The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

For sure. You guys are awesome @JoeCOVA @therealprotaco @whatstcp

 

On dry pavement or wet roads?

 

Dry pavement

 

Grinding noises, vibrations, smoke and gear oil everywhere doesn’t sound good.

I would think about choosing words carefully when talking to the gear shop.

If it was my truck I wouldn’t clean anything or add fluid. And I would tow it back to there shop, limiting your liability.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

Alrighty... 2018 off road with a 6" lift on 33s.... use it as a daily driver but also hit the occasional trail... from what I've been reading everyone is leaning towards the 5.29s to get mpg back on the highway but also preform better offroading /overlanding... i do also have the problem with the truck always searching for gears when on the pavement... whats everyones idea

 

Did your shop recommend driving it in 4Hi? There’s conflicting info about this and my shop specifically told me not to drive in 4wd.

 

They didn't say anything about it. I don't see why it would be ill-advised. Those gears need to be broken in all the same no?

I think that if the shop does a shitty job sealing up the front diff, simply not putting it in 4hi in the beginning isn't going to change the end result.

 

I was told that the front diff would get too hot and you could do more damage than good. *shrug* Like I said, conflicting info about this so take it with a grain of salt. Did you install Nitro Gears or some other brand? Nitro specifically recommended not to run 4wd on the highway also.

 

It was the nitro set. I've put the truck into 4hi on the highway before for short drives just to get the gears moving every now and then in the past, typically at these moderate speeds (50-65mph) and it's never been an issue.

 

Yeah other people have done the same with no issue too. Just offering another data point so you have all the info.

 

Thanks, I definitely appreciate everyone's input on this matter.

 

Diff was smoking and not surrounding stuff from gear oil, backlash is too tight, or none at all.

 

This doesn’t make sense. Why? Because at some point you’re going to run 4hi or 4lo and if you haven’t taken the time to break them in then you are going to run into problems.

This is why you run your standard heat cycles in the front diff the same as the rear and ensure they are properly broken in.

Your shop almost implies to never run it in 4WD which is asinine.

 

I would assume they imply not to run 4wd on dry pavement.

 

Dont make turns on dry pavement. Long sweeping turns is ok. Rights or left's is borderline. Parking lots are no no.

 

this exactly. I broke my front gears in on dry pavement. Every time I came to a parking lot, or an intersection where I was going to turn I switched back to 2wd then back to 4wd as soon as I was straight again. Use your head and it’s not too hard and your gears break in so they’re ready when you need them.

 

Yea, I definitely disengage 4wd when taking turns.

 

Update: Got the truck towed to the shop today, they took a look at it and apparently the pinion seal had failed, so they replaced it with a stock Toyota one and thoroughly tested the front diff out on a lift, and on the road, and handed it back to me at no cost. No problems yet.

 

No need to break in front gears! Use 4wd when you need it and keep track of ur miles. When you need it ground is loose much gentler way to break them in, if you are crawling over rock and it's not loose its low speed still better than breaking in on dry pavement. There will be shavings that need to be cleared definitely drain and refill at 500 miles. If you are leaking gear oil it has nothing to do with your gears it's bad seal work or seal. If you buy a brand new 4wd and put it in 4hi and drive around on dry pavement ur doing it wrong. why would you want to do it on brand new gears? Especially considering there are more splines and higher spin rate.