4.88 gears, how much work?

[bowyer2002]

Having just returned from my first offroad event, I am now considering regearing from the stock 4.10 to 4.88.

I run 285x 55s and will not go to a smaller tire while I own the truck, which will be until it is dead.

Regearing looks meticulous but not difficult.

How much should I expect to spend on parts since I plan on doing the labor?

Or is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Since I occassionally have out-of-brain experiences, I know you actually have 255 x 85 tires

First go here.. Toyota Gear Installs and read every toyota regear article Zuk has created. I think there's only 1-2 regarding the front 7.5 IFS. There's not squat anywhere else, I looked before we did mine.

My thread and pictures aren't very complete, and I have two note books full of info regarding the regear. It's not that it's hard, just very precise and required the right tools which will cost more than taking it somewhere. And it doesn't hurt to have a lathe. Also consider that just building a bracket to hold the diff and manipulate it around requires quite a bit of work, and it won't work for the front.

I think JT's may be the only sponsor on here that carries the gears and bearing kits. IMO, I'd get everything from them or trdparts4u. Might also check with Josh (silver '05 with bed cage) on where he had his done.

I didn't do my own because it was cheaper, it was peace-of-mind knowing it was done correctly, and a major learning opportunity. So you've got your reading assignments, get out the deer jerky, and go from there.

 

[LukeZero]

Plan to spend approximately $250 per set of ring and pinion, $150 per master install kit (bearings and shims, etc.), then add another $100 for random stuff that comes up..

My opinion is that you're better off with lower gears in the transfer case- so you have your highway performance like now, but lower gears when you need them. Marlin now has the Inchworm crawler boxes for your transfer case. That would be the best of all worlds.

 

[bowyer2002]

Since I occassionally have out-of-brain experiences, I know you actually have 255 x 85 tires

My dyslexia must have been kicking in! Nice catch.

I dont know about regearing the automatic transmission since there is constant downshifting at highway speeds going up medium hills - i think regearing the axles would help with this too since the engine would be in a better RPM range.

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Since we have chain drive transfer cases, regearing the transfer case is not an option. And the inchworm lefty is a minimum of 2K, and that won't help with the crappy highway performance of the torque converter locking-unlocking-locking...

Once you get into more serious rock crawling, consider the lefty, but for the type of wheeling you did this past weekend, the 4.7 gears in the lefty would not have helped. You'd be better off with a supercharger than the lefty, but still, regearing is cheaper and by far your best option.

 

[bowyer2002]

Now I need to convince myself that regearing is really what I want to do (ie:$$$).
THis isn't a decision I have to make today.
I wish I would have taken your truck, FlatlandTRD, for a spin to have a 'seat of the pants' feel for what I think I am now needing.

 

[FlatlandTRD]

I wish I would have taken your truck, FlatlandTRD, for a spin to have a 'seat of the pants' feel for what I think I am now needing.

What a great idea, why didn't we do that?

 

[hoch]

Interested to see where this goes. I am also contemplating 4.88's although I'm currently on 32's. I'd eventually like to go 255/85.

Flat - How much was yours total? Thanks.

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Flat - How much was yours total? Thanks.

I either don't remember, or have blocked it out. But running through JTs site JTs Parts & Accessories, Justdifferentials.com, looks like ring and pinions and master overhaul kits come to $838. If you add in hi-temp silicone (gasket maker), gear lube, rear axle seals (not required), solid spacer (not required), and let's say $200/diff to set up, you could be looking at around $1300 total. More if you send them off for cryo Cryopro Cryogenic Tempering Processing Center - "The Low Cost Leader" Now if you can do it for cheaper, that's just money saved!

But, I couldn't use cruise control before, the torque converter wouldn't lock up, mpg sucked, and there was no power. Now, I can use cruise without it kicking down every 2 seconds, mpg are much better (~17-18 on average), on the downhill trails where everyone is riding their brakes I can leave it in 1st without touching mine, and it can now transfer power it's never had. It takes some getting used to, being able to break the tires free at will ;p

After going to 4.88s I understand why expeditionswest went with 5.29s. Which is why I will probably stick with 33s. It's by far the best mod I've done.

 

[bowyer2002]

Interesting, I use my cruise control w/o incident (still downshifts more than stock) but I also installed a Superlift speedometer/odometer/computer recalibrator which may help with SOME of the shifting points but it is far from a total solution.
My MPG is around 17-20 so I really can't complain about that but, more would be better though!

 

[Shanran71]

I like the supercharger idea!!!!!! How about swapping in a 4.0 or larger engine?

Take care bro.