4.56's or 4.88's

[agent orange]

I have been long used to being in the slow lane on hills, but after tossing on my 34's my 4.11s just arent cutting it. I can deal on flat ground, as it just takes me longer to get up to speed (i actually kinda like not revving it as high when im cruisin along at 75 mph), but i live in the mountains so i need some new gears.

It seems like 4.56s would put me a little higher than stock gearing and 4.88s a touch lower. A little more crawl ratio wouldnt hurt and the 4.88s would really be the hot ticket if i can scrape enough money together to get a set of 35 inch all-terrains to use for street tires, but i wanted to get some feedback as far as seat of the pants feel between the 4.56s and the 4.88s.

Thanks fellas.

 

[NocalFJ60]

Run the numbers and decide which one you like. Generally if you want better gearing for offroading go with the 4.88 and if you want better on road gearing go with 4.56. I would go with the 4.56 with an auto in the 62 and 34 or 35 tires.

Calculate your cruise rpm and see.

 

[89s rule]

From all I can tell go 4.88 with a fj62. If you have 35's. What do your 34's actually measure? Compare that height to the 35" BFG's which is what alot of guys run.

I dont have 35's although I could prob get them to fit, but dont wanna have to put the $ into gears! So I will stay with 33's for now. If I feel I need more low end TQ then I will save up and get the gears.

Good luck and tell us what you decide.

 

[Moby]

I run 4.56's with my 31" BFG AT. 4.56 would be almost exactly stock ratio with a true 31" tire (as it is I'm slightly overgeared). Regearing from 4.11 to 4.56 made a huge difference at highway speed. Around 50mph the torque converter lockup comes in. It was at this point that being down on rpms really hurt. I do a fair amount of 60-70mph driving and the return to stock gearing gave me noticeably better performance (within reason - it's still a 3FE). For a true 33" 4.88 will get you back to stock so if you have a 33.7-34" 4.88 will be pretty close to stock (about 2-3% off).

 

[agent orange]

Ive got 34" Trxus mud terrains and they measure a full 34 inches, i love em.

From what i can see it sounds like 4.88s are the way to go for me. I wish i could mod the tranny so i could control the torque converter lockup, thats half the problem with my inability to climb hills. Anyone heard of a way to do this (im not sure if that would be computer controlled or if its just a hydraulic cicuit thing).

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[89s rule]

I wish i could mod the tranny so i could control the torque converter lockup, thats half the problem with my inability to climb hills. Anyone heard of a way to do this (im not sure if that would be computer controlled or if its just a hydraulic cicuit thing).

Thanks for the help guys.

If anyone would know it would be the tranny guy over in AU. Everyone says he is the way to go if you ever have to do anythign to your 62's tranny.

 

[agent orange]

Hmm, i might look into that. Any way you could hook a brother up with a link of some sorts?

BTW if youve never played beer pong, look it up and play. Good times.

 

[89s rule]

I will try and look it up tommorow.

Sorry no beer pong. I dont drink.

 

[Itsadryheat!!!]

Why dont you put some jet engines on it, paint it pink and call it Miss Piggy, talk about crusing! Then off road you could tie a Yack to the front and get that crawl ratio you are looking, to get you up those mountains. Vroom!

 

[Aseif007]

http://www.automatictransmission.com.au/default.asp

Link to the Aussie tranny guru. They make a trick valve body and can build you a torque converter to what specs you want.

If you are going to run 34s I think 4.88s would be your best option. I ran 4.88s with 33s for 50,000 miles and on road it was a tad bit to low for me. But with 34s it would be pretty go IMO. Good luck which ever way you go.

 

[89s rule]

If you are going to run 34s I think 4.88s would be your best option. I ran 4.88s with 33s for 50,000 miles and on road it was a tad bit to low for me. But with 34s it would be pretty go IMO. Good luck which ever way you go.

Thanks for posting up the link!
Remember he is running a automatic with overdrive. I just saw that you have a fj60 and didnt know if you had swapped in the h55f or not.

Also, working on the tranny might be more expensive than doing gears. My philosophy is if it ain't broke (or almost broke) don't fix it.

 

[agent orange]

Yeah, the gears are definitly getting tossed in as soon as i can get the money, it would just be trick as hell if i could control the lockup, it would be kinda like having one of those crazy aftermarket overdrives.

Anybody here know if its easier to set up a cruiser diff since its got a drop out third, or does that make it harder? I might be able to afford some gears if i whore myself out real hard for a little while, but i dont think i could afford to have someone else install them. Ive got a dial indicator and a magnetic stand so i could measure backlash, my fiances dad has every friggin tool known to mankind in his shop, and the new issue of fourwheeler says i can do it so maybe ill give er a shot.

 

[89s rule]

Check out pirate there was an excelent writeup on there.

 

[Aseif007]

Thanks for posting up the link!
Remember he is running a automatic with overdrive. I just saw that you have a fj60 and didnt know if you had swapped in the h55f or not.

Also, working on the tranny might be more expensive than doing gears. My philosophy is if it ain't broke (or almost broke) don't fix it.

I have an FJ-60 but I haven't had the time to install my H55 yet, but it would be a moot point anyway since my T-case has the Mark's gears, so my gearing would be different. I just got this FJ-60, before I DDed an FJ-62 with 33s+4.88s for 5 years. The first two years I ran the 33s with 4.11s. I did not like the 4.11s with the 33s, too high for driving anywhere with inclines. The 4.88s were a little lower than I would have liked. I fitted 35s once with the 4.88s and it felt good.

The tranny the Aussie sells is very cool, but it is very expensive. He also sells a VB that allows for lock-up at lower speeds, and in 3rd & 4th gear. Those that have the VB are very impressed with it. I helped one of my buddies install it, and he was very happy with the results. I am not a fan of the A440F so I opted for the H55 and my 3FE in my 60 series, instead of adapting my FJ-62 for a 5-speed. Although my A440F lasted 300K without a rebuild, the only thing wrong was the overly warn output shaft splines, and changing the shaft is basically like disassembling the whole tranny.

I would get the 4.88s if I was in this situation, especially if you are going to be driving on hills. agent orange I will send you a PM with a spreadsheet I made showing different gear ratios if it will help you make a decision. Good luck..

 

[Tapage]

gears are part of those things that I happy pay for someone with good skills and experience do for me.

 

[agent orange]

Yeah, i dont know, at this point i figure that if i sit down and put my mind to it i could get it done. The way i see it, is if i can install some gears myself i could put the money i save into a locker. I mean it cant be that crazy, now my transmission, the FSM on it really scares me.

 

[Tinker]

Tapage is right. Besides, you'll have to grind at least one of the ring teeth down on 4.88s to get it together.

I had to replace the spiders & side gears in my SF last year, which is supposed to be an easy job. I'm pretty handy, but after a half-dozen tries at putting it together (it's quite the clever puzzle), holding the gears & turning the axles, I grabbed the professional mechanic kid down the street who used to build Heep diffs & offered him lunch. Took him 20 seconds. And that didn't have anything to do with gear lash, pre-load, or a crush sleeve.

Find the best diff guy you can & you'll save a bunch of $, besides enjoying peace of mind.

 

[FJ60_cruiser]

Just a question a bit out of the theme. what bran do you all recomend for the gears and what about the price? (4.56)

 

[agent orange]

I dont think it makes too much of a difference, they say not to use racing gears because they are softer, so if more pedestrian gears are the way to go i bet you cant really go wrong. Cruiser outfitters has them for around 180 i think, thats the best price ive found.

 

[Tapage]

Just a question a bit out of the theme. what bran do you all recomend for the gears and what about the price? (4.56)

I thought we have a lot's of options, but in my case I prefeer Presision Gear.