Yukon Gear High Performance Replacement Gear Set For Dana 30 Short Pinion in a 3.55 Ratio
A Jeep front axle that howls on the highway, or a TJ or XJ whose rear axle is 3.55 and needs a front to match, calls for this set. Yukon part YG D30S-355TJ is a 3.55 ring and pinion for the standard rotation Dana 30 with the short pinion, the low-pinion front used under the non-Rubicon 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ and the 1996-2001 Cherokee XJ. It has a 7.20 in. ring gear, a 26-spline pinion and 10 ring gear bolts, and it is sold as a lapped, matched pair.
In this axle the pinion enters below the axle centerline and turns the ring gear in standard rotation, the same direction as a rear axle. The pinion turns 3.55 times for each turn of the front wheels. When the transfer case is in 4WD that ratio has to be identical to the rear, or the axles fight each other, scrub tires and load the transfer case. Because a TJ or XJ with no axle disconnect spins the front gears all the time, even in 2WD, worn front gears and bearings make noise every mile you drive, not only off road.
A 3.55 is a moderate ratio. It is a factory number on many XJ and TJ builds, so this set is usually bought to replace worn or damaged gears at the stock ratio, or to match a replacement or junkyard axle to a 3.55 rear. It is not the ratio for a Jeep that has moved to 33 in. tires; that build wants 4.56 or deeper.
Look at where the driveshaft enters the front axle; this set is only for the low, short-pinion style. Count the ring and pinion teeth or read the axle tag to confirm the current ratio, and confirm the rear ratio so both ends match. Our Dana 30 front axle problems guide separates gear noise from unit bearing and ball joint problems, which are far more common. If the gears are clean and only the bearings are tired, the YK D30-TJ master overhaul kit alone may cure the noise.
Catalogs list this set for the 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ and Unlimited with the Dana 30 front, the 1996-2001 Cherokee XJ, and some late ZJ and WJ Grand Cherokees. It does not fit the TJ Rubicon, which has a Dana 44 front, or high-pinion reverse rotation Dana 30s such as the early Grand Cherokee and the JK. Older YJ and pre-1996 XJ fronts are cataloged for a different Dana 30 set. Dana 30 carriers are split into two series by ratio, and a 3.55 rides on the shallower series, the same carrier used with factory 3.07 and 3.55 gears. If your axle came with 3.73 or deeper gears you will need the matching carrier or a locker for the 3.54-and-down series, such as the Eaton ELocker4 3.54 Dana 30; confirm its fitment for your model before ordering. When in doubt, send us your year and VIN. Need a deeper ratio instead? See the 4.56 version of this set.
New gears get new bearings, a new crush sleeve and a new pinion seal every time, so order a master install kit with the gears. Pull the shafts carefully so the splines do not cut the inner axle seals, and seat new ones square with an inner axle seal installer. Set pinion depth first, then preload, then backlash, and confirm the pattern on drive and coast; our setup guide shows what a good pattern looks like. Fill with 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil, avoid heavy loads for the first few hundred miles, and change the oil after break-in as explained in our break-in procedure.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YG D30S-355TJ |
| Fits | Yukon Gear High Performance Replacement Gear Set For Dana 30 Short Pinion in a 3.55 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.
No. The TJ Rubicon uses a Dana 44 front axle. This set is for the standard rotation Dana 30 short pinion front used on non-Rubicon TJs and the XJ.
Only if your current carrier is the deeper-ratio series. Factory 3.07 and 3.55 axles already have the shallow carrier this ring gear bolts to. An axle that came with 3.73 or deeper gears needs a 3.54-and-down carrier or locker.
Yes. Front and rear ratios must match exactly or the drivetrain binds in 4WD. If your rear is a Dana 35 or Chrysler 8.25 at 3.55, this set matches it.
A master install kit with bearings, races, shims, crush sleeve and pinion seal, new inner axle seals, and 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil. Many owners also replace worn U-joints while the shafts are out.
Yes. The ring gear and pinion are lapped together as a set. Never mix a ring gear from one set with a pinion from another.
