The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Yep

 

Auto

 

Honestly, the truck drives fine with 5.29, but with 32.8" tires, I imagine you would see better results in terms of fuel economy with 4.88.

That being said, I like the way the truck drives now, and I still see an MPG increase.

I will be moving to 34" tires and my setup is pretty heavy, so I am confident 5.29 was the right choice for me.

 

I spoke with my local installer, a well seasoned guy, and when I mentioned 5.29 his first comment was to the diameter of the shaft.
Anyone know the dimensions of the 4.88 and the 5.29?

 

The pinion shaft diameter? Not sure why that would matter.

 

Correct. The concern is strength.

 

The pinion shaft will be the same size if it's a 4.88 or a 5.29 or 4.3 or 3.9. Only issue I'm aware of about strength between 4.88 or 5.29 is the tooth count making the pinion itself smaller and some say weaker but I think that gear setup is the biggest factor. set it up wrong and you can break the strongest of gearsets. In a street truck I wouldn't sweat it one bit. Big Mike runs it on trail with 37s and a MT

 

Exactly the info I'm looking for. I know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be a trusted source...yet.
I really do like the idea of the 5.29 on my truck, which is 90-95% street use, with some beach and fire road use...mostly at the hunt camp. The 5.29 and my 35/12.5/18 pair well on paper. Luckily I have 4-5 months to further research.

 

Either set will work perfect for you I'd say. I have 35s with 4.88s and I'm happy. If I had to start from scratch I'd go with 5.29s but given that I already have the 4.88s there isn't enough of a difference between the 2 for me to go ahead and swap from 4.88s to 5.29s even if I broke even on buying a new set of gears and selling my old set.

 

Makes good sense
One thing I noticed, as I was stock for 1100miles last year including a trip to the camp, is that the low speed downhill engine braking was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced when I went to 35''s. The truck couldn't hold a low speed decent in 2nd gear and required 1st gear which I felt placed the RPMs too high. There's about a 1/3 mile decent from the hunting acreage to the lodge and I have to ride the brakes most of the way.
I'm hoping that 4.88s would give me that back, and the 5.29 even more. Not to mention the reduction in load in everyday driving anyhow. My math, on paper, with the 6sp Auto places 75mph RPMs with 5.29s right around 1950 in 6th which should be perfect for cruising.

 

gears will definitely give you the engine breaking back.
Your math is off, 4.88s at 75 with your tires (34.75) will have you at 2052rpm and 5.29s will have you at 2224rpm on the calculator.
IRL my 35s (34.5) with 4.88s at 75 has me right around 2000

 

He’s on 40’s now driving it x country to events and wheeling it then driving home!

 

That's right, forgot it was 40's

 

Look what just came for Vitalzone and his 2016 Taco

From Justdifferentials.com .....3rd Gen Taco 529 gear package....2 ring/pinions and 2 master kits.





Reverse cut 529's for the front 8" clam....Yep, JT's sent me notice that the carrier bearings are being delayed a little.



Rear 8.75" ring/pinion.....look at the stoutness of that pinion.

 

Any pics of his setup?

 

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=100408.0

 

That thing is a beast!

 

Pardon my ignorance on the clamshell. Is the output of the font pinion centered so that simply using a reverse cut gear allows for high pinion? Second question, what is the real benefit of high pinion if the front drive shaft is likely hiding behind skid plates anyway?

 

I’m in the same boat as you currently. I would have gone 5.29s as well but since I have my 4.88s already on my truck, there’s not that drastic of a difference that I’ve seen. I will still stay tuned but as of right now, I will not be making the change.

 

I feel like that’s my truck already at cruising with 4.88s and 35s. I’ll have to take a look