Yukon Gear Ring & Pinion Gear Set For Dana 44 in Jeep JL Rubicon 220mm in 4.88 Ratio
A Wrangler JL Rubicon or Gladiator that now rolls on 35 in. tires usually tells you it needs gears: the eight-speed hunts between seventh and eighth on the highway, every on-ramp needs a downshift, and the truck feels heavy pulling away from a stop. This is the Yukon Gear & Axle YG D44JL-488, a 4.88 ring and pinion for the rear axle only, the Dana 44 with the 220mm ring gear (Dana calls it the M220). It is also the right replacement when the original rear gears have started to whine or chipped a tooth.
The rear driveshaft spins the pinion, and the pinion drives the 220mm ring gear bolted to the carrier. The ratio is simply ring gear teeth divided by pinion teeth, so at 4.88 the driveshaft turns 4.88 times for every turn of the rear wheels. Taller tires undo part of the factory gearing; going numerically higher puts engine speed back in the range where it makes its torque, and lets the transmission hold its top gears again. Yukon lists this set with a 28-spline pinion for the JL and JT rear. The rear is a standard-rotation axle, unlike the 210mm front on Rubicon models, so do not mix this set with front gears.
Read the axle tag on the rear housing, or count teeth with the cover off, to confirm the current ratio and that you really have the Dana 44 out back. A JL Sport or Sahara may have the Dana 35 instead; our Dana 35 vs Dana 44 rear axle guide shows how to tell them apart. If you are choosing between ratios, the regear after bigger tires guide matches ratio to tire size. Remember the front axle has to be regeared to the same 4.88 at the same time; the JL/JT Dana 44 reverse front 4.88 set is the Rubicon front match.
Yukon's application list covers the Dana 44 / M220 rear in 2018-2023 Wrangler JL Rubicon, 2018-2022 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and Unlimited Sahara models built with the Dana 44 rear, the 2024 Wrangler Rubicon, and 2020-2024 Gladiator JT (Sport, Sport S, Overland, Rubicon and Launch Edition). Sahara and Sport trims were built with either a Dana 35 or a Dana 44 rear, so check the axle before you order, and match your carrier to the new ratio. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to confirm it. A ready-made option for doing both axles at once is the Yukon Rubicon JL/JT 4.88 front and rear package, and other ring and pinion sets sit in our differential hard parts.
The gear set does not include bearings, so plan on the Yukon JL Dana 44 220mm rear master overhaul kit or the Revolution JL/JT rear master install kit. Yukon's setup chart lists the D44 JL rear (220mm) at a 0.045 in. starting pinion shim, 12-19 in-lb pinion bearing preload with new bearings, 110 ft-lb ring gear bolts and 70 ft-lb bearing caps. Set pinion depth, then preload, then backlash, and read the pattern on both sides of the teeth; our backlash and pinion depth guide walks through the pattern. Fill with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil, adding friction modifier only for a clutch-type limited slip, and follow a gentle ring and pinion break-in with an early oil change. Afterward, reprogram the tire size and axle ratio so the speedometer and shift points match. Yukon lists 35 in. as its maximum recommended tire for a Dana 44, so if you run larger, plan axle upgrades too.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YG D44JL-488 |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Ring & Pinion Gear Set For Dana 44 in Jeep JL Rubicon 220mm in 4.88 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. This set is for the Dana 44 220mm rear only. The Rubicon front is a 210mm reverse-rotation Dana 44 and needs its own 4.88 set, and both axles must end up on the same ratio.
Only if that Jeep was built with the Dana 44 rear. Many Sport and Sahara models have the Dana 35 rear instead. Check the axle tag or cover shape, or send us your VIN and we will confirm it.
4.88 is a common choice for 35 to 37 in. tires on a JL or JT, depending on engine and transmission. Note that Yukon lists 35 in. as its maximum recommended tire size for the Dana 44.
A master install kit with new pinion and carrier bearings, races, shims, crush sleeve, pinion seal and ring gear bolts, plus gear oil. Many owners also change the front gears and recalibrate the tire size and ratio in the computer.
Yes. This listing is backed by a 1-year warranty. Keep your install records, because a correct setup and break-in are part of a long gear life.
Use 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil. Add friction modifier only if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip, and change the oil after the break-in miles.
