if i was you i would go for 4.88's, yea the kits will have what you need. just make shere you tell them you want the master install kits. you will also need a press,bearing splitter,torq rench.

 

Cheap and performance in the same sentence...good one! Get you one these..instant 50 HP

 

But see i don't have access to a press, is it absolutely necessary to do the swap?

 

If you buy junk yard third members and refresh the carrier bearing preload as per ZUK's site (gearinstalls.com) then you don't need a press or anything. I did this swap with a set of 4.56's and installed a locker at the same time and it was all done on a work bench with hand tools. The install took about 4 hours the first time, if I recall correctly, and I'm a mechanical idiot.

 

Haha that's weird i was just reading your post when you placed the coil springs on your truck (good job by the way). Did you change both sets of gears?

 

Only the rear. The front end is IFS (and will stay that way since I really enjoy the ride) so coils are not an option. Although if I ever get lucky enough to buy a 4runner with a solid front axle I'll add coils to both ends. The load bearing capacity of a set of leaves with coils is freaking amazing and I build my rigs for survival so they tend to carry a lot of weight and still have to go over some rough ground. I could probably go with some 14" 125lb coils on the rear and some 14" 100lb coils on the front and get about 2" of lift and a seriously nice ride.

Back to your original question about gears you really need to look into some used 4.88 third members. It is crazy easy to swap them in.

 

well you kinda need one to press the bearing's on and off. if you dont use one you can take a chance own messing up the bearings. but it is posible to do with hand tools just take your time. uh harbor freight has some good cheap ones. but if i was going to do the install i would buy junk thirds like junker88 stated and gear them instead of you using the ones in your truck so you want have much down time. an you will have all the time you need to set them up right instead of rushing it.

 

Cheap and performance don't really go together. Best bang for the buck is definately GEARS. Helps acceleration, helps to turn bigger tires, the engine doesn't have to work as hard to get the truck moving. The only down side to lower gears is the higher RPMS you'll turn on the highway. If you plan on running something bigger than a 32 or 33" tire in the future I'd consider 4.88 or even 5.29. I like the idea of buying junkers so cut down on the downtime. Good Call!

 

i would run with the 4.88s its what i have in mine works good

 

4.88s are the way to go and you can go to your local auto shop and have them press it out. take it home and put the right shims in then take it back and the will press it back in for you.

 

Alright so I've decided that I'm definitely going to go with gears now. Im going to order them and hopefully ill have them installed before the summer is out. Hm i know this is off topic but does anybody have in experience with Bad Land Bumpers im thinking of getting one of those as well, i mean they look like high quality bumpers.

 

Problems i popped the hood on my truck to see what gears i was already running but stupid mechanic painted over the little metal plate. Does anyone know what are the stock gears for an 87 ext cab p/u??

 

mm lets see if i remember, jack rear end up, mark rear tire n spin 2 revolutions. As that happens have some one watch drive shaft (marked as well ). If it spins lets say 4 1/2 times, you have 4.56's, just over 4, then 4.10's, i think thats it.

 

Have not found them again, but had a hedman header on my 85.