Nickbo

i have a 1990 toyota 4runner w/ 33's. What would be the best set of gears for my truck. i don't know what all i need to get? and how much am i going to spend. the gears i have now just can't pull my tires. someone help!!!!!

Nickbo

881stGenRunner

do you have an auto or 5spd? 3.0 or 22re?

if auto i would go with 5.29s, but would consider 5.71s.
if 5spd, go with 4.88s.
have Zuk set up your gears if you choose to go with such a low gear since install is so critical with the gears.
www.gearinstalls.com

Nickbo

i have a 3.0 auto how much of a difference in pick-up and gas mileage will i be able to tell?

tc

33's with auto, and IIRC its a bit hilly in Chattanooga, if you like the overdrive - 5.71's

fillsrunner4

if you wheel much and plan on going bigger in tire size i would go 5.29's but if you want to cruz a bit better freeway and stay with 33's i would go 4.88's

olharleyman

X2 on ZUK

tc

Actually, you have it exactly backwards. The problem is not first gear, but the top gear. The overdrive on the autos is so damn tall, the trucks are significantly undergeared from the factory with 4.88's and 31's. You need to gear AT LEAST one step lower in order to really be able to use the overdrive on rolling/hilly terrain. If you don't, it won't lock the torque converter, which creates a lot of heat in your tranny dramatically shortening its life, or will be downshifting all the time and your gas mileage will suck even worse than it normally does for a 3.0 4Runner...

fillsrunner4

i ran 5.29's with my 35's and auto so that is what i would recomend with that motor aswell i didnt really think of it like that. Maybe its because i hated that motor so much the gears never really made any difference for me

Dare44

I run 4.88 with my 22re manual 91 pickup and i kinda wish it had lower gearing sometimes but on the highway i appreciate the 4.88 were it spends most of its time at 70 and i have 33" tires so it really does depend on personal preferance

AxleIke

4.88, 22re, 5speed, 33's is a good combo. Unfortunately, it has zero bearing on a 3.0, auto, and 33's.

x2 on the 5.71's.

Bobthebuilder

From what I'm gathering, a 5spd 3.0 w/ 33's (currently 31's) should go w/ 4.88 gears? Unfortunatly my truck does mostly daily driver use but I do get it into the woods and trails from time to time. Just want to make sure that I can still cruise around 70-75 w/out revving the wee outta the engine. Thanks

881stGenRunner

4.88/3.0/5spd/33s = perfect

tc

Yep - mine tachs 3000 at 70 MPH. Higher than I'm used to, but the engine really likes it, it's right on the bottom of the powerband so I don't have to downshift on every little roll in the road.

By comparison, Molly has 5.71's and 35's and won't hold the overdrive at 70 MPH on anything remotely uphill or into the wind (conditions we face often here in Colorado!)

Nickbo

if i sell my 4runner but keep the wheels and tires, what other 4x4 ,besides toyotas, has a 6 lug design on the wheels

fillsrunner4

chevy

Nickbo

older or newer chevys

Djlarroc

I think 4.88's are great for 33's and above, but what about 4.10's? You think 31's are pushing it? 32's? 5spd. Ck out the gear ratio page on 4wheel parts. It doesn't seem right though.

notanymore

31s and 4.10 are just fine with the maunal, i duno about the auto but thats what i use with no problems. i wouldnt reccomend any bigger but its ok.

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html is a good gear ratio calculator that i found

tc

The 4WP calculator is based on you having a helluva lot more power than we do ... You need to be at least one ratio lower than what they recommend.

Anyone who says 4.10 and 31 is fine haven't experienced a properly geared vehicle and don't know what they're missing.

Djlarroc

You're right tc. When I ran the 31's on my 22RE w/4:10's & manual tranny, it didn't feel bad, but it didn't feel good either. At times, there was enough performance, but I live on a hill, and when I was going up it, it sucked at times! I like the way my truck drives now on the stock 28's. I'll be buying rims and tires soon, so I'm lookin for some 4:88's. I think that should be good from 31's to 34's.