4.88 gears or 5.29 gears?

im on 4.88 and 265 75 16. not heavy and im happy with the gears. Its all a tradeoff.

 

Ah, thank you. Did not know that

 

The 4.88 and 5.29 debate rages on. Do a search for both mega threads (I.e the 5.29 mega thread) and read on both. At the end of the day the difference is 7%. More people regret getting 4.88 than 5.29 so assess your needs.

At the end of the day difference between stock and these two is 20% or 27%.

 

I have 5.29 on 33s. Just got them actually and I’m currently on a road trip that took me from Orange County, Ca to Peyette County, Idaho. I also got a tune done but my mpgs are around 18.5 and I have all the power I’ve been dying for over the years.

 

I did 5.29’s with speedo recal. Amazing. 2.5” up and 33’s. Best mod period.

 

One more note…. Even more important than a ratio decision….. find a proper shop to do the work or go thru ECGS for the plug n play option where u install ready to go diffs and mail
Your stuff back (cores).

 

Whats the rate for a gear change?
Preferably the plug and play exchange route.
You adding a locker?

 

Slightly less than 1,500 per axle, Mine was closer to 1,200

 

4.88s were popular before 5.29 became readily available. There's literally no reason to put 4.88s in a Tacoma in 2023. It's just legacy.

 

I’m with you. Only 7% difference. 5.29’s are the ticket.

I remember on my 04 Taco….calling Yukon and doing the math and they recommended 5.29’s then for my setup.. I thought for sure 4.88’s…. I bought the 529’s and they were amazing.

I ran 5.29’s on my 31” tires on my 23 taco for a bit….. still awesome.

 

I'm on 33s and a bit of a front lift and won't be doing a gear change until I do a second xcase and locker in the front. If I were you, I'd just do the lift and larger tires and leave it at that. You have stated you don't anticipate much off road. If those plans change, and they are always subject to personal whim, then DO 5.29s. My vehicle as it sits has for me plenty of power for on road use.

 

It’s more about drivability and actually using 5th and 6th gear. All my taco did was down shift downshift downshift. So annoying. I live at sea level and not many inclines but when there is it just downshifts. The taco lives in 4th gear….To get it to go in 6th gear I had to do 85 downhill - regearing makes the drivability a million times better. It rides so smooth as a daily and off-road - once you regear it’s amazing. Drives like it should.

 

@Halloween
We've had differing experiences with our trucks. I did have the down and up shifting for a while, but that is gone (or I have gotten used to it)< live in the hills, very much not flat. 5th and 6th gears on the AT are overdrive gears and are only there to get Toyota the gas milage specs the government demands from their overall production, perhaps we should not expect to use those gears at all times. I am wholeheartedly behind 5.29 versus 4.88, but the OP has made no mention of any performance issue, just a desire. The OP is ~21 years old with a new to him truck, young; @claytaco1 do not take offense at this. I remember the days of tight money and not being able to have what I thought I wanted. Many people read here and elsewhere what to do with their trucks and get a bunch of misinformation and biased opinions and adopt it as the truth. My advice is to get the tires (watch out for rubbing), do an alignment, definitely do an alignment, I can't stress this enough, do it again until you understand the implications and geometry, possibly using the lower control arm to shift the front wheels forward and drive it to see what you think. A lift is not necessary for the 33s" unless he goes too wide. I run 255/85R16 with no rubbing, lower control arm shifted forward and what I am now told was not necessary - SPC upper control arms, but they give me flexibility in the future for whatever I decide to do with the truck.

OP, overall expect to make mistakes, have some successes and some you have no clue whether they were needed at all.

 

When I do gears it will be 5.29s.

 

That's just labor, correct?

One of the better shops close to me wants $4500 total, for parts and labor both.

 

IMO I’m running 4.88’s with a tune on pizza cutters. Not to heavy I’m totally happy. Whatever you pick be happy with it.

 

parts and labor for my price above i paid about 2700 total

 

Thanks! I was thinking this should be closer to around $3k parts/labor.

 

i also got a range of prices on the phone. Worst was a Toyota only shop (more maintenance) quoted 4k + and a week with the truck Down to 2700 and 2 days. shop around, Off road shops were more reasonable

 

I paid like $1600 parts and labor.