So I'm trying to decide if I should go with 4.56's or 4.88's.

I have a performance 22re 5spd with 4.10's

Does fine up to hwy speeds but struggles to do 55mph in 5th on fairly small hills. SOme hills require 3rd to maintain 60mph.
I daily drive it, use it for expedition style stuff, camping and fishing in back
country will not be a dedicated wheeler ever or rock crawler

I plan on only ever running 31 10.50's

I also plan on installing a locker (aussie style) in the rear at the same time

I do a lot of driving that includes everything from 0 elevation coast trips to high 5,000+ ft elevation mountain trips. I live at a fairly high elevation. The speed limits vary from 75mph to 20mph. So I need a set of gears that will help alot on the hills especially loaded up with crap and will not tach me out at 65mph or kill my fuel economy.

What will 4.56's put my rpm's at when going 60mph?
What will 4.88's put my rpm's at when going 60mph?
The price for either will be the same

 

find you a gear calculator online, i think justdifferential.com has one. a lot of auto 4runners had 4.88's from the factory with 31's. i dont think your really going to tell a difference going from 4.10 to 4.56. but since you have a 5 speed you might notice a little difference.

 

4.56's would do you just fine. 4.88's will wind out your motor too much. 4.88's are perfect with 33's with 31's its 4.56 period.
That will get you very close to factory rpms at any given speed.

 

The 4.56 diff were in the trucks and 4Runners with the 31" tire package.

I noticed quite a difference when I put 31's on my truck (still have 4.10 diffs). I'm planning on doing the swap to 4.56 this week. I'll keep ya posted. Mostly butt dyno and performance on hills.

 

Calculator http://marlincrawler.com/java/getspd_calc.html
When you use the calculator put in 1 for Crawl Box #1, Crawl Box #2,and the Transfercase.
5th gear on manuals are normally around .85 and a 31inch tire is normally closer to 29-30 inches you will need to measure your tire.
I run 32x11.5 and 5.29 gears. 3300 rpm puts me at 65 mph

With a 22re it is always a trade off. You can pull hills really good and drive slow or you can drive fast and be in 3rd on steep hills. I would go with the 4.56 and pull the differential out of a junk truck if I was allowed to drive 75.

 

I'm turning 3400 rpms at 75 miles per hour in my 89 4runner.

22re, 5 speed, 4x4, 31/10.50/15's, 4.56's and an Aussie. I do have to downshift once in a while depending on how much camping gear I've got stuffed in there but so far I don't really have any complaints, in fact at last fill up it got 23.6mpg

 

ya I can get a front and rear 3rd from the "they pull-it" for $250 is that a good price?

 

Stop typing, go buy them. I paid twice that much for mine.

 

Defintiely get 4.56's for all around use and street ability. Ratio wise, 4.56 and 31's put you right back to stock.

 

I don't even have to pull them its a they pullit yard