Locked and loaded

[1911]

My latest mod; finally got it all wired up and everything working last night.

 

[joebob2586]

I have been looking into this mod myself...how easy was it to install and what was the price, people I have talked to said it was fairly difficult.

 

[1911]

...how easy was it to install and what was the price, people I have talked to said it was fairly difficult.

The locker itself runs $800-900 new (I bought a second-hand one for a little more than half that) and you need a compressor or air source to run it. I bought the larger ARB compressor and it ran me $270 but you can get by with a cheaper one. One good thing about the ARB compressor is that it comes with a complete wiring harness that is plug-'n-play.

Installing the locker requires a complete break-down of the diff, so yeah it's a fair amount of work. If you were ever going to, that would be the time to re-gear also. I did both at the same time to kill two birds with one stone. Since I was paying a pro to set up the lash on my new gears anyway, there was minimal extra labor to install the locker at the same time. IIRC the labor for the front gears only was about $300-400 but I had a package deal including installing and setting up new rear diff gears as well.

The mechanical difficulty of tearing down a diff is not great, but it takes some time to get to the front one on an FJC. Setting up new gears is not a job for an amateur though IMO, I'll always pay someone with more experience than I have to do that.

Installing the compressor, air plumbing, and wiring harness is not difficult if you have any mechanical experience or aptitude at all.

 

[joebob2586]

Thanks for the info...what did you regear to?

 

[1911]

Thanks for the info...what did you regear to?

4.56, they're nearly perfect IMO for my 34" tires and all my extra weight (two steel bumpers, winch, sliders, skid plates, tools, etc.). 22% lower gearing than bone stock but only about 10% lower than stock gearing with the 34's.

 

[joebob2586]

how did it affect your highway driving...i was going to go with that gearing because i heard it was a good compromise...what company did you buy through, i dont even know where to begin looking for those.

 

[1911]

Highway driving is vastly improved on my truck. The biggest gain is, I can use my cruise control again. Before the re-gear, cc was almost unusable because it was always kicking down one or two gears at the slightest incline or wind, and always "searching" for the right gear. Now the cc function is much more like stock and it doesn't downshift nearly as often. Acceleration is better than before the re-gear, but on a truck as heavy as mine it will never be what it was stock. I haven't made an accurate determination of fuel economy yet but it doesn't appear to have changed much.

Nitro gears from justdifferentials.com (JT's Parts & Accessories) are some of the only 4.56 gears for the FJC that I found. They are U.S. made and appear to be of high quality. They also fit the stock carrier, so that is a little less expense than if you went with some other ratios. Toyota : JTs Parts & Accessories, Justdifferentials.com

If you went with 4.88 ratio gears then you have more choices like Yukon who also make very high quality gears. There is also a 4.11 option that is only about 10% lower geared than stock. I'm very happy with my choice of the 4.56 ratio though.

 

[BMThiker]

1911, I'm having a time trying to locate the 4.56 r/p gears on that link. I see the "master kit" for $370, but there aren't any gears on this page. I would like to upgrade my r/p's to 4.56 since I run 33's as dd duty and 34's for play time. Trying to calculate my budget. I don't want to lock my front diff though, just regear.

 

[BMThiker]

OK, nevermind I found the product through a brand name search on their site:
T8S-456RT-NG [4.56 8 CLAMSHELL] - $299.99 : JTs Parts & Accessories, Justdifferentials.com
I couldn't find the 4.56 r/p for the rear diff though.


T8S-456RT-NG
$299.99
FINALLY HERE! 4.56 (THICK) RATIO RING & PINION SET FITS NEW TOYOTA 8" IFS CLAMSHELL STYLE DIFFERENTIAL FOUND IN THE FRONT OF 07+ FJ CRUISER, 03+ 4RUNNER, 05+ TACOMA & HILUX, 03+ LEXUS GX470, & LC PRADO 120 SERIES. SPECIAL THICK GEAR DESIGN FITS 3.73 FACTORY CARRIER! MODELS WITH 3.90 OR 4.10 WILL REQUIRE NEW CARRIER, OR ARBRD121 AIR LOCKER.

 

[1911]

They do have them; call and talk to either Carl or Jeremy, they really know their FJC stuff and were very helpful. For whatever reason, their web site is not great.

My final bill with them with shipping, taxes, etc. was $1100 for front and rear R&P and master install kits for both also.

 

[1911]

I haven't made an accurate determination of fuel economy yet but it doesn't appear to have changed much.

Update: last two tanks of gas I got 15.9 and 14.9 mpg, mix of (mostly) rural roads, highway, and some city driving. Before the gear change I was getting 16-18 mpg on the same roads and up to 20 mpg on highway-only trips. Since my new gearing is lower, I don't expect fuel economy to increase, but it sure is more pleasant (and easier on the auto tranny) driving on the highway now.

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

We have them in stock!

1911, I'm having a time trying to locate the 4.56 r/p gears on that link. I see the "master kit" for $370, but there aren't any gears on this page. I would like to upgrade my r/p's to 4.56 since I run 33's as dd duty and 34's for play time. Trying to calculate my budget. I don't want to lock my front diff though, just regear.

 

[karpi7171]

ringpinion.bix,
I am thinking about re gearing also, I am running 34's with a 6" lift automatic, will go to 35's this summer, what ratio would you recommend?

thanks,
Tom

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

Well its a bit of a toss up between 4.56 & 4.88 since they are within about 6% rpm wise of eachother. 4.56 should be a great match. Another plus is that the 4.56 will fit the 3.73 (at) carrier, so can be installed without the added cost of a carrier. You can still do 4.88, but would need to purchase a new carrier or an arb locker to accomodate them up front. Feel free to call us or email as well.

ringpinion.bix,
I am thinking about re gearing also, I am running 34's with a 6" lift automatic, will go to 35's this summer, what ratio would you recommend?

thanks,
Tom

 

[Brock]

saving my money for 4.56 myself now that major mods are done. Well except UCA and rear LCA armor...and elocker armor...and rear diff armor...LMAO

 

[Shadow-Warrior]

Nice Lee....I'll be re-gearing here soon myself.

Mike

 

[Athena]

definitely something we're going to have to do eventually. I'd like to get it done before the spring... sounds like my tax refund is already spent

 

[1911]

Bringing the thread back 'round to its original topic , I HIGHLY recommend saving up and getting the ARB front locker at the same time you re-gear for anyone comtemplating re-gearing. Got to use mine in earnest for the first time, wheeling last weekend and WOW I was impressed! Instant on and instant off (unlike the stock rear e-locker). In several situations on 4-rated trails (4 out of 5) at Barnwell Mountain, it was like an Easy Button. I'd have my front wheels on top of a tall ledge and the rear still on the bottom, and didn't have enough traction even with the rear locked. Engaged the front locker and BINGO it pulled right up every time! I wish I had some photos but it I didn't have the time to get out and take any because I with a group. Here are a couple that others took going down, but none up:

Here is a trail-mate (built 1st gen 4Runner) about to descend the obstacle I just did, you can see the corner of my rear bumper on the right side of the photo:

 

[Aggie]

Bringing the thread back 'round to its original topic , I HIGHLY recommend saving up and getting the ARB front locker at the same time you re-gear for anyone comtemplating re-gearing. Got to use mine in earnest for the first time, wheeling last weekend and WOW I was impressed! Instant on and instant off (unlike the stock rear e-locker). In several situations on 4-rated trails (4 out of 5) at Barnwell Mountain, it was like an Easy Button. I'd have my front wheels on top of a tall ledge and the rear still on the bottom, and didn't have enough traction even with the rear locked. Engaged the front locker and BINGO it pulled right up every time! I wish I had some photos but it I didn't have the time to get out and take any because I with a group. Here are a couple that others took going down, but none up:

Hey Lee,

You have a nice FJ there, I really enjoyed seeing it at Jambo. I am the guy who told you not to go up Sierra Skyview where the traffic Jam was. I ended up making it up in my Tacoma and I think you would have made it up but you might have busted your mirror. I hope you had a good time at Jambo!

Aggie

 

[1911]

Hey Lee,

You have a nice FJ there, I really enjoyed seeing it at Jambo. I am the guy who told you not to go up Sierra Skyview where the traffic Jam was. I ended up making it up in my Tacoma and I think you would have made it up but you might have busted your mirror. I hope you had a good time at Jambo!

Aggie

Thanks Aggie, I did have a good time as always. Really enjoyed doing some of the harder trails that I'd never tried before. Looking forward to the Roundup at Katemcy in March; see you there?

Lee