The 4.88 mega thread!!

Sorry boss, I’m in Hilo on the Big Isle

 

I am seriously considering doing this to my Tacoma (4.88) with only 2,500 miles on the clock, but if I drop this much money I want to make sure it fixes all the shifting issues and lack of power in the low end. Will I still have 4-5-6 gear dance in mountainous areas? I just cant justify the cost if it still doesn't fix the issue with these trucks. Thanks.

 

I’m in the same boat. I actually even took off my Prinsu, lights bars and sliders to make the truck drive better. I’ve done Ovtune which helps but honestly is a whole other can of worms. Mat is so swamped that it takes forever to get issues fixed and the turbo kit he is working on doesn’t seem like it’s gonna happen anytime soon and then the issues that come with that will be an even bigger can of worms. Think I’m gonna do 4.88 gears and hope for the best.

 

Just came home from a 4000 ft elevation change trip. With 4.88’s I’ll hunt a taaaad bit (nothing near stock) between 4th and 5th at 60-65mph. Been considering ov tune but just read that the 1.05 release has been known to be the mpg tune. Ughhh. I just will have to wait a bit longer I guess before I pull the trigger on it...or run a 1.04 tune (heard good things about that one)

Keep in mind during this trip, I’m on 33’s, with racks....and my fire gear if that makes any weight difference haha

 

Highly sugest 1.05 over 1.04. 93 octane 1.05 is quite good, minus the shifting. Better but not what I think gears will do. Between gears and tune I can’t imagine still being unhappy. He is working on 4.88 transmission tune too. But slow coming. Need to call ECGS. I just am scared of the cut off people have mentioned hitting after gears...

 

Highest octane available here is 91 for me so 93 is a no go

 

Cut off?

 

Yes I’ve read after changing gears, you can end up hitting fuel cut off?

 

I am using my truck as a daily driver w/ seldom Off-Roading for now, but would like to go to 33" tires. I have OVTune, but feel like it is not the solution, rather a band-aid. I want to keep my truck long term and be happy with it, but I live in an area where nothing is flat. So all my daily driving is over hills/passes, etc... Would 4.88 "Fix" the issue and drive like a normal vehicle or will the gear hunting still happen? I just don't want to spend 2k+ on something that will be another band-aid fix. Maybe the only solution is to buy a different vehicle, but would like to avoid that.

If it is the best solution, is there any issues going with 4.88? From the last several posts will I have issues with the fuel cut off? I tend to be light on the pedal, but need to accelerate quickly from time to time in the passing lanes Thanks guys.

 

I love my 4.88’s on 33’s but still find the truck is underpowered to climb steady hills in 5th during a 4000ft elevation change. So I ordered the tune. (Registered, but awaiting my kit to arrive)
Anywho, I’m in the same boat as you. But, I figured I’m gonna spend the couple hundo and hopefully it’s resolved, vs losing out on what I’ve built this truck to be and starting again with a tundra. From what I’ve read and talked to @inksin, he said 4.88’s and the tune is crazy fun. So I’m sure with the combo, the truck will be complete.

Don’t get me wrong tho, regearing really turned this truck around from what it was. I really love it.

 

@yotanut it is a bandaid fix but with the 2 bandaids (OVTune and gears) it fixes enough of the issues that most people will be quite happy. There are other issues that neither the tune or gears can fix like lack of low end torque and the weird gearing of 5th (to far from 4th and too close to 6th). Combined that with the messed up trans programming and funky diff gears (4.10 or 4.56 woulda been better stock) and then things are often exasperated by adding extra weight and bigger tires it’s no wonder people hate their trucks. Fortunately the 2 bandaids make things quite tolerable if not pretty damn enjoyable. It won’t “fix” things though. Ultimately you modified the truck with bigger tires than what it was designed for. It will probably never drive like a “normal vehicle” much the same as when I modded my Infiniti or my Expedition or my X5 or my Merc or...... you get the picture. If you don’t have unrealistic expectations about a modified vehicle driving like a factory stick vehicle then I think you’ll be quite pleased with the gears and tune combo.

 

4.88's solve almost 90% of the driveability issues people hate. I'm on 32's and 4.88's and it drives just fine. from putting around town to 80 on the interstate. highway passing power is there too. i still get 21 if i'm only doing 60-65. this is on the tsb.

yes you can hit fuel cutoff on the 1-2 and 2-3 shift. i think that's less of an issue if you run a 33 or bigger tire. i don't like it but that's not something you deal with daily. funky shifting you do.

ovtune 1.05 isn't really setup for 4.88's and he's working on that once he gets them installed. if you plan to keep your truck, get the gears.

 

Waiting to pull the trigger on 4.88's. The lower gear ratio will keep the engine's RPM higher in the power band and therefore make the truck more responsive, especially on hilly ascends on highways. I have a 6spd and rarely use 6th. With stock gears it drives better staying in 5th even with higher RPM's. I know my truck will drive better with 4.88's, its just about the $$

 

If you hit the rev limiter and activate the fuel cutoff that’s not a gear issue, that’s a driver issue. No real reason to be hitting it that aggressive.

 

Out of curiosity - what does this gear upgrade do for the re-sale of a vehicle in the long run? Does it limit your buyers as some don't want the gears or do you think it will increase them as it will drive better?

 

Always ups the sale in my opinion. New seals and all that’s why. If the new buyer wants to drive a third gen and low balls me, I’ll tell um take a hike and drive a stick geared truck. Then they’ll come back to appreciate the money invested into it

 

Just a question Will 4.88 gears Make me lose top end? On an auto?

 

Changing the gears for a higher final drive will decrease top end speed, but increase acceleration. My truck still can hit 80 like nothing, and rpms won’t be screaming like a 22re, at that speed the rpm’s in 6th are just below the powerband of the 3.5 (I consider the powerband kicking in just above 3000). No reason to be going any faster in a lifted truck. You’ll like um

 

This thread was super helpful for me in making the decision to swap to 4.88’s on my 2019 TRD OR.
Picked it up today from the shop that put them in. Thought I would share my findings.

Difference is immediate and noticeable.
Shifting into first felt smooth and the next shift to 2nd feels appropriate. Doesn’t feel like a short shift. My driving style has been greatly altered by driving a Taco. I don’t get on it anymore.

Around town, feels great. Snappier off the line. It’s not blowing my hair back. You’ll notice it, but if you have a buddy with you and don’t tell them you did a change, they won’t notice.

Got on freeway... better acceleration through on-ramp. At 75, my rpms are sitting somewhere around 2100-2200.
Short hills used to cause hunting and a series of downshifts, usually culminating with me wondering why I didn’t buy a bigger truck and questioning my life. Not anymore.
Cruise control should be good to use now. Used to down shift constantly.

I tow a lot for dirt bikes and my UTV. That was the primary reason for the swap.

Fuel economy according to the computer has picked up.

I run 32” tires on 17” wheels.

Cheesy video on my short test drive below.

https://youtu.be/u1WDjXTClWY

My two cents