Re-gearing: To lock or not to lock...

Looking to get some advice from TW members who have had experience with re-gearing both front and rear diffs. I am currently converting my '99 2.7L Pre-runner to 4x4/5sp. and am needing to regear the front diff (3.58) to match my 4.30's in the rear. What options do I have in terms of gearing for my driving? I put most of my miles in on the interstate but I do live in the city part of the year and spend the other part of the year out in Moab/High Sierra type locations where sand and snow driving conditions are more prevalent. I would like to have a LSD set-up for the rear but I don't know if it would be worth the extra cash ($800) plus still having to buy new gears for the front. I like the 4.30's a lot for my set up and I get great mileage (~23MPG) combined, but would love some insight. Would swapping to 4.10's make a difference? Is there a cheaper, yet reliable option for a 4.30 locking rear? Anyone have some extra parts they'd like to part with?

 

What size tire will you be ultimately running?

 

do not run staggered gears of a split more than .02 or .03
for example: 4.88s up front (toyota diff), 4.86's out back (ford nine)

in terms of a locker out back get one, up front i would recommend an air locker and only lock the front when you need to get unstuck otherwise those diffs are known to break

 

I'm not staggering at all, just looking if 4.10's or 4.30's would be better for my set-up. I'm running a set of Destination A/T's (31x10.5 on stock 15's) and would not be going any larger than that in the future. I could justify the locker if I could find a good used one for under $700 but the air locker requires on-board air which an additional expense. Might as well just buy a winch.

 

Winch first, lockers second. Lockers help you not get stuck, a winch helps when you do. Lockers also make it so you get stuck a lot further into nomans land than you would with open diffs. Having tools to get out is important.

 

If you're already tearing into the diffs, you might as well do a locker, you're already there. No reason to pay for the labor twice. From what you describe for tire size etc, I highly doubt a front locker is necessary for you. Seems to me that a rear locker would get you through just about anything you throw at it.

If you're only running 31" tires 4.10s would be the right gearing, but 4.30s would give you a bit more zip around town but slightly higher revs on the highway. They will also make crawling on the trail a bit easier since you have a manual trans. I would go for the 4.30s if it were me and put an ARB air locker in the rear end at the same time. If you can't do the expense of the air locker, I've had good luck with a Lockright in the past. That's a cheap option to get solid traction.

I don't agree with the idea of a winch before a locker. Especially if you use the "buddy rule" and don't go wheeling on your own. If someone in your group has a winch, you can get out.and often just a tug from a tow strap will be enough, just need another truck for that.

 

I would lock the bitch like box rocket said ^

 

That's how I roll. For me a buddy on solid ground is all that's needed. I couldn't justify a winch because I would rarely (if ever) use it and the extra weight wouldn't be welcome on my already underpowered 2.7

 

Unless I'm reading this wrong - you have no reason to break open the rear diff right now - only the front to set it to 4.30 gears.

So you can wait till later and install rear diff locker if you decide you need it. There's no financial efficiency in doing it now.

 

+1 for locker. You dont know when youll need it. But when you do youll be glad it was there.....with a push of a button.

 

lock it. they come in handy. been with a couple of people that would have been stuck without the locker

 

I'd rather be stuck less often with a locker than constantly winching myself out of jam.

And if your anything like me a winch would just tempt you to do more things on your own.....which is a no no.

 

Yeah, I'm just looking to re-gear the front for now. I like the 4.30's for a mix of off-road and on-road so I'll keep the rear stock and add a locker later when funds allow. I've never opened up a diff. before but is it pretty straight forward to install the new gears in the front or would it be worth saving my time to just drop the front diff off at a shop in town? I don't mind tearing into it but if it is going to take me a whole day my first go around it would be worth paying a shop $100 to put it in in a few hours while I work my day job.

 

If you've never set up gears before I HIGHLY recommend paying a pro to do it. Ideally you get look over his shoulder and get some instruction on how to do it right so you can attempt it at some point. You can open up a whole can of worms if you don't get the gears set up correctly.

 

In a perfect world there is always someone to help you out. and they are always in a position (straight line) to do so. And they are also always equipped at least as well as you to keep up anyways so your. Uddy isnt 10 miles behind you. In the real world thats not always true.

Im usually locked with a winch, had to winch myself 2-3times, strapped others several times, and winched others quite a few times more. Angled pulls where a strap wont work, playing anchor at the top of a route, or the stuck vehicle is above you and a backwards pull would be bad, or they are stuck behind you and a strap would have you driving off a cliff/into a tree, pulling a vehicle back onto the road, back onto its wheels, other fun stuff that a strap pull is impossible. 1 properly equipped vehicle can get a dozen unequipped (slowly) through a trail. Its not all about just getting yourself out of a ditch. The more tools you have at your disposal, the more you can do. Everyone should have a strap, its just not always the right tool for the job.

Or if your hunting with a buddy, odds are youre in the same vehicle anyways.

Youll get stuck on simple stuff less often with a locker compared to opem, but youll be stuck further up the trail and usually worse with lockers. Once youre stuck, for any reason, having recovery gear is important. The right recovery gear can be used from street tires awd to a full on buggy on 50's. Youre better off being able to get yourself unstuck today and work tomorow on getting stuck further up the trail. A locker isnt a recovery tool, a winch shouldnt be your primary get up the trail tool. Different purposes.

If all you will ever drive on maxes out as essentially bumpy dirt roads, dont get either. Youre better off keeping the gas money.