4.88 or 5.29

Anybody have experience with both gear sets?
I have a v6 manual on heavy 33s. I want the 5.29 for the crawl speeds. 4.88s seem like a good option however i have no experience with either.

My concerns are 5.29 may be weaker, and 4.88 may be a little too fast. I wanted to throw in a lunchbox locker, however i am worried about the 5.29s due to the smaller teeth.

 

Interested to see where this goes. I have 33s with a 2.7 and its rough. I'm also looking to do a lunchbox and a re gear.

 

How heavy is your rig?

I know of a few folks on here that have run 5.29s and used them hard. Never heard of any issues of them being weak.

I only have experience with 4.88s with my auto. I wish now I had gone with 5.29s.

 

If you’re going to move to bigger tires definitely 5.29. If you’re staying with 33” then 4.88.

The 2.7 with 5.29s and 33” tires is fantastic, unless you like driving 80mph. Check my build for more info.

 

This may not be exactly what you're looking for but thought I'd provide input anyways.

My buddy has a 3rd gen 4runner and he runs 5.29s with a lunchbox locker and 33s and is very happy with it. No issues with the locker and 5.29s.

I know 3rd gen 4runners and 1st gen tacomas are very similar in many aspects which is why I thought I'd chime in.

 

For your concern over 5 29 gears being weaker , look for a Ring and Pinion gear set that the metal has been hardened so they won't prematurely wear out . Also you can have them Chyrogentically treated to increase wear resistance

 

No armor or bumpers so as light as stock. But the thing feels heavy.

33s will be the biggest i go for a few years. 35s and SAS is the goal end goal, rig is kind of a project crawler.

Thats exactly what I'm wondering. How does his locker behave? Seen jeep videos with all sorts of clacking and banging.

 

No different than any other lunchbox. I have one in my truck as well. It will certainly clack and bang but it's just a normal characteristic. It can be entertaining watching peoples faces in parking lots because it sounds like your rear end just grenaded sometimes .

 

I've had many Jeeps with Lock Rite's or Detroit lockers , they're both noisy and are normal characteristics of a locker

 

I love em though. Inexpensive, effective, reliable. Less to go wrong vs a selectable locker.

 

Try pulling into a parking lot with a spool in the axle !!!!

 

I imagine it's something like "chirpchirpchirpchirpchirp" as you make a turn.

 

You said its a project so just go to the 529. That ways you're not buying new gears in few years when the 35s and SAS begin. Im imagine you dont need it to do 80mph.

488 3rd members I see all the time used on offerup and Craigslist

 

The only downside of a Lock Rite is that you're using the stock carrier assembly and they can fail . Ive grenaded two Dana 44 carriers in the jeeps ive owned

 

I've been looking for complete 3rd members but can't find anymore on CL. I let one slide a few months back and now I regret it, it was only the rear but still. It's a semi project so I'm interested more in 5.29 with a clacking lunchbox.

100% agree with you. I was looking at a posi too but the price seems a bit high, may as well save and get an arb at that point.

 

Looks like there's quite a few rears in socal region, but none have factory Elocker.

 

Yea most are open.

ARBs are nice but pricey n an added expense having the compressor. But then its nice having on board air if you dont use a powertank

 

Is the top end speed that bad?

 

https://spicerparts.com/calculators/transmission-ratio-rpm-calculator its pretty bad.

 

I don't have experience being over geared, but being under geared sucks. With the 529 on 33s driving highway your RPMs will be around redline going about 55-60. Youd accelerate smooth but once you get to top speed you'll be reaching 6th gear on the 5 speed