The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Get a tune on that thing! You don't know what you're missing.

I'm tuned, and just went from 32's to 34's. Can barely tell a change in vehicle performance. If 5.29's even give me 10% back I'll be happy.

 

I have noticed a huge improvement around town. I ran 5.29's for close to two weeks before I could get a tune done and that was huge, then the KDMAX Pro tune paired with the gears just made it a brand new truck. The gears themselves definitely made the truck feel like it wasn't in agony just trying to keep the big tires turning. Its almost like now the truck can finally "get on plane" if that makes sense, and it feels spring loaded ready to take off.

 

Just got my 295/70r17s in. Gears and CMR will be done Monday. Flashing to the @PapaRee KDMax tune for 5.29s.

 

What gear oil are you running?

 

Now I’m more confused than ever lol. I’m running 33” and maybe just go with 4.88s

 

85-w140

 

I'm in for a total of $3,300. after core returns for 5.29 gears and ARBs front and rear. No complaints with ECGS, great customer service and warrantee. If you have help its a fairly easy process just dirty and time consuming. The rear diff could be done in a couple hours, front is a longer process. Give your self the weekend and have the slightly odd ball tools ready for the front.

Installs here --

Front -
https://youtu.be/TnRm7S-ha1k

Rear -
https://youtu.be/l7761dWsBtY

 

Me and you both lol. Worried I’ll get 5.29s with 33s and be like “well looks like I’m never driving on the freeway”

 

I'm not sure what your expectations are but I'm pulling about 2200RPM @ 70MPH. That seems more reasonable gearing than stock gears/tires to me since this brick in the wind needs a few extra RPM to push it at highway speeds. Before regearing, 6th gear was basically only useful going downhill.

 

Based off of my experience, if you consistently drive 75-85 mph than you may think that. In Colorado with the mtns and speed limits not really exceeding 65, I'm very happy with 5.29's on 33's.
I've found my mpg starts to tank around 73 mph. When I road trip and am at 75-85 it drives so smooth, but I'd imagine running about 150 rpms less would squeeze out another 1mpg maybe? But at the same time at those speeds with drag I can't confirm you'd actually stay in 5th and 6th gear as I don't know if it's enough rpm to keep the truck going. That is on flat, slight up hill or any bit of headwind. Downhill it would definitely stay in 6th and you'd get slightly better mpg at those speeds.

If you live in the mtns then I'd be worried 4.88 would still be stuck between wanting to be in 4th and 5th gear all the time going up hills. Not enough torque for 5th and much higher rpms in 4th due to the large gap from 5th and 6th being overdrive gears. Not to mention if your truck has a lot of weight on it.

 

I’ll take my 5.29s and 33.5’s at 2200 going 70 in 6th, occasional drop down to 5th… over a very slightly lower RPM at 70 but drops down to 4th.

 

Be nice if 5th wasn’t so close to 6th and was a little lower. I suspect when I regear the transmission is still going to hunt between 4th and 5th.

 

I’m just afraid that as soon as I get 4.88s my dumbass is gonna want 35s smh

 

I feel like 4.88 with 33s are the perfect gearing if I lived somewhere flatter, but 5.29 makes more sense since I live in cali.

 

That basically depends how firmly you keep your foot on the skinny pedal. I stay mostly in 6th above 60 but will drop down to 5th some. It only hits 4th when I floor it

 

5.29 with 35's is perfect.

 

About to pull the trigger on my next "go before show" mods. 5.29s and a Setrab Trans cooler. 2021 Sport Auto DCSB so no e-locker.

1. Do these part numbers look right to you savages?
2. Also - are there any other parts/upgrades I should consider while the pumpkin and clamshell are apart (aside from the gear oil of course)?

This is my first time upgrading gears so I'm not sure if there is a standard "If you upgrade gears, you need to automatically upgrade ________ (replace bearings, seals, etc)" Any feedback is appreciated, and no... lockers will not be going in. Not at this point. I'll have a beefed up suspension and larger meats before I consider lockers.

 

Lockers

And the ECGS bushing for the clam shell

 

If you really plan on adding lockers at some point it's going to be cheaper and easier to get them done/do them yourself at the same time you change out the gears since all the work to remove and disassemble the diffs will already be done.

 

X2 on this, if your gonna do it all. Now is the time to save yourself some money. While your spending lots of money.