i recently went up to 33"x12.5" tires and have noticed a considerable difference in power. i drive mostly on highway and most of my wheeling is to the mountain snowboarding or into a fishing hole.
i found some 4.88's for $500 with 3rd members and bearings, it that optimal gearing for my style of driving and is it a good deal? i've never bought gears before...

 

If I'm not misunderstanding, then for front and rear third members with installed 4.88s and bearings, that is a great deal.

 

So is it just one ring and pinion with one 3rd and one bearing set, but nothing is installed? Or is it the entire chunk, everything installed...?

Cause if everything's separate, that's kind of a rip. Because then you'll have to spend another $100 for an install kit, then another $100-200 to have it all set up. And that's just for one 3rd.

If it's two sets of everything, but just parts and not set up, I'd probably do it. Cause you could probably work out a deal to have them set up for cheaper since you're doing both at once.

Now if it's two complete sets, everything installed, whole entire chunks, I'd DEFINITELY do it. Then just buy yourself a locker and throw it in while you got em out, and bam you got yourself a nice setup.

And 4.88s are perfect for 33x12.5s for a 22re with a 5spd, so I imagine they might be a TINY bit steep for a 3.0 with a 5spd, but hey, that's just more low end grunt. Though if you have a 3.0 with an auto, it'll do you JUST fine.

 

it doesnt look like they are assembled. heres what the guy posted in his add:

"4:88 Yukon gears
brand new with bearing kits in the box
I will throw in 3rd members"

keep in mind this is in canadian dollars too...

 

They can be had for less if you look for used gears off of a V6 automatic that came with 31" tires.

 

are 4.88's the gear i should be after for my type of driving? would 4.56 e better?
thanks

 

4.88's for 33's. 4.56's are better for 31's.

 

You can buy the same parts new for that price USD.

Check my website for comparative pricing.

Bench install for each diff will run you $200.

 

will i be able to toe my boat again with 4.88?

 

Wabbit, he's in Canada, so you have to tack on exchange, duty, shipping, and in the end it would be more.

sinne... well that depends entirely on the size of the boat. All 4.88 will do is bring you back to the overall gear ratio with which it came from the factory. You could go to 5.29 and have a little extra effective torque for towing your boat, but your highway rpm might be a little high. I don't think the extra rpm is a bad thing though...

 

I got my 4.88 elocker for that much shipped across country. Bad deal man.

 

There's a member on here (Girlzlikemud2) who runs a yard. She sells them the complete 3rd member with 4.88s for around $500 shipped.

 

i'm pretty sure theres a dead runner with auto tranny in the wrecker by me house. how do i identify the gears as 4.88?
what i meant was will the 4.88 bring me back to stock power or better?

 

4.88's and 33" tires (with a 5sp) will be close to stock. If you want more power to tow your boat, go with 5.29's.

You should be able to get a set of front and rear complete 4.88 diffs for under $350. And they will bolt right in.

To check if it has 4.88s make sure its 1992-1995 w/ 3vze, auto and factory 31" tires (look on the tag).

 

ill sell you my 4.10's for 100$ Front and rear, both are in very good condition.

 

i picked up complete 3rd members with 4.88s and a detroit tru trac for 250. sweet deal im still runnnin my 31s for the winter but goin back to my 33's as soon as the studded deadline goes by

 

There are folks in Canada that sell them new too I do imagine.

 

Inuit bob is selling his hand-carved walrus tusk gears for 160 carved soapstone idols.

 

Yes but the only place I know of is still pretty expensive...

 

Perhaps you would have been better off sticking with your previous tire size. Sounds like you certainly did need the 33's




Fred