Nitro 4.88 Gears Review

[JBHorne]

May I ask how much this modification cost? Parts and install if done in a shop? Did Just Diffs send you a complete third member and gear assembly? I’ve done a third member on the FJ before, that was fairly plug and play (if you have some knowledge/ a buddy who knows what they’re doing).

You’ve piqued my interest. I’ve been thinking the truck felt a little sluggish since the 295’s went on.

The gears are sold as a kit from @justdifferentials for $1400. They do not sell complete third members, I don't believe. I would highly recommend sending your thirds to Zuk with @gearinstalls.com. It's worth the cost in shipping to have your gears setup right. Ken charges around $350 I believe for each 3rd, extra if adding an electronic (Harrop) or air(ARB) air locker. Your shop charges to remove and reinstall the completed thirds will vary, but I'd suspect an additional $5-700. So all in around $2,800 I'd say is a good estimate, excluding lockers. I can't give you an exact price comparison from my install as I had my rear rebuilt, front added, and other work done at the shop at the same time. Oh, and don't forget that oil change again after 500 miles (I used conventional oil for the break-in and switched to full synthetic).

 

[Willy beamin]

For a comparison I gave $900 per axle for my install. That cost included misc. shop items needed, labor and the fluids changed out @ 500 miles.

 

[GoISU]

Sounds good, thanks!

 

[gearinstalls.com]

Hi everyone-
This is Ken chiming in. JBHorne's rear 9.5" write-up is on the page now
Gear Install Toyota

Here's the Nitro gear package for the non-elocker version and please allow me to order the package.
Nitro ring and pinions are a top shelf product.
Gear Package

A9574 Harrop Eaton ELocker™
A11092 Harrop Eaton ELocker

shipping toyota differentials
Ken

 

[gearinstalls.com]

Here's the front 9" clam pics(66 of them) but no text is there yet.

488 front 9" clam gear install

 

[TonyP]

Ah the ol' Harbor Fraught impact. The case split right half in two the first time I used it. Never again.

 

[gearinstalls.com]

The bluish-turquoise one in the 9" link is the time proven Makita model 6905H....lasted the entire time I've had my business .....since 2001 I believe. My experience with the harborfreight one is similar to yours....bought the HB one in 2001 for the half price deal they had going for 39.95. Great deal. Took it home and started to impact off a pinion nut and it broke in exactly 1 second. Took it back right away, got my money back, went to the local tool store and bought the Makita 6905H for 180 plus tax.

 

[TonyP]

The bluish-turquoise one in the 9" link is the time proven Makita model 6905H....lasted the entire time I've had my business .....since 2001 I believe. My experience with the harborfreight one is similar to yours....bought the HB one in 2001 for the half price deal they had going for 39.95. Great deal. Took it home and started to impact off a pinion nut and it broke in exactly 1 second. Took it back right away, got my money back, went to the local tool store and bought the Makita 6905H for 180 plus tax.

I was talking about the sixth pic in this link
Toyota LC200 series 488 gear install

Definitely looks better than the "Chicago Electric" garbage of a few years ago from HF. But I hear ya.

Either way, looks like you do good, thorough, work. If you were local I'd have you do my gears.

 

[gearinstalls.com]

Yep.... "Earthquake XT" red/black in the rear 9.5" link...yes, HB does sell them but they apparently have very little to do with the quality build because these Earthquakes are amazing. Never have I seen a cordless with this kind of power. And a good turbo sound to it also. About 450 ft/lb of actual ft/lb of torque. You can't use the 20% coupons with Earthquake products or the blue looking "Hercules" brand or the red/black Bauer ones...they are more expensive than the HB cordless versions and worth it

 

[Willy beamin]

@gearinstalls.com you ever seen this swivle set up before. My local shop had this on his bench during my gear install and i thought it was pretty clever.

 

[JBHorne]

Either way, looks like you do good, thorough, work. If you were local I'd have you do my gears.

Zuk came highly recommended to me from multiple parties - it just so happened he was local! It would be worth the cost in shipping to have him set up your gears. I know that many ship their gears to him from all over the world double boxed. Obviously I'm biased here, but IMHO the thoroughness of his work is worth the slightly added cost.

 

[TonyP]

Zuk came highly recommended to me from multiple parties - it just so happened he was local! It would be worth the cost in shipping to have him set up your gears. I know that many ship their gears to him from all over the world double boxed. Obviously I'm biased here, but IMHO the thoroughness of his work is worth the slightly added cost.

For sure. If I was in another part of the country I would. But we have some decent 4x4 shops here in Utah. The pizza sucks in Utah but at least we have scenery and 4x4 shops.

 

[gearinstalls.com]

For sure. If I was in another part of the country I would. But we have some decent 4x4 shops here in Utah. The pizza sucks in Utah but at least we have scenery and 4x4 shops.

I had to go all the way to Hilton, NY to get some kickass pizza



I've got a Harrop equipped 1997 9.5" 3rd heading to Mike in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean right now.

 

[Narkhelek]

For sure. If I was in another part of the country I would. But we have some decent 4x4 shops here in Utah. The pizza sucks in Utah but at least we have scenery and 4x4 shops.

Who would you recommend in Utah to do gear work?

 

[TonyP]

Who would you recommend in Utah to do gear work?

I've had work done at Six States (driveshaft work and diff build) and Fat Bobs in Layton (minor stuff I was too lazy to do). Both did a good job and also do gears/lockers. I've heard good things about Jack-It (stupid name) in WVC but I try to avoid WVC. I don't know if Kurt's shop Cruiser Outfitters does gear installs or subs them out.

Six States specializes in driveline/gearing, they're pretty much the go-to for a lot of guys and will probably be who I go to. Unless they're booked, then I'll try Fat Bobs since they're right down the road. I would do the install myself (done it before a few times) but I don't have the facilities/tools on hand and don't want to buy them.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

More than happy to do gear installs. We've had diffs in and out of 200's about a hundred times

 

[linuxgod]

A few of the shops in Utah need to move out to Chicago. Very few trusted options out here. Or alternately I'm going to open a Chicago-style pizza joint in UT or AZ...

 

[Yeti White]

A few of the shops in Utah need to move out to Chicago. Very few trusted options out here. Or alternately I'm going to open a Chicago-style pizza joint in UT or AZ...

Yes please! Bring some good pizza to Utah! On another note- if any of our So-Cal friends want to bring a good fish taco to Utah I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Yeti White]

A few of the shops in Utah need to move out to Chicago. Very few trusted options out here. Or alternately I'm going to open a Chicago-style pizza joint in UT or AZ...

Yes please! Bring some good pizza to Utah! On another note- if any of our So-Cal friends want to bring a good fish taco to Utah I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Narkhelek]

Zaponies Pizza in Centerville is pretty good if you're in Davis County.