Goal of this guide: explain how Jeep axles deliver power to the ground, what upgrades are available, and how to choose the right setup for your build.
Open Differential: Allows tires to rotate at different speeds. Fine for street, but not for serious off-road traction.
Limited Slip Differential (LSD): Uses clutches or gears to bias torque toward the tire with grip. Good for mild terrain.
Locking Differential (Locker): Forces both tires to turn together, sending equal power no matter what.
Automatic Lockers: Always engaged when traction is needed. Simple and effective, but they can feel quirky on-road, sometimes unloading with a bang or chirp when cornering.
Selectable Lockers: Switch between open and locked at the push of a button. Options include Eaton E-Locker, ARB Air Locker, and Yukon Zip Locker.
Spools: 100% locked, all the time. Strongest but only for trail-only rigs.
Numerical Ratio (e.g., 4.10, 4.88, 5.38): Higher numbers mean more torque at the wheels, but less top-end speed.
Bigger Tires Require Deeper Gears: 4.88–5.13 ratios are common for 37s, 5.13–5.38 for 40s.
Factory Jeep Ratios: Range from 3.21 to 4.10 depending on model and trim, so upgrading gears is often the best way to restore performance after adding larger tires.
ARW Tip: At ARW Offroad, we install Yukon Gear & Axle gear sets, known for strength and consistency in demanding builds. Yukon also offers their YES Plan (Yukon Extended Service Plan) — a no-questions-asked, one-time replacement warranty for Yukon ring and pinion gear sets. This lifetime coverage lasts as long as you own your vehicle (non-transferable if sold) and can be purchased up to one month after your gear set.
Chromoly Shafts: Stronger than OEM, less prone to twisting.
35-Spline Conversions: A big step up in strength for Dana 60 builds.
Locking Hubs: For Dana 60 fronts, Yukon Hardcore hubs protect shafts and U-joints during hard use.
Dana 30: Common in older Wranglers and 2-door JL Sports. Reliable up to 33s, but pushing larger tires risks bending housings or breaking shafts.
Dana 44: The starting point for serious builds. With chromoly shafts and a locker, they handle up to 37s reliably.
Dana 60 / One-Ton Swaps: The standard for 40s+ and dedicated crawlers. Junkyard one-tons can be cost-effective, but usually need new brackets, trusses, and gears before they’re Jeep-ready. Purpose-built bolt-ins like Dynatrac or Teraflex save time and deliver out-of-the-box strength.
Dynatrac ProRock Series: Industry-leading assembled axles with stronger housings, high-pinion designs, and premium internals. Built for hardcore abuse but designed as bolt-in solutions.
Teraflex HD Housings & Assembled Axles: Heavy-duty housings and complete axle assemblies designed specifically for Jeep JK/JL/JT platforms. A great choice for drivers who want bolt-in reliability without piecing together a junkyard swap.
Match your locker to your use: selectable for versatility, automatic for budget, spools only for trail-only rigs.
Always re-gear with 37s or larger to protect your transmission and drivability.
Stronger housings (Dynatrac, Teraflex) add rigidity and durability, reducing the risk of bending under load.
Axles are the foundation — build them to match your tire size and trail goals.
Your Jeep’s axles are the backbone of off-road capability. From choosing the right gears to upgrading housings and shafts, every choice affects strength, reliability, and traction. At ARW Offroad, we sell and install Yukon Gear & Axle gears (with optional YES Plan coverage), ARB and Eaton selectable lockers, Yukon shafts, and complete Dynatrac or Teraflex axle assemblies — so your Jeep is ready for anything from weekend wheeling to competition-level crawling.
The information in Offroad 101 is provided as a general guide for educational purposes. Off-road driving involves inherent risks to vehicles, passengers, and the environment. Even if your Jeep is mechanically capable of handling a trail, your personal experience and driving skill play a critical role in safety and success.
ARW Offroad is not responsible for vehicle damage, injury, or other consequences resulting from the use of this information. We encourage drivers to know their limits, wheel responsibly, and seek hands-on training when tackling advanced terrain.