The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Thanks for that!

 

Im super glad I did. I’m on the v6. @0007tacoluvr i would seriously consider 5.29’s for the 4cyl. It’s AT correct? going from 4.3 to 4.88 just doesn't seem like much of a jump although you are on the smaller tire, but i still think given its a 4cyl you'd be better off with 5.29.

 

I went to 5.29 recently. Don't expect it to be mind blowing. Going up steep hills at speeds of 65 to 80 the car still shifts down and revs hi. I did not notice a HUGE difference in torque at low gears. Is it better? Probably, but in my opinion there isn't a huge "WOW" factor.

 

Just curious, what size tires are you running?

 

255/85/16

 

my experience was from stock tires/stock gearing straight to 285/75/16 and 5.29's. I did tires, lift and gears at the same time. The difference around town isn't much, as the tranny just shifts higher faster and keeps rpms low. Truck sits in 6th much more than the stock config at highway and pulls up light to moderate/light grades in 6th @ 65mp-75mph. it spins higher rpms than stock but i've gotten used to it and its nothing close to "screaming". downshifts to 5th and hardly ever 4th on the moderate to large hills at 65-75mph.

Drove up highway 50 to Tahoe from the bay area and i think i downshifted to 4th maybe twice and it was mostly just because of speed not power as you have to slow down on the windy sections.

The vehicle now feels more like a truck. not a crazy amount of power improvement but enough to keep the tranny from hunting around. Tows really well now too with plenty of towing power once you wind up 4th gear on the hills. If i don't have a headwind, and am on flat highway, i can use ovtune gearlock and pull my Travel Trailer in 5th gear now at 55/60mph without TC unlockin spinning less rpms than i was at stock config in 4th at the same speed.

 

I don't tow but my truck is well weighted down. I also don't have OV tune. I was driving at high altitudes to Moab and at high speeds through Utah. On steep hills it would rev as high as 5000 and would shift down to I believe what is 4th gear, but not sure.

I broke it in one day heading to Nevada on 395. I will say it did seem to get better as time has gone by.

I would just caution, from my experience, for people who have not yet got a re-gear yet not to expect some type of pushback in your seat power.

I have done a lot of modifications at one time so it could be difficult for me to say how much difference it made by itself. However, I think I can say fairly definitively that it's not mind-blowing. I would probably classify it as more like a truck that had become gutless due to modifications and added weight being brought back closer to stock. YMMV

 

I would say, from my experience, for people who have not yet got a re-gear yet to expect some type of pushback in your seat power if you add an OVT tune in the mix.

 

One other note here is that when it was revving at high speeds going uphill if I tap the pedal it would shift up and then quickly shift back down.
It's an expensive mod and it almost certainly brings some value, but in my opinion the average Tacoma owner out there watching videos where people seem shocked at the newfound power in their car after a re gear maybe slightly disappointed.

 

Interesting

 

Most YouTube’s are full of shit. I haven’t found a decent Tacoma YT channel where they aren’t trying to sell something or have a clue what they are talking about. I think the only wow factor would be if you are heavily modified on stock gears and had been running larger tires and weight for a while.

Like some, I upgraded before adding all of that so I never saw the comparison outside stock tires.

 

I could see that. My truck isn't weighed down much at all. maybe 300lbs extra if even that. when i tow my smaller aluminum sled trailer with one 400lb sled on it, i kinda feel like that might be a similar comparison to a heavy weighted down truck and it deff does need to down shift a lot more to 4th spinning 3k rpms but has plenty of power still. much different than when i drive around unloaded. Throw in the ovtune 91 octane tune and when you hold her wot its pretty amazing how fast this truck gets up and goes with the 5.29's. I'll get some video once the new 2.0 tune drops for refrence. 0-60 has got to be pretty quick.

 

I should have an opinion to share next week. Found an absolutely shocking price locally so I booked it right away. Guy has been working with transmissions and gears for over 40years according to my mechanic buddy. He brings him stuff all the time and loves him. Some people pay more for gears alone. I’m so stoked!

 

I'll be getting 5.29's next week and after the whole break in how often do you change the gear oil? Is it on the same miles/timeline as if stock or not? Thanks

 

The shop should will tell you in detail about break-in oil changes, after that they will likely tell you to follow the OEM recommendation. I say if you don't swamp it, Highway 50K MAX even with a good synthetic. Less for mainly offroad.

 

So I have the ring and pinion 5.29 from Nitro gears (front and back) I still need to purchase the master install kit from Nitro.

Are these the ones I need for the front and rear?

FYI.. I own a 17 with factory e-locker.




the 8” clamshell says is only for 2005-2010 Tacoma though. I can’t find the master install kit for the front for 2016 and up Tacoma’s.

 

At quick glance that looks correct, the 2016+ Tacomas utilize an 8" reverse clamshell for IFS but I'm not why it says 05-10, could always call them tomorrow. There website only shows 3 front applications 7.5", 8" and 9" and we dont run the 7.5" and 9." Maybe their website is just poorly updated, idk

 

IFS stand for...independent front suspension?

yeah it’s driving me crazy. But on their full package list it shows this

 

Yup IFS Independant Front Suspension

 

thanks for your help. Driving me crazy looking for the front one. I think I checked every website and can’t find it. It’ll be easy to call them but it’s the weekend so they’re all closed.