Gears!

Hello! I have a 2005 standard 2.7 base taco with 32 11x15s on! And steel bumpers! Needless to say, she's a thick gal. I couldn't seem to find the exact info I was looking for, so here's my querstion!

I drive about 2-3k miles a month, most of it is highway driving, and am looking to do a rear regear.

From what i (barely) understand,
4.88s = more power, but higher rpms at the high end, worse fuel economy?

4.56s = less power, but lower rpms at high end, better fuel economy?

If this incorrect please let me know! And I know it's probably not as simple as I just put it!


Hope to hear from yall soon!

 

Plug some numbers into this calculator and it will help you understand what is going on.
https://www.tremec.com/calculadora.php

As the ratio increases (from 3.91 to 4.56 for example), your engine rpm will be higher for the same road speed.

Gearing is leverage, most of us have put a piece of pipe on a wrench to loosen something -- this makes you (the engine) have more leverage over the bolt (the work) but you must move the pipe farther to turn the bolt.

Changing the gearing in the truck works the same way, the engine will have a longer lever to move the truck.

Nothing is free however -- yes, you will be able to accelerate from a stop quicker and climb at a low speed easier. The penalty is higher engine rpm at all road conditions = more noise and more wear.

 

In theory you are correct. But in reality, you're not going to see dramatic differences between either of those vs stock. Especially if you're concerned about fuel mileage. The 4.56 gears will get you back to about the same power levels you had with stock tires. The 4.88's will give you a bit more power than stock.

Fuel mileage probably won't change enough to measure.

 

Nice looking truck. When you put those 33’s on and the heavy bumpers you gave up your fuel economy. You can regear and obtain a little more low end power to the wheels but it won’t really improve mpg. Are you a serious off roader or are the mods mostly for “cool” looks? Your truck looks really clean, so doesn’t appear you are heavy duty off-roader .If off-roader I’d consider regearing, if not stick with what you got.
Just realized it’s a 2WD so obviously not a off roader. Stick with what you have.

 

The mods kind of necessitated eachother haha. I hit a dear, so I put on steel bumpers, (east tx is ravaged with deer/hog/etc) but I lost a lot of clearancen so i put a 3" level/lift on it, but then the truck looked anemic with the stock wheels and tires, so I put on the big bois. Now I'm here lol

 

Doesn't the base model 2.7L Tacoma have 4.10 factory gears? If so, the 4.56 won't make much of a difference. I would go to the 4.88 if you're looking for a lil more oomph in your current set up.

 

Manual or automatic? And as @SUMOTNK said you should have 410s from the factory. Confirm that and if so I’d go 488s. You gain roughly 18 percent rpm gain. Ie: 2000 at 55 you’ll be at about 2360 for example.

 

It's a manual!

 

If I never recalibrated my spedometer for the new wheels, will the rpm gauge be off too?

 

Not worth the costs of regearing in your case. The issue here is having a weak 4cyl that's weighted down running 32's. Your 4.10 gear ratio are great for 33's but with a 6cyl so unless you plan on going back to stock, you will be likely disappointed in the costs and end result of a regear. Just enjoy and live with what you have.

 

Driving 3k a month in that must be eating your wallet alive with gas costs!

 

A gear ratio change is a fine tune deal with no major change. Switching from a 4.10 to 4.56 will only be noticeable when staring at the tachometer.

 

5spd or 6spd. Don’t recall what they came with.

 

5

 

It sounds like you're after better fuel economy. Can you get a different, lighter, bumper that's suitable for your situation? Larger/heavier tires + steel bumpers are causing the drop in mpg's. Can you run lighter tires and wheels?

I've always wanted metal bumpers, but since my Tacoma is my daily, mpg's is not something I'm willing to trade for it. We do also have issues with sheep, goats, and pigs getting hit here, but most of their movements are predictable.

I think gears will help get you your power back, but not necessarily your mpgs.

 

Id run 488s.