon TJs use a Dana 30 front, and the JK Rubicon front Dana 44 is reverse rotation with a different gear. Those need their own sets.
Most Rubicon owners choose 4.88 for roughly 33 to 35 in. tires. Yukon lists 35 in. as the maximum recommended tire for a Dana 44.
New pinion and carrier bearings, a crush sleeve, pinion seal and shims. A master overhaul kit for the TJ Rubicon Dana 44 covers one axle.
Use 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil. Drive lightly for the first 15 to 20 miles, let the axle cool, and avoid heavy loads early on.
