Belize Off Road Team

i have some money coming to me soon and one thing i am thinking about buying is some low gears such as 5.29 or what ever works on my V6.

so my quetion is, when i buy something like this:
http://www.performanceoffroadcenter....oducts_id=3000

do i have to buy two, one for the front 7.5" seperatly?
do i have to buy anything else? or can my truck handle these gears without any mods?
to install them how easy is it? do i just pull the diff out, and pull all the gears apart and put it back together with the new gears on the original gears?

what is the lowest ratio i can go without modding anything? are lower gears a good place to invest money in? or are lockers a better choice?

mt_goat

Yeah, that's just the rear ring and pinion gears. You would also need a set for the front. Most people also get an install kit, which should have new bearings.

I'd recommend getting a pro to install gears, a good install is critical for long life. Here's a good pro with lots of install info:
http://www.gearinstalls.com/

UKMyers

Well for starters unless your running 35" or larger tires 5.29's are too low. You need a ring and pinion for the front and the rear. They are separate parts. You also need Master Install kits to put them in.


WOW that is almost worthy to go in my sig line. I wish it was that easy. Setting up gears is almost like a science. It requires special tools and someone with some patience and experience in the art. Having gears that will last a long time and ones that will grenade on you is measured in thousands of an inch. There is a reason there are entire shops dedicated to nothing but setting up gears.

Here is some good reading found with a SEARCH
http://www.thedirtforum.com/differential.htm

Belize Off Road Team

ok well gears sound more difficult than im looking for. the most advanced mechanic tool in Belize is a ECU reader/code reader so gears are totally out of the question until my friend and i open our shop next year.


Any cheap winchs that are good quality? i got around 200-400cdn to spend on something and a winch or lockers are in mind now that gears are to difficult to install by ones self.

UKMyers

You have to do basically the same thing for a locker as you do for gears so you might as well do it at the same time. As far as winches found this in less than a second using the SEARCH button

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...d-info-126516/ There about 200 other threads that come up too when you type Winch into the SEARCH.

Elvota

Seems more like witchcraft or art to me...

But you are right UK, experience is key with gear setup and a very expensive, frustrating project to get wrong.

Did you just use the words "cheap", "quality" and "winch" all in the same sentence? I didn't even think those words could be typed together. I just tried to read your sentence out loud and it was literally impossible.

Matt16

I've heard alot of good reviews about the Smittybuilt 8000 winch.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...ittybilt+XRC-8

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...d-info-126516/

Matt16

Get a locker instead of super low gears unless you are already running big tires. I was amazed how much it made a difference. I got an Aussie Locker. Its very good on the street.

bigt

dude invest the money in a rear locker... maybe retro a elocker or get it welded.. it is the best offroad mod you can do.. i have 4.10 gears 22 re 5 spd with 32 inch tires and i havent noticed a difference.... i got myself a champion 9500lb winch from my work for 250 taxes included ... so thats why im not spending the money to get a good winch but since your in belize spend the money and a winch that will last u lifetime not a cheap one!

Matt16

Aussie Locker: $275 shipped, maybe $80 to adjust the backlash if you want, and gear oil $30 for good stuff

Front mounted hitch: $275 shipped, bolts right on it looks like http://www.realtruck.com/product/710..._wa-25873.html

The winch carrier which plugs into the hitch: $100 shipped, though maybe it could be done cheaper

Smittybuilt 8000lbs winch: $350 shipped (?)

That's $1100, less than the cost of re-gearing by the sounds of it. I haven't ever had larger tires, but I'd have to assume that setup would get you farther and with less IFS damage than 35" tires.

Belize Off Road Team

im all over either getting a cheapish winch or lockers, and as for the rear, i want to retro a elocker but they are so hard to comeby i might be stuck with saving for an ARB air locker or Aussie Locker and a truetrac LSD in the front.

for the winch here is what i am looking at right now for good price brand names:
http://www.winchdepot.com/partLists....26&ptID=100702
http://www.amazon.com/GORILLA-10000-...8632517&sr=1-1

Matt16

Frankly I think you do things in this order:

1. armour
2. rear locker
3. winch
4. more armour
5. front locker

I'd put an auto locker in the back, the Aussie at least is almost transparent back there and save for a front selectable. I wouldn't want an auto locker up front from what I've heard.

Belize Off Road Team

well i dont need amour quiet yet, ill be making my own out of thick material next year. and as for a rear locker, selectable is the onlything i want so i think im saving for eith ARB or retro an elocker, which ever i can get my hands on first. or a cheapish winch might be better with rainy season fast approaching.

4Mogger

He is running a 3.0. If that is backed by a slushbox, I would strongly disagree with you.

At 70 mph stock, he would be running 3110 rpm.

At 70 mph with 33's and 5.29's, he would be running 3167 rpm.

A 50 rpm gain BUT also a lot of drag and rolling resistance. With the 3.0, I would want 5.29's with tires as small as 33's.

AxleIke

Excellent choice on lockers. Both ARB and the Elocker will do you proud.

I'd pack that money away for the locker and gears now. Gears and lockers are where its at for wheeling.

For reference, I drove 4.88's around for a year with 28" tires. It was fine. Wasn't super fast, but it did accelerate nicely. 5.29's and 32's would be fine.

AxleIke

Personally, I disagree. But only on the winch part.

I'd do lots of armor, lockers/gears front and rear at the same time, then tires. Worry about a winch A LOT later. Winches are nice, but not as nice as the other crap.

904_runner

Partial hijack.

Is that with an auto or a 5-speed?

AxleIke

5 speed.

904_runner

Wouldn't the rpms be really high?

I thought 5.29's would be too much for anything smaller than 35's.

I was just going to try and find some 4.88's out of an auto and throw them in mine when i get my 33's

AxleIke

Not sure what you mean by RPM's really high? They were, and still are, only as high as I choose them to be.