The 4.88 mega thread!!

Ez2typethis · Mar 23, 2020

n6vmo said: ↑

Did you do the REM process on the gears?
Did you break them in on the normally 4+ hour drive back to Santa Maria?
Click to expand...

No REM polishing. did a couple 20 min drives then cooled down. Then jammed back up to santa maria going about 60 the whole way.

n6vmo · Mar 23, 2020

Ez2typethis said: ↑

No REM polishing. did a couple 20 min drives then cooled down. Then jammed back up to santa maria going about 60 the whole way.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks.

n6vmo · Mar 26, 2020

So, we drive our new trucks off the lot. Not even a mention of break-in for anything, let alone the break-in routine for the rear/front diff gears.

What is the difference when installing another gear set? Did Toyota break-in the factory gear sets?

SpeySquatch · Mar 26, 2020

n6vmo said: ↑

So, we drive our new trucks off the lot. Not even a mention of break-in for anything, let alone the break-in routine for the rear/front diff gears.

What is the difference when installing another gear set? Did Toyota break-in the factory gear sets?
Click to expand...

Supposedly, they put it through a (stress) process where the gears are made, but they do not polish the gears

Dirk Diggler · Mar 26, 2020

Also if you'd look at the manual it has a version of a break in process

H3llRid3r · Mar 26, 2020

n6vmo said: ↑

So, we drive our new trucks off the lot. Not even a mention of break-in for anything, let alone the break-in routine for the rear/front diff gears.

What is the difference when installing another gear set? Did Toyota break-in the factory gear sets?
Click to expand...

Exactly!

imjohn · Mar 29, 2020

What website is everyone ordering the 4.88 gear from?

Rockefelluh · Mar 29, 2020

imjohn said: ↑

What website is everyone ordering the 4.88 gear from?
Click to expand...

Nitro gear is 19% off right now FYI.

JoeCOVA · Mar 29, 2020

Rockefelluh said: ↑

Nitro gear is 19% off right now FYI.
Click to expand...

Dang. Good deal

imjohn · Mar 29, 2020

Rockefelluh said: ↑

Nitro gear is 19% off right now FYI.
Click to expand...

The 4.88 and 5.29 are the same price on nitro gear. Would it be recommended that I just stay 4.88 with 33in tires and little to no armor?

Phich · Mar 30, 2020

imjohn said: ↑

The 4.88 and 5.29 are the same price on nitro gear. Would it be recommended that I just stay 4.88 with 33in tires and little to no armor?
Click to expand...

No weight-heavy mods and no bigger than 33" you're fine with the 4.88.

Boltripper · Mar 30, 2020

I just did 4.88 with 33" + OVTune and I'm very pleased.. Even the wife said that she loves how it drives and she has a 5.7L V8 in a 200 Series boat....
2100 rpm at 70 mph and it feels perfect....

John-

imjohn · Mar 31, 2020

Anyone know any good automotive shops in Arizona that can do the re-gear for an affordable price?

whatstcp · Mar 31, 2020

imjohn said: ↑

Anyone know any good automotive shops in Arizona that can do the re-gear for an affordable price?
Click to expand...

@ZUK is in Chandler and does really good work at a budget friendly price but you have to pull the diffs yourself

He sources everything, you just have to drop the diffs off

imjohn · Mar 31, 2020

whatstcp said: ↑

@ZUK is in Chandler and does really good work at a budget friendly price but you have to pull the diffs yourself

He sources everything, you just have to drop the diffs off
Click to expand...

Are there videos online on how to remove the diffs, I tried youtube but it doesn't exactly show on how to do it. I've been contacting ZUK and he's been great help.

Redyota559 · Apr 7, 2020

90yota said: ↑

Good write up. Couldn't explain it better. I'm on 35s though so my MPG numbers are quite less but otherwise solid post.
Click to expand...

JerryTaco[OP] initial post: ↑

Hey guys, making this thread primarily because of a lack of available information regarding 4.88 gears for the 3rd gens. Hopefully all the have done it can also chime in to share their experience/stories so that those who are looking to make this upgrade can get some good information from those of us who have done it.

I made the change back in April and wanted to gather as much data as possible in order to determine the true benefits. Part of that data collection meant running the truck in multiple configurations, i.e. with RTT, fully loaded with bikes, gear and RTT, no RTT, long road trips, low elevation, high elevation etc, you get the point..

Please note, fuel economy will vary based on your location, elevation, setup etc. But, my goal was to try and eliminate some of the guess work as this upgrade is most definitely a bit of a financial commitment.

Now, on to my setup; Truck as it stands today.... 2017 TRD OR 4x4, DCSB. I am running an Icon stage 6 lift in the front and Icon stage 2 RXT in the rear. Tires are E rated 285/75 R17 Toyo MT. I have sliders, aluminum skids and a winch as well as a host of lights. While I have tried to keep the weight of the add ons low, it is added weight nonetheless. When I put the Toy MT's on, I new that I had to get gears. just wasn't an option anymore. Truck hunted for gears, had horrible fuel economy and generally was a bit of a chore to drive. So, knowing that gears need to be setup properly, there was only one shop near me that I trusted enough to tackle the project, SDHQ Offroad. These guys are a premier shop with an unmatched commitment to quality, so they were the obvious choice for me.

In the early stages of doing my research, Serena at SDHQ mentioned that they have all of the gear sets that they install REM polished prior to installation. So, I dug a little deeper into the process. Find out more here; https://weddleindustries.com/services/house-rem-polishing-process-weddle-industries

In a nutshell, REM polishing strengthens the gear-sets while also effectively eliminating the standard break in procedure, which was a huge bonus for me considering I didn't necessarily have the time to work the the proper heat cycles, oil changes and the like. If you do gears, I would highly recommend having this done. As an added note, SDHQ has Nitro 4.88's in stock, already REM Polished and ready to ship for both the e-locker and non e-locker differentials.

Onto my observations; Overall, the truck is vastly improved, accelerates easily from a stop, keeps RPM's low and more importantly, doesn't hunt for gears anymore, like at all.. Cruising on the freeway at 80 mph, my RPM's hover just above 2k while the truck is parked in sixth gear. And when I stomp on the skinny pedal, the truck moves. Just has a lot more get up and go than it ever did in stock form.

Next up, MPG's. Here I am going to post multiple scenarios to give somewhat of a cross section as to what to expect.

I live in Scottsdale AZ. at an elevation under 2k feet and on average I see 18 to 19 mpg with mixed highway and around town driving. That's without the tent because I do not keep in on all of the time. With the tent on, driving around town I see about a half a mile per gallon drop.

I do travel to higher ground to go camping or mountain biking etc. Take for example Flagstaff, AZ. Sits a bit of 6k in elevation so it's a bit of a climb getting up there. With just bikes, I see about 17 mpg going up the hill and about 16 with tent, bikes and a few hundred pounds in camping gear.

Now onto even higher elevations. I took two road trips to Colorado this summer, Crested Butte, Ouray, Durango, Telluride, Aspen and Winter Park. Up there, I was seeing approximately 20 to 22 mpg which was awesome, and another indicator that I need to move to CO!! Ha ha.. That was just bikes, no tent.

Truck has no problem hitting 90 plus mph, even loaded down and again, revs stay low unless I am really on it trying to pass someone.

So highway driving is cool and all, but what about offroad..... Well, on my most recent trip I really got to put it to the test tackling Pearl Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen. Definitely not an easy trail and there are a few sections where 4lo and the locker got a workout. With the 4.88's in 4 low, wow, truck has torque and can easily get itself up and over rocks with very little driver input, similarly, on steep, long hillclimbs, the truck walks right up without having to put your foot to the floor. So from a trail perspective, gears really were a HUGE improvement in the trucks performance.

If you couldn't tell by now, I am more than happy with my decision to take the leap and go to 4.88's. I use my truck and use it often so I wanted it to be comfortable and enjoyable both around town and on long road trips and the gears definitely achieved that goal.

One thing is for certain, if you go this route, choose a shop that KNOW's WHAT THEY ARE DOING and does gears frequently, I cannot stress that enough. Further, if I were to do this again, I would again choose to go with the REM polishing for that added piece of mind. As I stated previously, if you want to eliminate the guesswork, you can order pre REM Polished 4.88's directly from SDHQ. They are on the shelf and ready to ship..

** Another thing to note is that you will need to recalibrate your speedometer. Mine was WAY off, so I quickly picked up the Hypertech In Line Speedo Recalibration devise and that solved the problem. Speedo is dead accurate now**

Now I guess we can open this up to discussion. Other that have gears, @JTS2014TACO @Lord Humongous please feel free to weigh in and share your experiences. I would have loved to have had an in depth opinion on gears when I made the jump, but that info just wasn't really out there. Hopefully this helps anyone that is on the fence. I cannot thank @SDHQ OFFROAD enough for their impeccable work, guidance and service through this whole thing. I am very picky with who I let work on my truck but I trust them 200% to do anything to it...
Click to expand...

JerryTaco[OP] initial post: ↑

Hey guys, making this thread primarily because of a lack of available information regarding 4.88 gears for the 3rd gens. Hopefully all the have done it can also chime in to share their experience/stories so that those who are looking to make this upgrade can get some good information from those of us who have done it.

I made the change back in April and wanted to gather as much data as possible in order to determine the true benefits. Part of that data collection meant running the truck in multiple configurations, i.e. with RTT, fully loaded with bikes, gear and RTT, no RTT, long road trips, low elevation, high elevation etc, you get the point..

Please note, fuel economy will vary based on your location, elevation, setup etc. But, my goal was to try and eliminate some of the guess work as this upgrade is most definitely a bit of a financial commitment.

Now, on to my setup; Truck as it stands today.... 2017 TRD OR 4x4, DCSB. I am running an Icon stage 6 lift in the front and Icon stage 2 RXT in the rear. Tires are E rated 285/75 R17 Toyo MT. I have sliders, aluminum skids and a winch as well as a host of lights. While I have tried to keep the weight of the add ons low, it is added weight nonetheless. When I put the Toy MT's on, I new that I had to get gears. just wasn't an option anymore. Truck hunted for gears, had horrible fuel economy and generally was a bit of a chore to drive. So, knowing that gears need to be setup properly, there was only one shop near me that I trusted enough to tackle the project, SDHQ Offroad. These guys are a premier shop with an unmatched commitment to quality, so they were the obvious choice for me.

In the early stages of doing my research, Serena at SDHQ mentioned that they have all of the gear sets that they install REM polished prior to installation. So, I dug a little deeper into the process. Find out more here; https://weddleindustries.com/services/house-rem-polishing-process-weddle-industries

In a nutshell, REM polishing strengthens the gear-sets while also effectively eliminating the standard break in procedure, which was a huge bonus for me considering I didn't necessarily have the time to work the the proper heat cycles, oil changes and the like. If you do gears, I would highly recommend having this done. As an added note, SDHQ has Nitro 4.88's in stock, already REM Polished and ready to ship for both the e-locker and non e-locker differentials.

Onto my observations; Overall, the truck is vastly improved, accelerates easily from a stop, keeps RPM's low and more importantly, doesn't hunt for gears anymore, like at all.. Cruising on the freeway at 80 mph, my RPM's hover just above 2k while the truck is parked in sixth gear. And when I stomp on the skinny pedal, the truck moves. Just has a lot more get up and go than it ever did in stock form.

Next up, MPG's. Here I am going to post multiple scenarios to give somewhat of a cross section as to what to expect.

I live in Scottsdale AZ. at an elevation under 2k feet and on average I see 18 to 19 mpg with mixed highway and around town driving. That's without the tent because I do not keep in on all of the time. With the tent on, driving around town I see about a half a mile per gallon drop.

I do travel to higher ground to go camping or mountain biking etc. Take for example Flagstaff, AZ. Sits a bit of 6k in elevation so it's a bit of a climb getting up there. With just bikes, I see about 17 mpg going up the hill and about 16 with tent, bikes and a few hundred pounds in camping gear.

Now onto even higher elevations. I took two road trips to Colorado this summer, Crested Butte, Ouray, Durango, Telluride, Aspen and Winter Park. Up there, I was seeing approximately 20 to 22 mpg which was awesome, and another indicator that I need to move to CO!! Ha ha.. That was just bikes, no tent.

Truck has no problem hitting 90 plus mph, even loaded down and again, revs stay low unless I am really on it trying to pass someone.

So highway driving is cool and all, but what about offroad..... Well, on my most recent trip I really got to put it to the test tackling Pearl Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen. Definitely not an easy trail and there are a few sections where 4lo and the locker got a workout. With the 4.88's in 4 low, wow, truck has torque and can easily get itself up and over rocks with very little driver input, similarly, on steep, long hillclimbs, the truck walks right up without having to put your foot to the floor. So from a trail perspective, gears really were a HUGE improvement in the trucks performance.

If you couldn't tell by now, I am more than happy with my decision to take the leap and go to 4.88's. I use my truck and use it often so I wanted it to be comfortable and enjoyable both around town and on long road trips and the gears definitely achieved that goal.

One thing is for certain, if you go this route, choose a shop that KNOW's WHAT THEY ARE DOING and does gears frequently, I cannot stress that enough. Further, if I were to do this again, I would again choose to go with the REM polishing for that added piece of mind. As I stated previously, if you want to eliminate the guesswork, you can order pre REM Polished 4.88's directly from SDHQ. They are on the shelf and ready to ship..

** Another thing to note is that you will need to recalibrate your speedometer. Mine was WAY off, so I quickly picked up the Hypertech In Line Speedo Recalibration devise and that solved the problem. Speedo is dead accurate now**

Now I guess we can open this up to discussion. Other that have gears, @JTS2014TACO @Lord Humongous please feel free to weigh in and share your experiences. I would have loved to have had an in depth opinion on gears when I made the jump, but that info just wasn't really out there. Hopefully this helps anyone that is on the fence. I cannot thank @SDHQ OFFROAD enough for their impeccable work, guidance and service through this whole thing. I am very picky with who I let work on my truck but I trust them 200% to do anything to it...
Click to expand...

Hi, I have a 2017 TRD OR AC with 265 75 16 tires and a lift and camper shell. I regularly drive from California to Montana for school and I was wondering if a regear would help with the drive. The roads 80% of the time are 80 MPH + and my truck currently is screaming in 4th even on a flat road trying to keep pace. How is cruising at 85-90 now with the gears, MPG doesn't concern me as anything better than 13 is a win.

90yota · Apr 7, 2020

Redyota559 said: ↑

Hi, I have a 2017 TRD OR AC with 265 75 16 tires and a lift and camper shell. I regularly drive from California to Montana for school and I was wondering if a regear would help with the drive. The roads 80% of the time are 80 MPH + and my truck currently is screaming in 4th even on a flat road trying to keep pace. How is cruising at 85-90 now with the gears, MPG doesn't concern me as anything better than 13 is a win.
Click to expand...

My truck doesn't reach those speeds. Even here in Montana with a regear

mhshark · Apr 7, 2020

Redyota559 said: ↑

Hi, I have a 2017 TRD OR AC with 265 75 16 tires and a lift and camper shell. I regularly drive from California to Montana for school and I was wondering if a regear would help with the drive. The roads 80% of the time are 80 MPH + and my truck currently is screaming in 4th even on a flat road trying to keep pace. How is cruising at 85-90 now with the gears, MPG doesn't concern me as anything better than 13 is a win.
Click to expand...

I would just accept you’re not in a vehicle made to go 85-90.

orangeracer · Apr 7, 2020

A Tacoma does that no problem. In some states out west where speed limit is 80, I see tacos maintaining 90mph flying by me like nothing. The truck actually goes up to 116mph, then electronically governed and it just stops. Pulled harder then I expected past 100mph too.

FYI this wasn’t tested on a public road. One of my local riding areas here in CA has a spot you can legally do top speed runs on a 5 mile long lake bed, I’ve seen companies and tv shows filming up to 200mph there, only $15 for entrance and you can do all the desert trails you like too.

Back to 4.88 discussion, I’m super tempted to do it in my MT, but for those of you who have it in a manual, is going from a 4.30 to a 4.88 really worth the cost?

TWTaco · Apr 7, 2020

Redyota559 said: ↑

Hi, I have a 2017 TRD OR AC with 265 75 16 tires and a lift and camper shell. I regularly drive from California to Montana for school and I was wondering if a regear would help with the drive. The roads 80% of the time are 80 MPH + and my truck currently is screaming in 4th even on a flat road trying to keep pace. How is cruising at 85-90 now with the gears, MPG doesn't concern me as anything better than 13 is a win.
Click to expand...

You wont get any better MPG's with gears going that fast. You will be able to use 5th and 6th more so you wont be screaming the RPM's down the road in 4th. On the flats you will see maybe a little better but i wouldnt expect anything over 15MPG's again going that fast! Slow it down to 70-75 you will see some improvement. This drive train seems to be setup to get its best MPG's if you keep it under 2000 RPM's.

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