The 4.88 mega thread!!

Did you use Six States for your install?
Did you consider a locker?

 

Yes I used Six States. Nah, no locker for me since I’m more of a camper than a rock crawler.

 

Does anyone know where to send gears to have them "REM" coated?

 

Sub’d thanks for the info for Tacoma noobs like me.

 

Google showed me this:

https://innovatorswest.com/REM-gear-polishing.html

Edit: Or get them Pre-remmed if you buy them here. There is a little checkbox for the option.

http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/2016tacoma875488rationitrofrontandreargearpackagekit.aspx

 

Did you buy gears and sending them off?

 

Anyone have hookup on 4.88’s for 2017 with 3k miles on it. may be in the market. Where is everyone ourchasing theirs from.

 

Yes I Purchased gears. Debating if I should send them off to get coated or not.
Side question: I know after gear install you aren't supposed to keep a constant speed for the first ~500 miles to break in(non REM coated). The place installed y gears is ~50 miles away. Does anyone think that's a problem cruising home in the highway at a constant speed???

 

I’ve been told (Non REM Coated) For break-in: drive only 15 miles at a time for the first 100 miles. Let diffs cool in between these 15 mile segments. Vary your speed but don’t go crazy. No towing or off-roading during this period. After the first 100 miles, no towing or heavy stress on your truck for the next 400 miles or so. Finally, change your diff oil at 500 miles. Some do it at 1,000 miles. Then you’re all good.

As for the constant speed, vary your speed like city then some highway driving. Eg don’t drive on the hwy for 15 miles at 55. That will burn your gears up. Just drive it all around and not more than highway speeds for the first 100 miles.

This is the route I will be taking myself.

 

Than after the 500 its all good? If thats the case why is factory gears not like that? I didnt do any of thatoff the lot with only 3 miles on my truck

 

Why is the Diff break in period "NOT" specified for new trucks? Anyone? Not sure why, when putting in Nitro 4.88 gearing, we are told to follow the break in period. But when getting a new truck, presumably with new Diffs, that's not pointed out. I don't think OEM diffs are REM polished... Maybe they are? I don't know, which is why I bring it up.

Once I get my gears put in, hopefully next week, I've got an hour drive on the freeway to get home. If I follow the break in procedure, stopping every 15 miles to let everything cool down/heat cycle, etc. ... the trip will then take me ALL day. Hmmm.

 

who really makes the OEM gears in our trucks, and why don't they have to follow the same break-in process the after market manufactures are recommending? All good questions and still not fully answered. Those in my TW community with 4.88's simply drove varying speed and distance for the first 500 miles with no towing or heavy foot acceleration. After that they drove normal and used short interval towing (those who tow) until 1000 + miles (some drove 1500 + miles) - then they changed the differential fluids (checking to see what metals if any came out). None have had a ring or pinion gear failure. Follow your own instinct, judgement and founded information. None of us going down this path have a guarantee of 100% sucess regardless of pre-break-in processes (REM or Cryo). I have decided not to go the REM or Cryo process, but to follow the break-in process described above.

 

Anyone know of any good installers in the Seattle area? I was going to look into MULE Outfitters but this would my first experience with them. Sink or swim type scenario.

 

MULE is AWESOME.... I have had them do work on my truck and I ABOLUTELY trust them. I am going to be taking them up on their December offer. 20% off when you get gears and at least 1 locker. I was ligned up to get the gears installed last month for around 2200 OTD, with this months deal its around 2600 OTD including a front ARB locker. Call them up and talk to Jon... tell them Joel sent you!


Rocco-Taco = El Jeff?

 

Here is a link for information on REM: REM's ISF Process
http://www.remchem.com/services/isf-process/

 

Nitro 4.88 getting installed in my '17 TRD OR SBDC today! Pick her up tomorrow and can NOT wait. The 35's are what every truck needs and with the Nitto Ridge Grapplers, looks perfect to me. BUT she hasn't been in 6th gear in 2mths. lol 4th gear on the freeway, 5th is overdrive... downhill. Moving from the stock 3.91 to 4.88 should help - a LOT.

 

Looking forward to hearing the outcome. Same tires on my rig. Similar gearing observations too

 

1 day delay at the shop, picking up today. Will post an update. I don't have RPM details before/after, so no A/B testing here but I think others have posted that prior. Happy to share personal insight and impressions, just to set expectations.

 

Any update?

 

So I recently upgraded my '17 TRD OffRoad from stock 265/75 16's to 35's. About a month later, I had the truck regeared to 4.88's. After the suspension and tire upgrades, I did not have any ABS/DSC lights come on, but obviously the truck was driving like a pooch. After having the truck regeared, now the ABS/DSC lights are on, but the truck drives a bit better.

I purchased the Hypertech Inline Speedo Calibration, programmed it using the blue link. I see that the tires sizing can be entered using either the 265/75 r 16 -OR- by using inches. Yes I should measure it exactly for accuracy - but anyway, just entered the old tire size as calculated to inches (31") and then 35" for my new tires. I also entered the 3.91 and 4.88 gear values (I have the A/T). Clicked program, and it said "PROGRAMMED SUCCESSFUL" in big bold letters. Cool!

Did the install, super easy, FWIW. While the Hypertech dongle is labelled to say which end goes where, their circuit board was less than clear on which end goes where. "P1" and "P2" were all I could see on the two female plug in ports. I flipped a coin, finished the install and went for a drive. The ABS/DSC lights are still on and the speedo was not corrected, at all. Thinking my coin flip was wrong, I swapped them. No Luck - no Changes. Thinking maybe the dongle was then mislabeled (per an earlier post) I swapped them, and same ports on the Hypertech unit. No luck. Then finally, swapped ports again, with the dongle also in the swapped position. No Luck. Ugh.

I Called Hypertech Support, explained it ALL. They said is probably a defective unit, so I sent it back - now waiting on a replacement. The tech guy said to reprogram it again and that should fix it. Ok - I mean the chances of the unit being bad are pretty slim, but who knows.

Questions: 1) Anyone else have this problem of a non-functioning Unit from Hypertech? 2) Specifically asking those that did BOTH Tires AND re-gear, did you also get the ABS/DSC lights come on (before installing a Hypertech), only to then have it FIXED with a good Hypertech install? 3) How do you figure out which end of their dongle fits into which port on their board?

Some of this is a bit offtopic, but as far as the 4.88's go, very nice. I would add that I'm now unable to switch into 4WD. Ugh. Get an error that says "2WD-4WD Mode Change Failure". Not sure if that's due to a "Limp Mode" as a result of the changes, if something is wrong in the Transfer Case or what. If transfer case, did the shop have to do anything there on the re-gear?