4.88’s and 32’s - honest opinions from a shitposter

Definitely interested to hear your thoughts afterwards as I have a manual also and on the same tire size. I want to do the same swap. Should be quite zippy afterwards.

 

Excellent write up. Regearing is a big expense and one that should be considered carefully... I currently have no plans to regear but have regeared previous vehicles for various reasons and enjoyed the results... (Mustangs from 2.73's to 3.55 or 3.73's.. well worth it IMHO) My Explorer, regeared the transmission for more gear spread and stock top end...Definitely expensive but it was well worth it.

I just want to add... there is a way to make the regearing less permanent but at some added cost. That is getting a new or used third assembly and a front clam shell.. have these regeared and shelf your originals for future upgrades or downgrades. They are also reasonably swapped out vs. a regear.

Thanks for the write up

 

About $2500 canuckistanian pesos after taxes or $1920 USD. Got it done just in time, prior to inflation and supply chain insanity.

 

Was it over on the island? Or did you cross over to the mainland to get it done?

 

excellent write up.
$2500 out the door-seems like a fair price for quality work.
from my observations (Nitro shop procedures on youtube )the regear and set up is specialized and requires precision to mesh properly.
i cant help but think i would go 5.29 if i were to regear with my MT. its not my daily driver but more dedicated to the bush and its already geared lower than AT.
seems like it would give the best bang for $$$.
now getting to the off road is a different matter. Local stuff no big deal.
but long drive from BC to moab or baja or death valley with 5.29?
that part i’m not so sure about.

i would love to test drive the gear options with identical to my wheel/ tire set up.
my truck is still new, on 16” stock rims and not bogged down with bolt-on stuff.
im in no hurry to do this yet.
other stuff to spend money on first.

the tall reverse gear issue can be dealt with by 2wd lo harness

 

I am running 33's 285/75/16 and MT and have a bumper and lift and hardly ever use my 6th gear. I also noticed when I moved to the larger tires, off roading required more application of throttle than it did before when on 31s. I think 4.88s would be a really welcomed upgrade. Thanks for the write up.

 

If you have bone stock tires still, then it would be 2995 rpm at 70 on 5.29s. The new 6th would be very similar to driving in 5th currently. It will probably get slightly less fuel mileage than stock but it won’t be that drastic. Noise isn’t horrible at 3000 rpm either. You could throw on the inch larger tires to bring it down to around 2900 at 70 if desired.

first gear would be pretty short though, but that’s not really a big deal. It just helps you get ready for 2nd even better than before since you don’t have to try to wind it out, you just wind it out.

with 4.88’s and bone stock tires you’d be around 2750 at 70. Stock is around 2500 at 70.

 

Good stuff!

 

For the newer MT guys, the RC60F Hilux transmission solves many issues. It's not cheap, but if you are into your truck for the long run, and have the budget... https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hilux-rc60f-transmission-swap.629019/

 

I have E-rated 33's/lift/winch+bumper/camper shell so, I have some weight going on (and I'm not skinny). I also have the KDPro tune and it helps tremendously...but it's only "good enough." I would love more power. I would love more ground clearance, too.

Real tempted to go with 4.88's and be done with it. I think the driveability would be greatly improved. My dilemma is that the cost of re-gear is kind of a commitment; and for the same cost & trouble, I can have 5.29's installed and go to 35's since gearing is half the battle there. But, the other half of installing 35's is no joke and I'm not sure if it's worth it.

Again, OP and the rest of you have made a nice discussion here, I ultimately just need to decide if I want go all in for 35's or not before my 33's are due to for replacement.

 

Also curious about this??

 

OP? Anyone?
I didn't see any mention of this and so now my ignorance is showing...

Does a gear change 4.56, 4.88 or 5.29 have any bearing on OEM E-locker?
Also, (I have a '20 Off-Road with AT) is the OEM diff a limited slip? And if so, is that retained?

 

E-locker is retained. Can't be a locker and a mechanical limited slip at the same time.

 

Gears are available from Nitro and Yukon in 4.3, 4.56, 4.88, and 5.29 ratios for the 8” diff (auto with no locker) and 4.88 and 5.29 for the 8.75” diff (manual or locker).

https://www.nitro-gear.com/Toyota-Tacoma-Nitro-Gear-Packages-s/308.htm

https://www.yukongear.com/

There are no factory mechanical limited slip differentials on 3rd gens.

 

Only the ring and pinion is changed, so the E-locker remains.

 

Thanks! I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't have a locker and limited slip but again, ignorant. In any event I'm glad I can keep the locker. It's a nice tool to have for sure.

Edit: BTW, it was interesting to see on the Nitro page that for 33' w/AT the 4.88's and 5.29's were "most popular."

 

For the 8 3/4” diff in the OR (with locker), 4.88 and 5.29 are the only readily available options. I don’t know why they down offer 4.56. I think it would be a popular option.

 

So would you say that 33's would be the sweet spot for 4.88s?

 

I’m not him, but on a manual that’ll be very similar to stock. If your setup is not too heavy, probably would be good. For extra weight, performance and 33’s+, probably best to do 5.29.

If you haven’t already, go to grimmjeeer or a similar gear calculator and plug in the info and use a 32” tire measurement. Will give a good idea of rpm’s to expect with various setups. Stock is about 2400 at 70, 4.88/33 is around the same, 33/5.29 would be about 2700 on the manual.

 

I can’t say this definitively, because I haven’t run 33’s yet, but if I was advising a friend with a similar build to mine, who planned on 33’s I would advise 4.88s not 5.29. My truck on 32’s and 4.88s is a little over-geared. I think it will be perfect if/when I go to 33’s. I would never do 5.29s unless I was running 35’s or only used my truck off-road and nothing else.