Factory 4.88's
 

Okay. I've been lazily looking into regearing my Surf. During my quest for knowledge and wisdom, I read that the factory 4.88 gears (which I have) cannot be changed. I have now read this in several places, but none (that I've found) tell why this is...
I believe I read somewhere that in order to do so, you have to change the casing or housing (I can't remember which, and can't find where I read it).
So.. even after reading that I'm still a little confused... (keep in mind, I've never worked on rear wheel drive before) Does the same apply to the front diff? I assume the 'housing' is the outer shell of the "3rd member"? And I'm fuzzy on what the 'casing' is...? Also see the term "carrier" kicked around... ?
So... if I want to regear to say 5:29's what exactly do I need (besides the ring & pinion)?

Now a ask... Share your knowledge with me, ye gods of yotatech!
:king:

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/

www.gearinstalls.com

:guitar:

The factory 4.88's have a thinner ring gear. Aftermarket gears are thicker. The info you seek is here:

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/#v6/turbo

:dj:

Geez veterans.

All those links are in one sticky.

Click the link in my sig.

You can buy a set of 4.10's, get those regeared to 5.29's. Then sell your 4.88 set. Going rate for those are 350- 500 bucks. Help offset your regear cost.

i thought it was because the pinion had a funny offset or something? lol

*EDIT* guess i should have read Scuba's article first lol, me and him are both right lol

the pinion has a funny offset BECAUSE of the thinner gear lol

okay... I'm a little more clear on the parts now. Thanks for the links... But I'm still a little confused...
So it's got an offset pinion gear... does that mean it uses a different housing, thus needing a complete new 3rd to regear and bolt in?

Also... is $500 a good price for a factory e-locker with 150000 km's?
(I won't run into any probems regearing an e-locker, right? lol)

okay...read some more... answered my own question about the housing...

So... as I understand, to regear from the factory 4.88's, I'll need a new 3rd member [housing, case(carrier) & gears(eg:4.10's)], new ring & pinion (5.29's) for front and rear diffs, and a case of beer to pay the guy who knows what he's doing... correct?

As for the e-locker, I know what I need to do to make it work (again, thanks for the links), just need to know if $500 is a good price? (comes with full axle, dash switch and all factory wiring)

thanks guys!

Probably need more then a case of beer for someone to set up gears.

And yes, good price.


:dj:

thanks for the feedback... one last thing..

Does the front 7.5" diff on the 2nd gen Runners have reverse gears? I don't want to waste money cuz of a stupid mistake... :P