The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

which group buy?

 

It's been about half a year since I swapped to 5.29s on my automatic, and I have zero regrets going with them. With 33s, RPMs in 6th are still completely reasonable, like 2100-2200 at 70 mph. Absolutely worth it.

 

Also, thank you all in this thread for all of your detailed experience. It helped a lot back when I was debating between these and 4.88s.

 

Anyone in the PA/NJ area that can install 5.29s in my Tacoma?

 

What’s the difference between cryo and REM polish? Is either good enough?
Looking at ordering gears from Revolution who says they also offer option of REM polish

 

Cryo increases wear resistance.

REM polish reduces/eliminates the break in period.

 

are people doing both?^

I wonder why Revolution only offers REM
And if the order you do it in matters

and if it’s cheaper to skip that, just get the gears, then find a place that offers to do both at the same time and ship to them. Seems like many do.

 

Quick update on the 5.29 with 37s. Not a huge difference in street or highway from 35s to 37s driving wise. A bit slower feeling and a bit more floaty, but nothing crazy. Taking off from red lights she keeps up with traffic and shifts under 3000 rpms unless I'm getting after it. Highway cruising at 75 to 80ish is in the 2000-2300 rpms. No complaints so far, not my daily but she gets driven almost every day. This pic is flat highway cruising maintaining speed, foot just on the gas. Speedo is a little off, it's closer to 78-79. This is 5.29, 37s with the OTT tune. I'm sure all of this will change in the mountains.

 

As stated, cryo adds some strength and REM eliminates the break in. Personally, I find neither of them necessary or really that big a deal. The gear strength is fine - as for REM, I opted to go without that and I have no additional whine vs stock and there was nothing about my break-in period that made me wish I opted for it. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea at all, I just didn’t find it necessary. If you have a gear setter doing the work and they want you to do either, then listening to them is probably a good idea so they are more comfortable doing the install for you.

I made my decision based off the Jeep world, I used Revolution gears and that’s what I used in my Jeep and many other Jeepers have used since 2013 or so with no problems whatsoever. Very few jeepers opt for REM and I can’t even recall the last time someone did cryo on a Jeep based on forum posts. REM wasn’t even available from Revolution until somewhere around 2018. Up to you.

 

^^ True.

I followed the guidance of my gear guy (well respected) and opted for both REM and Cryo. It was an additional ~$380, and I personally felt it was worth it, one based on the recommendations, and two based on the intensity of swapping gears overall (time-consuming removal, truck is not functional without gears, etc.).

I am ~10 months on 5.29's with skinny 33's, a lot of weight and drag, and a ton of mountain driving (significant elevation changes ~12,000 ft of climbing average per weekly trip, even at 10% grade too, which was surprising) and I am still so happy to have done this modification. I continue to sing its praises from the rooftops.

I actually use S6 sometimes now, and the dynamic cruise control has once again become practical to use (not in every case, but ~50% of driving). The truck climbs well in S4, and S3 is reserved for passing semi's on inclines, if the road is clear.

If you are on the fence, get these done.

 

Another Data Point. I also opted not to do cryo treatment or REM polishing and don't regret the decision.

5.29s with 35x10.5R17s.

 

REM also reduces heat in the differentials and make the drivetrain smoother with less parasitic loss.
Our gear guy, Zuk, also brought up the point that when you are breaking in gears, all of that material is getting circulated around the bearings so there is a potential for longer bearing life as well.
Factory gears are shot peened to remove the high spots in the machining, so that’s another option if you want zero break-in.
From my experience, so far, REM has been well worth it. My drivetrain is crazy quiet and I attribute that to REM and Amsoil Gear Oil and ATF. Only thing I can hear is my tires.

 

REM Polish is easy, throw them in a giant agitator and let them sit.

Cryo is a chemical process that needs a specialized freezer to drop -300 degrees. The equipment is expensive and the process is often misunderstood.

Cryo increased strength by about 10%, similar to a chromoly, though thats a generalization

 

Has anyone had any bad experiences with REM polish?

I had a cryo processor actually recommend against REM, saying that the gears come out too smooth, causing the oil to tear and force out between the teeth, thus causing more heat.

He recommended cryo and WPC micro dimpling instead of REM. He also said that if I did go with REM, that I should go with WPC additionally to hold the oil in between the teeth and reduce heat.

I intend to do cryo for sure, but am weighing the options of REM or WPC or both. Obviously if something doesn't have a positive affect or is potentially harmful I'd rather not pay/wait for it.

Installing 5.29 running 35s

Thoughts?

 

Dumbest thing I've heard.

Smoother = less friction. Less friction = less heat

 

Yes, I agree. But wanted to get this communities opinion and do my due diligence before kicking down the extra money.

How have your gears held up over the last few years?

 

REM/ISF can be taken to far… yes, too schmooove. Done properly it’s good stuff. Tons of articles and papers to read through concerning how rough surfaces should be along with the processes that exist to get them there. REM followed by WPC (which is a form of shot peening) could be the hot ticket, but I’d like to see some data on it.

 

Good read…
https://www.cryosciencetechnologies.com/documents/GearTechPartNov_Dec2003.pdf

 

Thanks so much Jowett this is very helpful!

 

Hey, I got my tundra done at Main Line Overland in West Chester, PA -- took a few days as they do a few heat cycles themselves before giving the truck back. I went with Nitro 5.29's no rem polished. They did price match the cheapest Nitro kit i found online. No complaints other than the time. I was supposed to have it back on a friday before 4th of july weekend in 2022. They had to keep it all week, the weekend, (closed monday july 4th) got it back that wednesday. only left me a week for a 500 mile weekend before a trip to lake george. no weird noises nor anything over a year later. was expensive -- a lot more than i see group buys for on here and tundras.com