I just installed my 33" 12.5 Mickey Thompson Baja HP Tires, I have an Auto with a 22RE engine.

NO PROBLEMS. I can't even tell the differance between the old 31 10.5 and the new 33 12.5 well....other than the wider footprint and the hum on the hiway

IMO There is NO NEED TO RE-GEAR if you going to 33's

 

Read this, the bottom of post #3
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173918

It's a pretty commonly known difference.

 

How in the hell have I never heard that!!!!!!!!!! Is the 4.88 third that rare

 

I guess in the grand scheme of things it's rare, but I know that Cebby, you and I have it. I'd imagine a lot of 2nd gen 4runners came with the autos and 31 inch tires.

 

Is the difference in the carrier or in the housing. It seems like the difference is in the housing, since people have trouble fitting in gears but can put lockers in all day (I have a detroit ez). I should be able to pick up an empty housing for next to nothing. I dont care if i get a v6 or 4banger housing. just needs to be an 8in.

 

That's where the confusion starts, you'll get lots of different conflicting reports about that. I just bypassed all that and got a whole new third member with the 5.29 gears and arb locker.

 

the housing is different. to my knowledge the carrier is the same as any V6 carrier. i've got one sitting in my garage.

what's really nice about it is the pinion offset allows for a really big pinion(more towards the size of a 4.11 pinion than an aftermarket 4.88 one) and thinner ring gear. much stronger. only downside is that you have to go through toyota for replacement gears should you break them.

 

Well I need to step up to 5.29's soon so Ill buy the 5.29's and see where the conflict is. Worst case I have to buy a normal 8in 3rd (dime a dozen). Im doing a sas soon so the 85 front axle wont be an issue I might put that carrier in the back and an fj80 high pinion in the front
But not likely.
So in short this doesnt seem like a big deal, I just cant beleive snuck by me, Im embarrased.

 

Well Cebby has it no longer, now I have it! You had me worried there for a second because my plan is to swap my ARB from my factory carrier with 4.56s (I have a manual) into Cebby's old 3rd member with the 4.88s. Then the truck should pull the hills around here a little better. I think running 5.29s with 33s and a manual would be a little too much gearing for a daily driver.

 

I was wondering...when you regear, do you have to do the front as well? If not, how will it effect 4 wheel drive?

Also, whats a good on-line place to buy new gears? Any brand to look for or stay away from?

 

Yep, I've got the factory 4.88s. Wish I had 5.29s though with my 3.0 and my auto. Only getting like 13 mpg. Kinda stinks. Not to hijack this thread, but those of you with the 3.0, auto and 33s, what kind of mpg are you getting? Hijack over.

 

[QUOTE=rocket]I was wondering...when you regear, do you have to do the front as well? If not, how will it effect 4 wheel drive?[QUOTE]

Yes, you need to regear front and rear, other wise you run a big risk of messing up your transfer case.

 

I get 16mpg city 20+ hwy (3.0 auto) 33in bfg ats for the road. YOu also have to account for the added distance your truck travels on the larger tires!!!

 

all 89-95 pickups and 90-95 4Runners w/ the 3.0/at and 31" tire package came w/ 4.88's. Not rare AT ALL! More of these than any other diff out there, if you ask me. Easy to find out, though.

5.29's are solid gears.

you WILL notice a huge difference.

If 33's are all you ever plan on doing, go 4.88's. If you plan on 35's in the future, consider 5.29's.

 

I agree - there is no NEED to regear. You can if you want, or are gonig to be 'crawling all the time.

I went from 31's to 33's with my 3.0/MT 4.56's - no problems at all. Actually, I would say it's better on the road now.