i am definitely going to be interested in regearing my truck to 4:88's after i install 33x12.50 tires. i was wondering what the cheapest way to go about doing this. should i go out and buy the ring and pinion gears myself and have it professional installed? Or it hard to install the gears in the front and rear thirds myself?

Thank You.

 

there really easy to do man i say do them your self saves lots of money

 

cheapest would to find used thirds with 4.88's and swap them in.

You cannot swap in the ring and pinion your self, way to much you have to worry about, and its complicated.

I would call local installers and get prices, and look online and see if you can get the r&p cheaper.

 

HAHAHAHAHAhahahahah

 

i had my rear 3rd apart and put it back together not to hard and it still drives fine was just a thought

 

HAHA x2

Resetting the backlash is easy, but pinion depth is predicted only with (vast) experience. You can guess and check, but you'll probably spend more buying an assortment of shims than you would having a shop set them up for you.

The cheapest way to go about this is to find a used set of 4.88s (automatic, with factory 31s). They're not super common, but they're out there.

 

Did you actually take out the pinion?

 

look in your local boneyard for 3rds, 4.56 4runners are abundant

seen a couple 4.88 4runners today....but they were already sniped

 

Go find a 92-95 toyota 4runner or pickup with this combo: V6, automatic and 31" tires (from the factory). It will have factory 4.88 gears. Remove the rear third and front diff and put them in yours. I was able to buy a set for 350 bucks (a little high) and sell my 4.56 diffs for 250...

I had to totally overhaul the rear third due to it being VERY high mileage (street queen), but it still came in pretty cheap.. I also took the oppertunaty to throw a lockright in it

Cost me like 350 bucks in the end or so..

 

thanks for the replys. =]

ok. jay351, i have an 87 4WD pickup. Would the 3rd member and front diff still fit from a 92-95 as you suggested?

 

Ive got a 94 v6 31s stock and apparently it has the G254 or 4.55s vs the 4:87.
Is the door jam whacky or is it a wied set up?

 

yes, they are interchangable

 

G254 is a 4.56 v6 third

edit: read it to fast

was it factory 31" tire option?

 

No, you probably only have 4.56s. Your truck probably had 225/75R15s from the factory, and someone along the way (maybe even the dealership) put on 31s.

 

go on marlincrawler they have yukon 4.88s ring and pinions for i think bout 200. that will be my next buy after i get my 33s

 

Yes, they will bolt up but there might be a few things you need to do:

1. The v6's used a different pinion flange pattern, you can drill new holes to fit your 4cyl driveshaft if you want. Or you can get tripple drilled flanges from marlin crawler and alike..

2. The new rear diff will probibly have a rear ABS hookup, if yours does not you can just snip the pigtail comming out of the third. Or remove and replace with a brass plug (the abs sensors are worth some money)

3. The front diff will have ADD. So you will need to disable the vaccum operated actuator to stay locked.. Not hard.


Other then that, its a 100% direct bolt in..

 

Well, dealers were known to throw the 31" tires on there at the shop.. but they never bothered to re-gear the truck.. Its common.

Try the lifted tire spin method to be 100% sure of the ratio.

 

i got my 4.56 3rds from a 92 V6 4runner and the pinion flange was no different from my 87 4.30 4cyl 3rds

 

Well, I guess things change on rig to rig... I hear alot of 4 bangers guys having to deal with that problem...

 

Cheapest way is do it right the first time and add lockers while you are at it.