The 4.88 mega thread!!

I live in Northern utah, while i was visiting Phoenix I had Joey @SDHQ OFFROAD install 4.88’s. Rem polished. I drove it straight home to Utah. No noises and no break in period. Highly recommend them.

 

No mods that would add any extra weight. 3" MBRP catback exhaust and AFE CAI.

It would definitely help out even a stock truck. Your skids, tires, and sliders are more weight than my extras. You know that annoying downshift you get on the slightest of inclines while at highway speeds? The one that shoots up your RPM's and holds you in 4th gear even well after the hill has leveled out? Where you can feel your engine bogging down about to hit 5th, and then invariably 4th gear? The 4.88 gears prevent that annoyance from happening much of the time. Highway mpg improves. Not to mention there seems to be a little more power at higher speeds when passing.

 

Weight and aerodynamics are the biggest drag, so gears are very helpful if not necessary when the truck is built IMO.

 

Anyone know the cruising rpms for a MT on 265/70r16's? Want to get gears done before I get tires. Still can't decide on what to do. 265/75r16's or 255/85's or 285/75's

Every gear calc I use gives me different numbers.

 

RPM's are to high for cruising speeds burning more fuel and probably outside of the Atkinson cycle rpm range. Need to switch up to 35" tires to cruise at a lower RPM.

 

I've been wondering about that.

 

I run 33.3 bfg mt 2's 285/85/16's I have 4.88 gears, at 70mph I am running 2019rpms. Before I did the gear change the 33 inch tire kept the transmission from going into 6th on the hwy.

 

AT?

 

Yes!

 

My truck weighs 5200 lbs, due to sliders, skids topper, and the ten ply tires. I still get 15 to 19 mph. I do mostly around town and rural roads, I am in no hurry and am not heavy on the throttle.

 

Well shit. Today I noticed a slight clunking from 10-40mph that I could feel in the pedals and barely hear without A/C on or too much road noise. Too much backlash I'm guessing (strange for a shop that specializes in differentials). So, truck back in the shop until tomorrow or Thursday. Mechanic is confident it just needs a little tweaking. At least he's putting his other clients on hold to get me fixed.

Song of the day, "Superstition," by Stevie Wonder.

 

Do you guys think $3800 for 4:88 gears and a rear locker installed is a fair price?

 

What kind of locker?

 

ARB air locker. I already have the compressor

 

I have 4.88's on 33's and and this ratio is perfect for this. Don't waste your money on 4.56 unless you're going to stay on stock tires. FWIW, my truck drives better overall, but due to my DCLB, I will still get the OVtune to further improve it's drivability.

 

Sounds fair for California. Maybe a couple hundred bucks more than I paid but I got a holiday sale price on parts.

 

Okay, definitely a fair deal then.

 

That's what I was thinking but wanted to check with others who have done this already. They are going to install the ECGS bushing for free but I have to supply it for them.

 

ECGS bushing should be installed since it it so easy during this process. Also, rather than the crusher bushings, ECGS sent me spacers for exact setup dimensions resulting in no noises or questionable performance. I also had the REM treatment for additional confidence.
Very happy with gear change even with normal city driving.

 

Thanks!