Gears!

[spindleshanks]

There was so much conflicting information out there on the national board regarding re gearing your differentials, I figured we could use a thread locally here. I know more than a couple of people are contemplating gears, so now we've got a forum to discuss it (plus, we can stop pirating Farmer Todd's double cab gear thread!;))
I guess the best way to start would be with this gear calculator, which I think has already been utilized by anybody who's researching a gear job.
http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

I used this calculator in addition to consulting several gear "experts" on the forum to come to my decision for gears. Hopefully everyone else can benefit from this information.
I drive an '03 Tacoma TRD with a 5spd transmission, rolling on 285-75-16 tires, and I'm going to choose 4.88 gears. My initial concerns were not about highway speed rpms, but more about 1st gear. It's come to my attention from other people and the gear calculator that my fears were unfounded, and that my 1st gear won't be so low it's useless.

Troy brought this to my attention,and it's an incredible wealth of resources:
http://www.gearinstalls.com/
The proprietor of the website, ZUK, was very helpful and friendly, and gave advice freely and cordially. Very cool guy.

So, here we go!

[spindleshanks]

Mods, I don't know how I started two of these threads, pleaes delete one!
thnks

[ike]

Damn Zombies

[spindleshanks]

Yeah, don't ever lend a zombie money...

But seriously, i'm eager to see some results from our gear swaps, Ike. It'll be very helpful to other people in the future to see the high-altitude results of different gear scenarios. When I get mine installed, I'll post up tach/speedo pics & info. I'm stoked that you're looking at 5.29s. I think you should go for it, and I'm eager to see the results.

[devinsixtyseven]

Throw your thoughts on altitude and hill climbing in this one :cool:...they're only in the other thread and they're sorta the point of what you're asking ;).

I agree 100%. If I lived in Florida or Kansas or somewhere, I'd have chosen a ratio to match the tires and bring the effective ratio of tires and gears to 1:1 with respect to the original tires and gears.

You're absolutely right tho, add the greater rotating weight of a large tire, plus high altitude and a very long hill climb (Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass, etc), and 1:1 really doesn't cut it. My truck is slightly over-geared even with the 37" tires, and it still slows down, climbing up to the tunnel on the Summit side. With the same gears and 35" tires, it's overgeared about 13% (I think), which sounds like a lot, but it just downright flies up the passes, I have a great transmission brake, and it's more controlled in low range.

Something less than 13% over, and more than 5% over, is probably a good estimate when you're getting in to big tires. When I was choosing between 4.56 and 4.88 gears (from 3.91 and 31" tires on a V8 1st-gen Tundra), I went with 4.88 because the engine rpm would be higher in the power band, so I figured it would be easier to climb a long, steep hill with a larger tire.

It works great, but it's really easy to bounce off the speed limiter :eek:...105mph - 105*0.13 = 91mph :eek:...but at least I know I can't get one of those crazy-ass triple digit tickets :cool:.

-Sean

[spindleshanks]

Throw your thoughts on altitude and hill climbing in this one :cool:...they're only in the other thread and they're sorta the point of what you're asking ;).
-Sean

I'm not asking anything, I'd just like to see a consolidated resource on high altitude gearing that might help somebody else in my situation in the future. Thought it'd be cool to post what's worked and what hasn't. I've been researching this shit for weeks!:eek: I'm eager to get my shit installed and learn whether all the gear calculator predictions are true. So sick of driving a slow vehicle.:D

***Oh, and I didn't want to walk all over FarmerTodd's thread talking about my gears, because he asked for real specific information on his own double cab with stock tires, not about every other configuration under the sun.

[Lysmachia]

We should alo add to this thread places or peeps to have your re-gearing done.

1) PM thefatkid (AKA) Brian and ask him if he wants to do it. (He is a Master Toyota Tech)

2) Call my buddy Jacob who can be found under http://www.toycrawlers.com (He is a Toyota Tech)

3) ScottyC (He's done several for members... PM him) http://www.addictedoffroad.com

4) All-Phase. Eston who works for them was a Toyota Tech (I think) but at any rate he does gears very well! - http://www.allphaseoffroad.com/

[Quick Draw]

Don't forget ScottyC who has geared a lot of diffs for TTORA members.

[00regcab]

Brian's work is great. He worked with me through my install, warned me of some things, re-assured me of others. He'll be getting my front diff when the time comes.

[TacoBlanca97]

I was checking out ZUK's website. Some very impressive write ups on gear installs with a ton of pics.

[colorado125]

3) ScottyC (He's done several for members... PM him) http://www.addictedoffroad.com

Don't forget ScottyC who has geared a lot of diffs for TTORA members.

And I think 4.88's would also give you the opportunity to step up to 35's in the future if you ever so desire.

[mrdoug]

I was checking out ZUK's website. Some very impressive write ups on gear installs with a ton of pics.

Einstein is pretty good with numbers too :D

ZUK is THE gear guy.