hey just wondering your guys opinions on what gears i should do for my 97 tacoma, i have a 3" suspension lift with 32x11.50 inch tires with a 15x10 rim, the truck goes alright around town but soon as i go on the highway its a slug, should i get gears?????? If so, what gear ratio should i get and how muhc would they cost?

 

General rule for gears is StockRatio * (NewTireDia/StockTireDia). Just as an example, assuming a 29" stock tire and 4.10 stock gears, 4.10*(32/29) = 4.52. A 4.56 ratio is the closest available ratio in that case:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechI...tml#DiffRatios

Not saying that you had 29" stock stires nor that you have 4.10 gears, just using some numbers for an example.

Figure about $400-500/axle to regear assuming you pull the 3rds out at take them to a shop.

 

Didn't some of the early Tacoma's come with 3.58 gears?

5spd or auto?

 

its a 5speed

 

I have 32's and went to 4.30's and was very happy with the results. My mileage dropped about .5MPG on average, but my "pep" came back. I had 4.10's.

 

If you plan on staying with 32's-I say this b/c everyone with 32's ends up with 33's, then go 4.30's for mostly highway driving or 4.56 for a good combination of offroad/onroad. If you plan on 33's in you near future, you may want to think about 4.88's.

 

when you put the 4.30's in how much did they run you and how much did it cost to put them in?

 

I purchased a donor rig (96 4Runner with 4.30's and e-locker). I then swapped the front and rear axles out on both rigs, by myself, in 100-degree heat, with no air tools. I then sold the donor rig for $300 more than I bought it for.

I took a slightly different approach than most.

 

Hehe, I did the same thing w/o the donor rig. I bought a complete front 4.30 diff and a complete 4.30 rear axle w/elocker and swapped them, but I had help.