Gear Me?

[mikelite80]

Hi guys! Looking for some suggestions/confirmation about re-gearing my 4runner. Short story...2001 4Runner, stock rear end (4.10 I think), Sonoran steel 1.2 lift, new 255/85R16s. Eventual plans include real bumpers front and rear, skid plates, and hopefully an AT Oasis.

Love the new rubber but it drives me crazy when it down shifts to what sounds like 2nd gear to climb a slight incline on the local freeway. So between reading posts, typing numbers into calculators (not sure what they mean still) but seems like a set of 4.88 would do best. Just looking to regain some power up the hills and hopefully gain some fuel economy back. Somewhere I was reading with a trailer might be able to go to a 5.29 and be ok. Being one of the few things I won't try on my own I want to get this right the first time. Of course when they have my rear end torn apart I'll have them toss in an ARB air locker

Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing before I spend like $1500 to do all this!

Here is a picture.




Mike

[RusM]

From the interweb research I have done this seems to be about right for our trucks with the size tire you are running. How do you like the ride of the SS 1.2 lift? I am strongly considering getting that lift for my 4Runner. I saw another guy put the 5.29's in his 4Rnr on one of the forums recently, he's also running 33's and lives in CO at high elevation. http://www.yotatech.com/f191/addicte...ention-186603/

[dustboy]

Maybe this is redundant, but I found this calculator very helpful. I just ordered my 4.56 gears, I went back and forth between 4.56 and 4.88 a lot, but I finally decided the 4.88 ratio would be a little on the buzzy side for long range highway cruising.

One thing I did was calculate what the overdrive RPM would be for my normal cruising speed. Then I got on the freeway and stayed in 4th gear and cruised at that RPM for a few miles. Then I thought about how it would feel for 300 miles.

FWIW, a rumor I've heard is that the lower the ratio, the smaller the pinion will be and therefore weaker gears.

Unless you're eventually going to be on 35"+ tires I think 4.88 would be the lowest ratio you'd want for a daily driver.

[CYi5]

4.88 with an auto. 5.29 might be ok if you pulled the trailer all the time, but as dustboy said, 5.29 is a little high for a DD imo. Then again if you never go above 65 you'd probably be ok.

[TACODOC]

I'm getting ready to install 4.88's this weekend

I'll know here real soon if it was the right choice!

[mikelite80]

Yeah I've seen most of those calculators and charts. Just have no idea what they really mean. The whole transmission drive train thing just doesn't make sense to me. According to the chart if I re-geared I'd get the power back but loose MPG. Thought part of the idea of re-gearing was get the power back to help the MPG. Only time it bugs me currently is when the cruise control is on and keeps down shifting until it's trying to drive at like 5000RPM. I of course turn off cruise control when that happens.

Sounds like my general research was right with the 4.88. Just wanted to make sure it would be right with the 4runner.

RusM...I'm happy with it! Little wobbley sometimes and worse lately with the massive tire up there. Being in Phoenix I've meet and dealt with Steve a few times and he's always been helpful! Installing it is a bit of a challenge. The new front coil overs are a real challenge to get it.

Thanks!

Mike

[Nullifier]

If it is an auto you will want to go a minimum of 4.88. I assume your rig is 3.4 v6 with auto in which case 4.88 will be ok Scott was running 5.29 on his tacoma which should have the same drivetrain.

[mikelite80]

Yep, 3.4 V6 Auto.

I like the East Coast Gear Supply deal! My worry about me doing is the actually changing gears and little things inside. If they do all that and just send me the assembly I might be able to do the swap myself!

Mike

[OldSven]

4:88's sound about right, you have to have some serious weight on there like Scott did on the expo Tacoma to go 5:29's. The other thing to consider would be supercharging it I re geared my old Tacoma for all my mods and to pull my trailer but stock gears and my supercharger on my 4runner with 255's will out run the Tacoma no problem

[Hilux_Max]

I'm getting ready to install 4.88's this weekend

I'll know here real soon if it was the right choice!

I love how these blokes supply the whole diff centre regeared and ready to go change overed with your factory ones.....very impressive customer service, wish we had that option here in OZ so I could do the work meself.....