Essential modifications for improving offroad performance

Essential Modifications for Improving Off-road Performance

While some vehicles come off the factory floor ready to hit the trails, others need some work to prepare for a high-octane adventure. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can customize a vehicle to go off-roading, rock-crawling or overlanding. The question is, which upgrades and modifications should you consider first? Revolution Gear & Axle has five recommendations for off-road parts that are proven, effective performance enhancers.

Ring and Pinion Gear Sets

We'll start with ring and pinion gear sets because that is what we do! While changing your gear ratio may not be the first upgrade to come to mind, this change can have some of the greatest impacts on drivability and control. We offer extensive information on re-gearing that can be found here. Installing ring and pinions is a labor intensive process and we highly recommend professional installation. Our aftermarket ring and pinion gears have a two-year warranty.

Axles

Are your factory material axles incapable of handling the high forces that extreme off-roading puts on them? A broken axle on the trail can ruin a trip that you probably spent time and money planning for. Avoid hours or days fixing a broken axle by upgrading to heavy-duty axle shafts that are built for the adventures you seek. We offer a variety of front and rear axle kits for many Jeep and truck models. In addition, you can swap the stock axle for a different design. For example, we offer a solid 1-piece front axle design for the 2018+ Jeep Wrangler JL and Gladiator JT. For those tackling the toughest terrain, upgrade to chromoly u-joints on your front axles.

Differentials

A new differential is a great way to add traction on slippery, loose surfaces. Many vehicles come with open front and rear differentials that are excellent for everyday driving but fall short on mud, rock, sand or whatever you may be trying to traverse! Replace your front and/or rear differential with popular electronic, air or manual locker options from Eaton, ARB or OX Offroad. When activated a locking differential sends equal power to each wheel allowing you to overcome obstacles when one tire loses traction. Upgraded differentials will give you the confidence to explore past the pavement.

Driveshafts

The driveshaft plays a huge role in any vehicle as it sends the engine power to the axles and differentials (and eventually the wheels). Installing an upgraded aftermarket off-road driveshaft improves performance in several ways. A well-designed driveshaft makes power transfer smoother and more efficient. It is also more rugged to handle impacts and hard driving. Modifications such as lift kits, engine swaps and larger tires require upgraded driveshafts. We recommend new driveshafts for lifts over 2.5 inches to provide extra length for the change in vehicle height. Higher horsepower and larger tires place more strain on the drivetrain and a stronger driveshaft will handle these upgrades and prevent premature wear and damage.

Lift Kits and Tires

Larger tires and lift kits give your vehicle the ground clearance needed to tackle tough terrain. Premium lift kits paired with high quality shocks deliver increased stability, improved ride quality, and comfort on road, while the increased compression damping provides more aggressive off-road handling.

Modify Your Off-Road Vehicle

Revolution Gear & Axle has many ways to get better off-road performance, including OE and aftermarket parts. If you need assistance deciding on your next off-road modification, call us at (844) 213-4327 or email contactus@revolutiongear.com.