Yukon Gear & Install Kit Package Jeep TJ w/ Dana 30 Front & Dana 44 Rear - 4.56in Ratio
A Wrangler TJ that came with the optional Dana 44 rear is a good base for bigger tires, but the factory 3.07, 3.55 or 3.73 gears fall flat once 32 or 33 in. tires go on. Highway cruising turns into downshifting, the 4.0 lugs on hills and the crawl ratio is gone. This Yukon Gear & Axle package, part number YGK007, re-gears a TJ that has the Dana 30 front and the Dana 44 rear to 4.56 in one order. It includes front and rear ring and pinion sets and the matching Yukon master overhaul kits.
Larger tires raise the effective gearing, so the engine runs slower than it should at any road speed and has less leverage at the wheels. A 4.56 ratio brings the engine back into its torque band and restores low-range control. On the TJ, the front Dana 30 is a standard-rotation, crush-sleeve design and the rear Dana 44 is a standard-rotation axle that sets pinion depth and carrier preload with shims. Front and rear must be exactly the same ratio, because the transfer case locks them together in four-wheel drive and any mismatch binds the driveline.
Check which rear axle your TJ has. Most TJs came with the Dana 35 rear; the Dana 44 was an option, and Rubicon models use a Dana 44 front as well, so neither of those matches this package. The axle tag on the cover and the RPO codes are the quickest check, and our Dana 35 vs Dana 44 guide shows how to tell them apart. If you are chasing a noise rather than just gearing, the transmission versus differential noise guide helps pin down where it comes from. A TJ Rubicon owner needs the TJ Rubicon gear and install package instead.
Listed for the 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ, 4WD, with the Dana 30 front (crush sleeve design) and the Dana 44 rear, 4.56 ratio. Carriers are not included, and that matters here. The package technical note says a Jeep running 3.73 gears needs a new rear carrier, and a Jeep running 3.07 or 3.55 (listed as 3.08 and 3.54) needs new front and rear carriers, because the 4.56 gears need the deeper carrier break. Budget for that before you start, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm what your axles need. If you are adding a locker or limited slip, this is the time to do it, since the carriers come out anyway. More parts are in rebuild kits.
Each axle needs a full setup: pinion depth, pinion preload, backlash and carrier preload, confirmed with a gear pattern. Yukon's set-up chart lists the Dana 30 at a 0.065 in. pinion shim starting point and 12-15 in-lb preload on new bearings, and the Dana 44 at 0.042 in. and 14-19 in-lb, with 0.006-0.011 in. backlash on both and 60 ft-lb bearing caps. The Dana 44 carrier shims go in tight, so a carrier shim driver keeps them from bending, and a clamshell bearing puller pulls carrier and pinion bearings cleanly.
Fill both axles with 75W-90 GL-5, or 75W-140 in the rear for hard use, and add friction modifier for a clutch-type limited slip. Yukon lists 33 in. as its maximum recommended tire for a Dana 30 and 35 in. for a Dana 44. Use the gear break-in procedure: no towing for 500 miles, then change the oil in both axles. Correct the speedometer for the new ratio and tire size.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YGK007 |
| Fits | Yukon Gear & Install Kit Package Jeep TJ w/ Dana 30 Front & Dana 44 Rear - 4.56in Ratio |
| Type | Differential Install Kits |
| 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. YGK007 is for a TJ with the Dana 44 rear. Most TJs have the Dana 35, so check the cover shape and the axle tag, or send us your VIN, before ordering.
No. The Rubicon has a Dana 44 front as well as rear, so it needs a different front gear set. Look at the TJ Rubicon gear package instead.
Usually yes. The package notes say a TJ with 3.73 gears needs a new rear carrier, and one with 3.07 or 3.55 gears needs new front and rear carriers. Carriers are not included.
Front Dana 30 and rear Dana 44 ring and pinion sets in 4.56, plus a Yukon master overhaul kit for each axle with bearings, races, seals, shims and the small parts needed for setup.
75W-90 GL-5 in both axles, or 75W-140 in the rear for towing and hard use. Add friction modifier for a clutch-type limited slip and change the oil after the first 500 miles.
4.56 is a common pick for 32 to 33 in. tires on a 4.0 TJ. Larger tires or a 2.5 four-cylinder usually call for a lower ratio such as 4.88.
