Regearing Questions (1 Viewer)

[Red Beard]

I'm really getting excited about regearing my cruiser. I've only good things from doing it, especially for harnessing all of the 3FE power. But I'm really puzzled, and for some reason you can't just search "4:88" in the search to bring up results, so here are a bunch of questions.
I guess this could be a nice FAQ page.

Where do you get the gears?

How much do they normally cost?

Do they come as kits?

What gears are being changed? The differential gears or transmission, or both?

What's the best idea, do them yourself or get them done? (Where should I get them done, any old shop?)

I'm pretty sure I read the stock gears are 4:16 or something, now if increase to 4:88, I might gain HP, but what about torque? Will I lose that awesome offroad torque?

Are there any downsides to this option found?

That's all I can think of for now, answer them the best you can. Thanks!

 

[Beowulf]

Where do you get the gears?

ringandpinion.biz (I think that is the correct Mud user ID)
Cruiser Outfitters
Slee Offroad
... other vendors in the Vendor section

How much do they normally cost? Do they come as kits?

They come as just the R&P or in full kits or partial kits. Depends on which bearings you plan to replace. Cost is ~$300 per end for a partial kit.

What gears are being changed? The differential gears or transmission, or both?

You will be replacing only the ring and pinion gears. Nothing else.

What's the best idea, do them yourself or get them done? (Where should I get them done, any old shop?)

Most people will recommend selecting someone experienced with doing Land Cruiser gears; specifically the 80-Series gears. I chose a reputable shop in town and they took ~7 days but I told them there was no rush. Labor for the gear set-up only was ~$500. This did NOT include pulling the 3rds.

I'm pretty sure I read the stock gears are 4:16 or something, now if increase to 4:88, I might gain HP, but what about torque? Will I lose that awesome offroad torque?

Stock gearing is 4.10:1
You will gain no HP. You will gain no engine torque. You will improve your final gearing which will be noticeable if you don't defeat the upgrade with tyres that are too large. (Stay at 33" or 35" max)

Are there any downsides to this option found?

This will bring out some debate but the cons that I see are:
1. Cost. The final bill will be ~$1,500 (gears, labor, rear axle kit, front axle kit, gear oil, grease, etc.)
2. Speedo and odo will be off. Best option for those with electronic VSS is Yellow Box or TrueSpeed correction.
3. Lower top speed.
4. You *may* see a drop in MPG. YMMV. Pardon the pun.

-B-

 

[jamisobe]

Where do you get the gears? A gear vendor.

How much do they normally cost? Too much.

Do they come as kits? Yes, the ring gear with the pinion gear.

What gears are being changed? The differential gears or transmission, or both? Both differential gears for 4x4.

What's the best idea, do them yourself or get them done? (Where should I get them done, any old shop?) Ask around first. Then Google.

I'm pretty sure I read the stock gears are 4:16 or something, now if increase to 4:88, I might gain HP, but what about torque? Will I lose that awesome offroad torque? You gain leverage depending also on tire diameter change. HP may become more usable (loss of MPG) depending on tire diameter change.

Are there any downsides to this option found? Loss of MPG and top end mph depending on tire diameter change.

Going with shorter gears (higher numerically) will have the same effect on the drivetrain as switching to smaller diameter tires. A primary reason why people tend to seek shorter gears when they adopt taller tires is to counter loss of leverage.

Shorter gears without changing tire size will increase leverage and will make the vehicle quicker at lower mph though gas mileage will reduce, especially on the highway at higher speeds. Also, you will likely lose some top end mph.

 

[d0ubledown]

Going with taller gears (higher numerically) will have the same effect on the drivetrain as switching to smaller diameter tires. A primary reason why people tend to seek taller gears when they adopt taller tires is to counter loss of leverage.

Taller gears without changing tire size will increase leverage and will make the vehicle quicker at lower mph though gas mileage will reduce, especially on the highway at higher speeds. Also, you will likely lose some top end mph.

i think ya got it backwards. shorter (lower) gears have a higher numerical #:1 than taller (higher) gears.

4.88:1 is a shorter/lower gear than the stock 4.10:1

the lower the gear, the more rev's (higher number) the pinion gear needs for every rev of the ring gear.

 

[jamisobe]

i think ya got it backwards. shorter (lower) gears have a higher numerical #:1 than taller (higher) gears.

4.88:1 is a shorter/lower gear than the stock 4.10:1

the lower the gear, the more rev's (higher number) the pinion gear needs for every rev of the ring gear.

You're right. I always do that. I fixed it.

 

[KLF]

The reason why searching for "4:88" didn't get you any results is because technically the ratio is written as "1:4.88", in other words 4.88 revolutions of the driveshaft (pinion gear) for each revolution of the rear axle (ring gear).

Doing the gear swap yourself takes some special tools, and a lot of patience. Not everybody has both, which is why they send them to a shop to have done. Do some searching on here, and at least purchase a FSM and read the procedure. Then decide if it's something you want to tackle on your own.

 

[Red Beard]

ok, so 4.88:1 it is, if I downsize my tires from 33" Off Road tires to the stock size tires (30"?) will it be bad? I normally reduce wear on my off road tires by switching to my road rubber. Switching to a smaller, lighter tire won't have any negative effects, will it?

 

[sandcruiser]

It all depends on where you drive.

If you spend time on the highway, you will probably find that 30" tires and 4.88 gears are a bad combination. Your motor will be revving high at freeway speeds and will guzzle fuel. I would not run 30" and 4.88.

4.88 and 33 isn't far from stock gearing. It'll drive well all-around.

It you want to save tread wear on the offroad tires, get a set of road-tires that are about 33". I'd look at a mild all-terrain in the 33x10.50 or 255/85r16 size.

ok, so 4.88:1 it is, if I downsize my tires from 33" Off Road tires to the stock size tires (30"?) will it be bad? I normally reduce wear on my off road tires by switching to my road rubber. Switching to a smaller, lighter tire won't have any negative effects, will it?

 

[Skillet]

I just did my vehicle with 4:88s and I run 305 tires.

Great off road and on the flat highway, about 2700 rpm at 65 mph.

However, I still want more power going up steep grades but I don't think the trade-off with 5:29s is worth it, as I usually travel long distances to where I like to recreate.

In a nutshell, I would go with 4:88s again. They are best all around, unless you are driving very short distances to where you wheel.

 

[jamisobe]

In a nutshell, I would go with 4:88s again. They are best all around, unless you are driving very short distances to where you wheel.

Unless, maybe, you run 315s or 325s.

 

[Nay]

Unless, maybe, you run 315s or 325s.

5.29's are overkill. 4.88's are the best gear ratio for all users.

 

[Skillet]

5.29's are overkill. 4.88's are the best gear ratio for all users.

Nay? Is that you?

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

I would run 4.88 w/ 33's and 5.29 w/ 35+. The 3fe is sloooow and can take all the help it can get.

ok, so 4.88:1 it is, if I downsize my tires from 33" Off Road tires to the stock size tires (30"?) will it be bad? I normally reduce wear on my off road tires by switching to my road rubber. Switching to a smaller, lighter tire won't have any negative effects, will it?

 

[89s rule]

ok, so 4.88:1 it is, if I downsize my tires from 33" Off Road tires to the stock size tires (30"?) will it be bad? I normally reduce wear on my off road tires by switching to my road rubber. Switching to a smaller, lighter tire won't have any negative effects, will it?

It doesnt sound to me like you need to regear with your knowledge and driving habits.

Research this alot, drive or at least ride in a fj80 that has been set up similar to what you would like. If you swap tires to something that much smaller, then dont regear it really wont be driveable with 30" tires. You can spend the $ from regearing on some more useful mods, esp if you only hva e33's and run 30's at times.

 

[sandcruiser]

5.29's are overkill. 4.88's are the best gear ratio for all users.

Totally appropriate gearing for everything from 30" grocery getters, right up to 38" boggers. It's true. 4.88s have actually been determined to be perfect in all ways. Clears dandruff, halts premature muffler bearing failure, eliminates driver fatigue and makes girls in the passenger seat giggle.

Unfortunately for me, I'm still running 4.11 w/ my h151 because I like to be able to use both 1st *AND* 5th and I've only got 31's on there now.

Seriously, though--- stock diffs are 4.11. If you do 4.88/4.11= 1.187, or about a 19% change in gearing.

If you are running 33" tires, that's about a 10% increase over stock size.

So if you want slighly lower gearing than stock--- 4.88 will give it to you. If you want about stock, 4.56 will give it to you. If you want to run 35" tires with "like stock" gearing, then 4.88 also works.
Then do similar math for other

 

[Skillet]

Clears dandruff, halts premature muffler bearing failure, eliminates driver fatigue and makes girls in the passenger seat giggle.

...

 

[Nay]

Nay? Is that you?

I think Sand Cruiser covered it

I would not regear for 33's and light duty low elevation wheeling. Waste of money.

 

[Red Beard]

Well, I'm doing a lot of Highway driving coming up. 5 hour trip from Newburgh to Rochester. I'll probably do that trip 2-4 times a year. I was hoping with the better gearing my cruiser would perform better on the highway and the city streets here in the burgh and still be unstoppable offroad.
Now with the stock size tires it runs pretty nice on the highway. Max I've gotten so far was 81mph, I don't remember the RPMs.

I guess I'm on the fence with this. I'd like to get them, but that means I gotta get bigger road tires. (33"s) Total cost will go from 1,500 to probably 2k. It would be nice having the cool offroad tires on, and still be able to hit 40 after a stopsign up a hill.

 

[sandcruiser]

sounds like you are better off leaving the gears alone. Any change in gearing to higher numbers will hurt your highway performance

 

[Nay]

I'll change my statement. With the 3ForEver I'd do the 4.88s and find a set of used 33" road tires, they are up for sale all the time for good prices. You'll love your rig on daily 33's anyway.