Swapping gears - this is the way?

Have a 2018 TRD off road and I'm looking to go with the 5.29 gears.

I'm a pretty handy guy, have worked on my fair share of vehicles, but this is new to me so wanted to get some opinions.

Thinking of installing these pre-assembled and sending in my old ones.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-23993417-2016-tacoma-8-reverse-ifs-clamshell.html

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-23993418-2016-tacoma-auto-non-elocker-third.html

Appreciate any input from the experts as well as anyone that actually went this route to swap gears and how it worked out for you.

Muchos gracias.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-5-29-mega-thread.557305/

Good place to start, Happy Friday!

 

That auto non-elocker 8" rear third member ain't 'gon fit your OR rear axle.

 

I think if this is the only time you plan on ever swapping gears in a vehicle then just pay someone. I've swapped gears before in my old camaro, and I paid someone to swap gears in my taco. Totally worth it.

 

Been thinking about doing the same thing for the last year or so. I don’t remember seeing a how-to on swapping 3rd members. I’m sure it’s the same as the 2nd gen and admittedly I haven’t searched for one. I’m still undecided on ratio after going though much of the gear thread. That thread is a monster. It would be nice to have a separate write up how-to 3rd member swap.

I trust ECGS to put the 3rd member together as good or better than local mechanics (not many options without driving a couple hours).

Still fairly involved as drive shafts dropped, fluid needs to be drained, rear brakes need to come apart, axles pulled out a bit, in the front I think you can just release the upper or lower ball joint, pull the axles and remove the 3rd member.

 

Checkout “the Lair” on TW. A lot of tomfoolery but some extreme DIY you may find related.

 

This'll get you through the front clamshell removal:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-arb-air-locker-diy-install-thread.692979/

The rear is cake. Don't pull brakes apart. At the worst you undo the brake line and have to bleed when done, however, that's not required most times.

 

Thanks for the links, I definitely think I can do this swap myself. Now I'm just trying to decide if a preassembled will be reliable enough or if I should just take it to a pro.