General ?s T4R.org hasnt helped solve

[RedRunner164]

I've been looking to regear my 3rd gen as well as add a front locker. Luckily it came from the factory with 4.30s and I'm only on 33s so it's not unbearable by any means but my gas mileage is garbage and it downshifts way too often on the freeway so it needs to be done. Would it even be worth my time to go 4.56 or straight to 4.88s? Like most of us, i drive it everywhere so it needs to be freeway friendly and not overrev cruising 70 on flats. As far as the front locker goes an arb is out of the question without a kind donation so has anyone had enough experience with a lockright/spartan/aussie to be able to give recommendations on one vs the other? I understand they're all the same general design but I've been in XJs with a lockright which was dead silent and an Aussie which clunked liked crazy. Lastly I've heard some mixed reviews about ecgs lately. Has anyone had experience with a socal shop like yotamasters or similar? I'm in San Diego btw. Feel free to turn this into a question thread too, Doesn't have to focus on my bs dilemmas

 

[4runner DOA]

T4R is about useless for most real world tech questions. @AssBurns is running 5.29s, I think @4Running Daily is running them too. Maybe 4.88s but they're on 35s and 37s respectively. I know with the 4.0 in 4th gens and 2nd tacos the 4.30 seem to be a decent upgrade from stock 3.73 for 33s, but the 3.4 is a different beast. I'm running 4.88s in my 4th gen with 35s and it's about perfect.

 

[4runner DOA]

Also moved to general tech.

 

[RedRunner164]

T4R is about useless for most real world tech questions. @AssBurns is running 5.29s, I think @4Running Daily is running them too. Maybe 4.88s but they're on 35s and 37s respectively. I know with the 4.0 in 4th gens and 2nd tacos the 4.30 seem to be a decent upgrade from stock 3.73 for 33s, but the 3.4 is a different beast. I'm running 4.88s in my 4th gen with 35s and it's about perfect.

Yeah you definitely have to fish around to find good info but it can be done on some topics since its quite a few years old. I don't know the first thing about 4th/2nd gen 4.0s other than they're a freaking rocketship on wheels compared to the 3.4l haha. I prefer the body styling of the older yotas, but they certainly feel dated after driving anything from the last couple years.

 

[4runner DOA]

Yeah you definitely have to fish around to find good info but it can be done on some topics since its quite a few years old. I don't know the first thing about 4th/2nd gen 4.0s other than they're a freaking rocketship on wheels compared to the 3.4l haha. I prefer the body styling of the older yotas, but they certainly feel dated after driving anything from the last couple years.

Haha they aren't that fast once you start adding armor and bigger tires. I've got an exhaust leak right now too that's not helping me any.

 

[snivilous]

Sounds like you need a blower more than anything if 33s is too much of a toll. At most 4.56s if you plan to stay 33s, if you plan to bump to 35s then definitely 4.88s in the future. 4.56s are kind of a pointless step up imo, maybe okay with a blower and 35s.

 

[stumbles]

Just to give some info as reference. I also have a 1st gen Tacoma that I geared and locked. I ran 295/75r16 which is a touch over 33. With my automatic I went to 5 29 gears. At 75mph i was at 3k rpms. The transmission never downshifts when cruising along like it did before the gear change. I think most people on TacomaWorld went with 4.88s. Do you carry a bunch of stuff in the back? Any plans on going bigger tires? What is the terrain where you are?

 

[rkntoy]

4.56 is only a 6% change and not worth the $ or time.

 

[RedRunner164]

I figured moving to 4.56 wouldn't be a big enough change to do anything and a supercharger would be amazing but I don't have 3k to dump into it for the whole setup. I think a lot of it depends on what tires you're running as well. I ran 285/75/16 treadwright muddogs for a couple months and then moved to maxxis bighorn 255/85/16s which are actually a hair taller and saved around 14lbs per tire which made a world of difference. Next tires I'm considering a 34ish tire depending on what I can find so I guess 4.88s are my answer. Thanks everyone for the input

 

[AssBurns]

If you don’t plan to go to 35’s then 4.88 is your answer. I have 35’s with 5.29’s and love it! Don’t waste your time with 4.56 gears and 33’s. You’ll regret that right away. @theesotericone ran 5.29’s with 295/70/17 and he loved it. He just went to 35’s over the past few weeks though.
If you have a manual, then possibly consider 4.56 but I still think 4.88 would be your best bet for 33’s.

 

[theesotericone]

@theesotericone ran 5.29’s with 295/70/17 and he loved it. He just went to 35’s over the past few weeks though.
If you have a manual, then possibly consider 4.56 but I still think 4.88 would be your best bet for 33’s.

It really depends on whether you mind high revs or not. I was beyond happy with 5.29's and 33's. It gave me better then stock performance.

On the highway in OD at 75 MPH I was just a tad over 3000 RPM's. If the rig had to drop into third for a hill or if I wanted to pass someone that would go up to 3900ish. I don't mind high RPM's. These 3.4's are built to rev high in the band. Max power and torque both come in the 3500 range. Why not use it?

My gas mileage actually went up. With stock gears my rig NEVER used OD. It always was in 3rd running 3200 RPM's on the highway. If I had to go up a hill or pass it would drop into 2nd and literally bounce the rev limiter to maintain it's speed. 5.29's solved that, gave me power back and my MPG actually went up. YMMV

 

[RedRunner164]

It really depends on whether you mind high revs or not. I was beyond happy with 5.29's and 33's. It gave me better then stock performance.

On the highway in OD at 75 MPH I was just a tad over 3000 RPM's. If the rig had to drop into third for a hill or if I wanted to pass someone that would go up to 3900ish. I don't mind high RPM's. These 3.4's are built to rev high in the band. Max power and torque both come in the 3500 range. Why not use it?

My gas mileage actually went up. With stock gears my rig NEVER used OD. It always was in 3rd running 3200 RPM's on the highway. If I had to go up a hill or pass it would drop into 2nd and literally bounce the rev limiter to maintain it's speed. 5.29's solved that, gave me power back and my MPG actually went up. YMMV

As of right now I have no desire to go to 35s so I think 4.88s is my answer. On the other hand I'm complete opposite of you and am as nice as possible to my motor so instead of putting it to the floor and downshifting to maintain speed I'll just sit behind the semi's until I get to the top of the hill haha

 

[4runner DOA]

As of right now I have no desire to go to 35s so I think 4.88s is my answer. On the other hand I'm complete opposite of you and am as nice as possible to my motor so instead of putting it to the floor and downshifting to maintain speed I'll just sit behind the semi's until I get to the top of the hill haha

I run about 3500 if I want to maintain uphill speeds. Toyota motors can take it. Hell the HP and torque band is up near 4k anyway.

 

[AssBurns]

As of right now I have no desire to go to 35s so I think 4.88s is my answer. On the other hand I'm complete opposite of you and am as nice as possible to my motor so instead of putting it to the floor and downshifting to maintain speed I'll just sit behind the semi's until I get to the top of the hill haha

Yeah for you I think 4.88 would be ideal with an auto trans. There is a calculator out there somewhere to run the rpm range for each gear at whatever speed you want to see. I’ll see if I can find it

 

[AssBurns]

Found it!

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

 

[RedRunner164]

Found it!

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

70mph in overdrive at 2200 rpms seems accurate with my current setup on a perfectly flat road but cant maintain it and has to drop to 3rd as soon as there's any sort of incline. It says 2500 rpms at 70 with 4.88s which should be the perfect cruising speed without bogging like it is now. I think I also just need to get used to revving it out more. As long as the mileage increases and it's faster than my brothers xj ill be satisfied haha
And it is an auto

 

[rkntoy]

As of right now...

Famous words there.

 

[4runner DOA]

70mph in overdrive at 2200 rpms seems accurate with my current setup on a perfectly flat road but cant maintain it and has to drop to 3rd as soon as there's any sort of incline. It says 2500 rpms at 70 with 4.88s which should be the perfect cruising speed without bogging like it is now. I think I also just need to get used to revving it out more. As long as the mileage increases and it's faster than my brothers xj ill be satisfied haha
And it is an auto

One thing I've noticed is that I run about 2700 RPMs at 77ish on my rig. If I hit an incline at less than 2500 RPMs I can't maintain it and have to drop to 4th, but that may also be my exhaust leak.

 

[RedRunner164]

You guys helped me with my last question so I'll move on to the next one. I recall @AssBurns and I think blackflagt4r? Went with the front range offroad rear upper links but only ran the passenger side link for a 3link setup. I understand the advantage to this was that it eliminates binding from the factory geometry, correct? Is there a need to beef up the passenger upper mounts either axle or frame side since the full load is now only on the single link?

 

[Silver_4runner]

I've been looking to regear my 3rd gen as well as add a front locker. Luckily it came from the factory with 4.30s and I'm only on 33s so it's not unbearable by any means but my gas mileage is garbage and it downshifts way too often on the freeway so it needs to be done. Would it even be worth my time to go 4.56 or straight to 4.88s? Like most of us, i drive it everywhere so it needs to be freeway friendly and not overrev cruising 70 on flats. As far as the front locker goes an arb is out of the question without a kind donation so has anyone had enough experience with a lockright/spartan/aussie to be able to give recommendations on one vs the other? I understand they're all the same general design but I've been in XJs with a lockright which was dead silent and an Aussie which clunked liked crazy. Lastly I've heard some mixed reviews about ecgs lately. Has anyone had experience with a socal shop like yotamasters or similar? I'm in San Diego btw. Feel free to turn this into a question thread too, Doesn't have to focus on my bs dilemmas

You should check out Yukon grizzly lockers I have them front and rear gears is not my expertise so I'll let the other guys handle that