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At least here in CA we do have a few options as to where to take the cars to a reputable mechanic. In my case I would do a drop off deal. Not take anything apart and ship it to them.
Having two differentials shipped somewhere would increase the cost vs shipping the t-case for example. Having someone install the two differentials would be (in my opinion) more expensive than just the t-case.
Of course, there are plenty of people who have regeared their cars.
My opinion is just that, an opinion. You need to talk to others too, preferably in your area and see which route they took.
The T-case gears would be an easy job, that part of the vehicle holds little mystery to me. Setting back-lash and looking at patterns is a different story. The hi range gears supposedly get you back to stock gearing with 35's. That would probably be very helpful. The 4.88's supposedly get you 6-7 % under stock which would be helpful for those of us sporting an extra 800lbs worth of accessories.
Now to muddy the waters a bit.... there is currently the question hanging of whether or not re-gearing your hi range would affect the low range of the TC ? There is speculation that a 1.1 hi range gear set would affectively lower your low range into the 3.1 range. The question was posed in the other thread for @orangefj45 but so far no answer. If that is the case and you get a 2 for 1 deal on gear reduction then the hi-range re-gear will be the best deal going at just under $1000.
I quoted him in the other thread. Not sure how much of his previous explanation helps or not. I cannot judge that. Not my cup of tea.
Or you could go full on epic, like @ToyotaTrailTeam did here in TN, 37' tires, 5.29 gears and lower Tcase gears. No skinny pedal needed!
LOL
LOL
4.10 for occasional wheeling, 4.88 for loaded up lets go wheeling folks. 4.56 waste of money.
Enjoy the down hill 1st gear with 4.88 on a steep slope. Also if I ever want to go to 36.5's it'll still be good.
Enjoy the down hill 1st gear with 4.88 on a steep slope. Also if I ever want to go to 36.5's it'll still be good.
Yeah I re-read that but it wasn't to clear to me. Thank you though for posting it back up.
I have 37's and 4.88 gears with an Ausie locker in rear dif.
This set up puts my rig at 1-2 mph over stock on freeway doing 65. IMO go with 4.88 for the simple fact that your gonna eventually land on the 35 vs 37 forums when you eventually get new tires. 4.88 gives you options... we all like options haha!
This set up puts my rig at 1-2 mph over stock on freeway doing 65. IMO go with 4.88 for the simple fact that your gonna eventually land on the 35 vs 37 forums when you eventually get new tires. 4.88 gives you options... we all like options haha!
Bludozer
SILVER Star
Agreed. If youre going to go through all the trouble of regearing than go 4.88.
I love my 4.88's - obviously makes an enormous difference on the trail but I DD my rig and the around town benefit has been the real selling point for me. I can't imagine having to go back to 4.10s after this.
First off you chose a vehicle that Toyota claims will get 15mpg at best ever in its life. Every mod an off roader does reduces mpg in the name of off road performance, toughness, dependability, convenience, etc. Simply put, we add weight and taller tires which makes the engine work harder which means higher fuel consumption. Regearing can help put power to the ground but wont completeky solve the problem. The 80 I have now was bone stock when I bought it and it felt like a race car compared to how it does now with 4.88's, 37's, armor, winch, etc. The jump from 35's to 37's was imediately noticeable in slightly slower acceleration and a gas gauge that drops even faster. I used to get 300 miles to a tank when she was stock, now it's closer to 200 on average. My ect (pwr) button is engaged all the time these days.
I was quite pleased with the performance I got out of 35's and 4.88's both on and off road. I went to 37's, part time and marlin 3.1 low range gears all at once and this was recently so my ability to comment on the overall comparison of my new set up to the old is rather limited but I can tell you that the 37+4.88+3.1 low range is going to kick ass off road compared to my previous combination but at the expense of fuel economy.
My vote is for 4.88's with your 35's because the extra 7% rpm's above a stock set up at a given speed helps offset the extra weight of all these cool doodads you will eventually add.
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MaddBaggins
Remember the KnightRider!
IIRC there was only one transfer case option back when I did my gears. I seem to remember it being a very expensive part from Oz and it wasn't an actual regear. If I was building one now, I'd probably do the transfer gearing.
Only other truck I have driven besides stock was running 5.29, and while a big smile on my face wheeling, I would opt for 4.88 for tolerating fwy travel. That being said 35's and stock 4.10's ain't that bad. And as baggins' and others have said low range gears are a pretty good option these days depending on truck use. Chance are you your going to be low wheeling anyway, and won't affect high range. I don't 4.56 are worth it for the cost.
The usual rule of thumb is 35's get 488 and 37's get 529. Well, I recently regeared a local customer nicknamed "Techoma" (John from Fountain Hills, AZ)....and he has a 96 FJ80 with auto with 35" tires with extra weight and with an engine that is somewhat tired. The 488's helped a lot with his loss of performance but he now wishes he had went to 529, in his case. You can do that with an auto that has a DEEP overdrive and still run 529 gears/35" tires and still scoot on the highway pretty good. All bets are off with a manual tranny.
Let me get the 529 complete gear package from JustDifferentials and install some 529 Nitros gears for you
Maybe a Harrop locker even.
Ken
ps--Your higher altitude might favor 529 gears better. (loss of engine power up that high)
The usual rule of thumb is 35's get 488 and 37's get 529. Well, I recently regeared a local customer nicknamed "Techoma" (John from Fountain Hills, AZ)....and he has a 96 FJ80 with auto with 35" tires with extra weight and with an engine that is somewhat tired. The 488's helped a lot with his loss of performance but he now wishes he had went to 529, in his case. You can do that with an auto that has a DEEP overdrive and still run 529 gears/35" tires and still scoot on the highway pretty good. All bets are off with a manual tranny.
Let me get the 529 complete gear package from JustDifferentials and install some 529 Nitros gears for you
Maybe a Harrop locker even.
Ken
ps--Your higher altitude might favor 529 gears better. (loss of engine power up that high)
so 488s in a heavy, auto 80 with 35's will still be good up to 6500-7000ft will be fine then because most 35"s don't actually measure up to 35".
- Thread starter
- #35
The usual rule of thumb is 35's get 488 and 37's get 529. Well, I recently regeared a local customer nicknamed "Techoma" (John from Fountain Hills, AZ)....and he has a 96 FJ80 with auto with 35" tires with extra weight and with an engine that is somewhat tired. The 488's helped a lot with his loss of performance but he now wishes he had went to 529, in his case. You can do that with an auto that has a DEEP overdrive and still run 529 gears/35" tires and still scoot on the highway pretty good. All bets are off with a manual tranny.
Let me get the 529 complete gear package from JustDifferentials and install some 529 Nitros gears for you
Maybe a Harrop locker even.
Ken
ps--Your higher altitude might favor 529 gears better. (loss of engine power up that high)
I may take you up on that at some point.
I could still see 529 as being a better ratio at that altitude. And, who cares anyways.....it's an auto with a good OD so 529's are doable.
...And everybody knows that the FJ60 got their designation because they are good for up to 60.....and FJ80's are good up to 80....something doesn't sound right. 
...And everybody knows that the FJ60 got their designation because they are good for up to 60.....and FJ80's are good up to 80....something doesn't sound right.
They were developed in a metric system country... so it is Km/H
Seriously.....
5.29 and 35's? I could barely run on the freeway at 80mph with my 4.88. And even with only about 300lbs extra in the rig unloaded I'm getting 11-12 on the freeway.
If your running that much weight where you think you need 5.29's with 35's, you better look for a motor home or take out that full size toilet.
5.29 and 35's? I could barely run on the freeway at 80mph with my 4.88. And even with only about 300lbs extra in the rig unloaded I'm getting 11-12 on the freeway.
If your running that much weight where you think you need 5.29's with 35's, you better look for a motor home or take out that full size toilet.
90% of my driving is between sea level (actually a few times below eg lake eyre -9m) and probably about 4000 ft. so 488 looks like its probably best. But now theres some talk of regearing the Tcase see here Transfer case re-gearing
I suppose more options is a good thing.
also, don't drive on lake eyre.
