The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

Yea I'm on 33's as well (ST MAXX's) and 5.29's are perfect. Even my wife comments on a regular basis "what a better truck this is now!"

 

Not myself but regeared the rear with the help of my brother in-law who regeared both front and rear full lockers on his TRD OR 2020 last year (6 months after purchase).

@Burmapeak might be right with Yukons. After ordering my 5.29 front on 4/22, I followed up on 5/2 and rep told me that I should expect an email and a call that it would be ship soon. Since I didn't receive neither email or call, I contacted again on 5/19 and rep told me that they're still working on it. They also have an order before me that they're working on that was placed 4/19. I was hoping to receive it within a month since I have an overland trip in 1st week of June and install it and break it in. Hoping break in time would be ready for the trip. Looks like I might cancel on the trip now... break in trip postponed..

Still, regearing to 5.29 is probably the best thing I ever did for this rig.. IMHO

I agree, I have the same set up.

So true...IMO of course..

 

This Break-In period is killing me. Knocked off 300 miles after the install while the family was gone. Now they are back so I’m limited to driving to work than back home afterwards which is 10 miles round trip. Need 200 more miles before the first flush and doing this just by commuting sucks. I’m driving ever so slow and lightly that honestly, I can’t tell the difference between stock and 5.29’s. I want to get on it to see where the difference lies but...Good break in matters (I guess) Anyways. As of now, 300 miles in. No noise from the ECGS Yukon set-up. Will keep you guys posted.

 

I said the same thing. "Look ma' no noise!!" then it just started happening at 70mph just about on the dot is where it kicks in... sound deadener worked well enough for me. YMMV, but it's pretty likely, i'm running the same ECGS setup (I think yukon is who they use on their built 3rds)

Also the break in for me was faster than I thought, though my commute is local roads for 30 miles or so each way, so it went pretty quick. Just be gentle with it, but it doesn't need to be super babied.

 

When I spoke to ECGS I asked what gears they plan on installing in my units and they said Yukon because they've been having complaints and come backs with the Nitros. My commute is 10 miles round trip but I've been leaving early and doing back roads. Got in 31 miles this morning for a total of 344. With the commute home tonight I should be able to finish it off tomorrow than drain and fill the Diffs. Than, I need to do the Trailer Break-In since that was the sole reason for me installing gears. We bought a 22' Travel Trailer that's weighing in around 4500lbs. I need to call ECGS today and ask them about the Trailer Break-In. It's something odd like pull a light trailer for 15-20 minutes than a cool down than do it again etc. etc.

 

This video discusses the second break-in period for your first time Towing. Sounds like the same heat cycle routine as the initial break-in.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3z5WLvqjJtg

 

I’ve see that video. The question I have is both Nitro and ECGS say, 15 miles light towing than cool down. Do this for up to 45 miles. What they don’t say is wether or not they want the fluid changed after the trailer break-in. I can’t imagine that they want another fluid change after 45 miles of light trailer towing. I also found it interesting that ECGS recommends the Lucas Oil and the Yukon video recommends a high quality synthetic after initial break in. In fact, the diff’s are tagged with a bright tag indicating “Do NOT USE Synthetic Fluid on ECGS built units”. I’m fine with Lucas but it’s funny how the builder info changes from the Manufacturer info. Hit 399 miles last night when I got home from work. Going to finish the 101 today, drain and fill the diffs than pull one of my trailers around for a while. Sure wish we had traditional Diff covers so I could examine the gears. Maybe I can’t stick my bore scope in the hole and see what they look like. Pretty excited to finally get to drive it past the 55MPH mark. Also, can’t wait to take off a bit more aggressively to see how everything feels. Honestly, I’m having a real hard time feeling the difference between the 5.29’s and the stock gearing. What I have noticed is that the truck definitely spends more time in 5th and 6th. (However, I usually don’t drive as mellow as I have been for the last week)

 

The fellow who did my regear told me to use dino-oil. He said that most synthetics tend to drain off the gears faster, when stationary, and leave the diff less “oily” when you first start moving, which is the point at which there is greatest force on the diff. He felt there was more wear occurring with synthetics as a result, but yeah.......lots of opinions out there.

 

That is pure poop.

 

Probably. But hell......I’ve rebuilt no differentials, and this guy has been doing in for 30 years and is considered “the differential whisperer”. I dunno. Doubt he would recommend something that would cause problems that he would have to deal with.

 

I'm doing some trailer break in now after almost 2,000 miles of normal driving, at this point it's probably moot but I'll at least make some effort to do it right. I never got told a speed from them, did plenty of 70mph interstate driving during my break in, ecgs just says to vary the speed every few minutes.

 

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/ft-2536-ecgs-gear-oil-recommendation.html
Sounds like ecgs agrees with some of what he said

 

"Synthetics thin out quickly once hot and lose their cling ratio to the metal object................."

This just isn't true, so it throws doubt on what they write. BUT I agree what they write is just some false stuff, some sorta true stuff, some bullshit and some truth.

 

I think everyone has some sort of magic oil. It's all over my head. I feel like a proper weight with regular changes will give you a trouble free service life no matter what you use

 

And drive no longer than 50 miles and let it cool down for 20-30 min during break in..

 

I’m part of the 5.29s gang now

 

Gotta love this. 74MPH on the satellite gps app and not even 3k RPMs on 35’s. That’s full of camping gear and going up the I-17. 4.0 v6 5spd AT

 

I put on 4.88s about a year and a half ago. At the time I was never expecting to go larger than stock+. Things changed.

Now I've got 10ply rated 33s, lift, a GFC, sliders, roof rack, and regularly tow a raft up to elevation. Around Denver the truck is fine, but when I'm towing in the mountains this sucker is a turtle.

Anyone moved from 4.88s to 5.29s and can comment on how much more pull you were getting? I know 5.29s are better, but are they THAT much better to justify another install?

 

I'm thinking @MESO went from 4:88's to 5:29's.

 

- 3.91 (factory) to 4.88 is a increase in ratio of .97.

- A .97 increase compared to 3.91 represents a 25% increase in ratio and resulting mechanical advantage with 4.88s.

- 3.91 (factory) to 5.29 is a increase in ratio of 1.38.

- A 1.38 increase compared to 3.91 represents a 35% increase in ratio and resulting mechanical advantage with 5.29s.

So based on that, you should notice about a 10% increase in torque over 4.88s (35% - 25%) if you bump up to 5.29s. That may be noticeable, but is less than half of the difference you noticed going to 4.88s from factory gearing. You already made a more drastic change.