4.56 Gears On Mostly Stock Build

[nicholas.craft]

Hi Everyone,

I'm curious if anyone has done 4.56 gears on a relatively stock build. I have full RCI aluminum skids, ARB flat rack Aluminum, ARB awning, Fly rod holder, getting RCI steel sliders, want to do a Dobinsons 2.5 front and 1 inch rear lift. also thinking of moving to 255/75r17 tires 32's and picking up the CVT trailer with RTT. I live in Denver, CO and the stock truck was underpowered from the factory, but i think it's mostly due to the 5spd transmission as the new JL jeeps are similar size and less aerodynamic, but that 8spd is geared perfect.

I was going to do a supercharger this summer, but held off. I really don't want to do premium fuel all the time or mess with the bullet proof reliability of the 4runner in it's stock format. I'm now starting to research nitro 4.56 gears and a CAI to make it a little more peppy (I'm not looking for fast, but at altitude I'm down HP right out the gate compared to sea level). It seems not too man folks have this setup as there are only re-gear reviews for 33's and larger tires. I'm only interested in modest lift and 32's, but want more pep going through the passes as well as being able to pull approx 1,500lb trailer.

Can anyone offer their experience with the 4.56 swap in relatively stock format (not 34 or 35 inch tires and tons of weight with bumpers and such). Also, if anyone in the Denver front rage would like to meet-up and take me for a quick spin it would be much appreciated. I can supply money for gas and a 6 pack of your choice? Thanks guys. I'm stuck on the 4R platform for now as I just canceled my Bronco reservation after my in-laws 2.7 ecoboost threw a rod out the side of the block with less than 80k miles.

 

[mo_mo]

Hi Everyone,

I'm curious if anyone has done 4.56 gears on a relatively stock build. I have full RCI aluminum skids, ARB flat rack Aluminum, ARB awning, Fly rod holder, getting RCI steel sliders, want to do a Dobinsons 2.5 front and 1 inch rear lift. also thinking of moving to 255/75r17 tires 32's and picking up the CVT trailer with RTT. I live in Denver, CO and the stock truck was underpowered from the factory, but i think it's mostly due to the 5spd transmission as the new JL jeeps are similar size and less aerodynamic, but that 8spd is geared perfect.

I was going to do a supercharger this summer, but held off. I really don't want to do premium fuel all the time or mess with the bullet proof reliability of the 4runner in it's stock format. I'm now starting to research nitro 4.56 gears and a CAI to make it a little more peppy (I'm not looking for fast, but at altitude I'm down HP right out the gate compared to sea level). It seems not too man folks have this setup as there are only re-gear reviews for 33's and larger tires. I'm only interested in modest lift and 32's, but want more pep going through the passes as well as being able to pull approx 1,500lb trailer.

Can anyone offer their experience with the 4.56 swap in relatively stock format (not 34 or 35 inch tires and tons of weight with bumpers and such). Also, if anyone in the Denver front rage would like to meet-up and take me for a quick spin it would be much appreciated. I can supply money for gas and a 6 pack of your choice? Thanks guys. I'm stuck on the 4R platform for now as I just canceled my Bronco reservation after my in-laws 2.7 ecoboost threw a rod out the side of the block with less than 80k miles.

Sorry I can't comment on the gearing directly, but there are a few things I do want to mention.

CAI... your rig already has one... the juice isn't worth the squeeze... it's dry (check link in my bio or another review and mostly there is nothing measurable by going aftermarket other than a filter in the existing box).

Some JL Jeeps get the turbo 4 banger IIRC, which can help add back some of that power at altitude (up to a point) especially vs. naturally aspirated plus the additional gears keep it in the power band longer as you mentioned.

Gearing doesn't give more power, but it will make it available lower in the speed range until you have to upshift into the new gear (still stuck with the 5 speed). The reviews I've read of the aftermarket 4.56 diff gears and 285/75 R17s are hit or miss on the benefits for 33s-34s and generally suggest smaller isn't worth the change. You will probably snag a decent MPG hit with only 32s and the regear, and I doubt you'll see much more pulling power/area under the curve for your setup. Supercharger is an obvious answer but much more money and an obvious hit to the MPGs.

I've always found driving in "S5" vs "D" when I want to ensure the transmission is responsive, not hunting, and holding the proper gear to be beneficial for my throttle inputs.

 

[nicholas.craft]

Thanks for the thoughts and feedback. I'm not opposed to spending the $7,500 for an installed supercharger. with all my upgrades and the SC i would still be around $58k spent on the 4R. Way better than starting with a JL Rubicon at $58k then modding. I just need a little more power at altitude especially for towing. I agree using S to hold gears does help. I'm never out of S in the mountains and usually just leave it in S4. Does anyone have a Supercharger that would be willing to do a ride along? I'm so torn right now. I was almost sold on 35's from the factory with dual lockers and what not on the bronco, but for some of the solo exploring I do I just can't deal with questionable reliability as it could cost me my life (I know I need to bite the bullet and get a Garmin in-reach).

 

[jdm-v35]

Thanks for the thoughts and feedback. I'm not opposed to spending the $7,500 for an installed supercharger. with all my upgrades and the SC i would still be around $58k spent on the 4R. Way better than starting with a JL Rubicon at $58k then modding. I just need a little more power at altitude especially for towing. I agree using S to hold gears does help. I'm never out of S in the mountains and usually just leave it in S4. Does anyone have a Supercharger that would be willing to do a ride along? I'm so torn right now. I was almost sold on 35's from the factory with dual lockers and what not on the bronco, but for some of the solo exploring I do I just can't deal with questionable reliability as it could cost me my life (I know I need to bite the bullet and get a Garmin in-reach).

I also live in colorado, and am contemplating a supercharger eventually. I love the 4runner for its reliability and think that the magnuson would not really push it that much harder. I have just had to adjust to how it drives for now though as I know it is not a sports car. I would say do the supercharger or live with how it is. I am ok with it so far. I also have a sports car but you just need to understand that it is what it is and be happy with it. I bought it for reliability when going on trails and so far it has fulfilled that for me. I think that given the speeds i25 it would cost a lot more in gas if you regear. I may supercharge eventually myself but it just is not worth it for me since i dont daily it. as a daily I would have done it long ago.

 

[nicholas.craft]

I was concerned with 32's and re-gear in regards to MPG hit. I may just end up finishing out the build with the lift, new 32 inch tires, RCI sliders, and the trailer to see where i end up. This is my daily and I have had plenty of fast cars/bikes in my past. I'm not looking for fast I'm looking for IMO how i think it should have felt from the factory, which i think the SC would do for me. It's quite honestly the most expensive supercharger on planet earth (so it seems), but since they used to produce the OEM units they are the only company I am willing to trust. Toyota please bring back the $3k SC option from the factory!

 

[JSparky]

Have you thought of a Sprint Booster? Cheapest easiest way to improve throttle response, may be a good place to start.

 

[nicholas.craft]

I have heard of them, but not considered them up to this point. Do they remap the transmission to change shift points? I'm not really sure what they do exactly. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Oprah]

I'm not looking for fast I'm looking for IMO how i think it should have felt from the factory, which i think the SC would do for me. It's quite honestly the most expensive supercharger on planet earth (so it seems), but since they used to produce the OEM units they are the only company I am willing to trust. Toyota please bring back the $3k SC option from the factory!

This. I 100% agree about the SC cost - I don’t know what Magnusun’s financial situation or motives are, but IMO those SC’s would sell like HOT CAKES if they lowered the MSRP - especially as a factory option again - at 3K I probably even could’ve convinced my wife on that one


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[Jetboy]

This. I 100% agree about the SC cost - I don’t know what Magnusun’s financial situation or motives are, but IMO those SC’s would sell like HOT CAKES if they lowered the MSRP - especially as a factory option again - at 3K I probably even could’ve convinced my wife on that one


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I'm with you on this 100%. I was offered a pre-production model before it was released, but they still wanted $5k and I'd still be a beta tester. So I opted out. The price is awfully hard to justify when a GX460 exists. Solves both issues here. You can re-gear a lot deeper without fear of highway cruising because of the double overdrive transmission. And you get more power. In the 4th gen the supercharger for the v8 - I could really get onboard with that idea.

If the SC was more like $3500 like it was when Toyota sold them - I'd already have one. At $6k ish - I'll take a GX and regear. (that's not just talk - it's actually what I'm probably going to do. I'm already putting my 4R back to stock to get ready to trade it).

 

[spartacus]

[MENTION=50319]nicholas.craft[/MENTION], You are in Colorado give toytec( 303-255-4959) call real helpful guys. They have a lifted 5th gen 4runner with a super charger, all the armor and 33's that they bring out for demoing their products. They are also an authorized dealer and installer for Magnuson. Maybe they'll let you test drive it and in return you can support a local business and get it installed from them.

 

[85GT-79FJ40]

I haven't done a gear swap on a 5th gen but I have done it on a number of older Toyota trucks. Those old 22r's and 22re's needed all the help they could get! I'm not fully armored on my 5th gen but I do have a winch and an RCI front skid plate and I'm on 285's. In New England I obviously don't have the elevation challenges but I don't think the truck is too underpowered for what it is. I'm averaging about 17.5mpg. On my older trucks a gear swap to bring the 33 or 35 inch tires back into the "stock" RPM range made all the difference in the world. But I also drove one of my 4:88 geared rigs (4:10 was stock) on 31's for a while and it was annoying it was geared so low. I would add power if that's what you're after, not gear. If you drive in a lot of dust I wouldn't go near any of the aftermarket intakes. But I actually plan on an AFE and a Borla exhaust for mine eventually. But for me it's more for sound and perhaps to get back a little bit of the mileage I lost going to 285's.

 

[MTN4RNR]

I'm on the same boat as OP. I'm not a crazy build, but everything does add up weight-wise and moving to 4k feet elevation means that in the mountains here around town I try to keep it locked in 4S because in 5S or D the transmission tends to hunt around. It's right on the cusp of being able to hold 5th gear, a few hundred revs off of the powerband. With an upgrade to 4.56 I feel I'd be able to hold 5th on the highway at 65-70 and actually achieve better MPG vs cruising at 3k+ RPM in 4th all the time. The motor has plenty of power IMO, but it suffers because the stock gearing doesn't optimize the 4.0's powerband.

Weight 6.1k
Tires 285/70R17

 

[Jetboy]

Food for thought:

4.10 front ratios and 4.30 front ratios already exist and are easy and cheap to get.

Circle K would probably produce either 4.10 or 4.30 rear ratios if they had enough interest/demand. As far as I know they're the only aftermarket gear manufacturer for the 8.2 rear diff. All brands except OEM Toyota that sell 8.2 gears use their gear sets. I don't know the minimum order. But that would - at least for me - be the correct ratio for mild/moderate builds. Or even for stock in the mountains.

 

[nicholas.craft]

I really like the sounds of 4.10 or 4.30 gears! Either would give just that little extra push without making the revs too high and agree would hold it perfectly in the power band for 5th highway at altitude for modest builds.

I agree with [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION] that 270hp/tq is plenty, but at altitude you loose around 10-20% of that and the stock gearing doesn't take advantage of the engines power band.

 

[delloro]

I'm on the same boat as OP. I'm not a crazy build, but everything does add up weight-wise and moving to 4k feet elevation means that in the mountains here around town I try to keep it locked in 4S because in 5S or D the transmission tends to hunt around. It's right on the cusp of being able to hold 5th gear, a few hundred revs off of the powerband. With an upgrade to 4.56 I feel I'd be able to hold 5th on the highway at 65-70 and actually achieve better MPG vs cruising at 3k+ RPM in 4th all the time. The motor has plenty of power IMO, but it suffers because the stock gearing doesn't optimize the 4.0's powerband.

Weight 6.1k
Tires 285/70R17

Going to 285's and 4.56's will change your effective gearing by about 18%. Instead of 2200 rpm at 80 mph, you will see 2600.

I am thinking of doing that. If I do it myself it should cost about $1600-ish if I get good black friday deals. I'm not at any elevation (I live at 850') but it can be sluggish off the line.

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - I did ask Nitro two years ago about making them. I don't know if Nitro actually has any in house manufacturing though. They might. Just don't know. But they were not interested in doing it. That was a conversation in person with some folks there.

I reached out to USA Gear as I know they actually manufacture gears, not just sell them. I'll also send an email to Samgong in Korea to see about minimum order and pricing for a custom run. This shouldn't be a particularly complex thing for either one to do if they're willing to do it. It's all done via CNC machines that can cut pretty much any gear they want. Part of it depends probably on whether they have ring gear and pinion gear forgings that are close enough to work well. I think if Samgong is making some 8" or 8.2 diffs they probably could use existing stock. A 3.73 pinion blank and a 4.56 ring gear blank forging could be used I think. But they're experts on their processes. I'll update if I hear anything back and what the response is.

For a one-off, it's probably easier just to swap a housing for a 9.5 land cruiser and find an OEM rear e-locker axle with 4.10 gears. Those are pretty easy and cheap to find. For a group buy - maybe it'd be cheap enough to make it worth it. I think wholesale price is typically around $100 for a ring and pinion set, but I'm guessing the minimum order is pretty big if you have to cover the cost of new forging dies or you have to pay a big up front design/tooling fee.

 

[LTV_Chaos]

Keep us posted on what you go with. I put 4.10s in my old JKU with 35's. Made a huge difference as far as "power." I'm interested in how this turns out and what you decide.

 

[Turfboy]

I have also been :hunter: for a low 4 ish diff set but have not had any luck. :Cry:

 

[Jetboy]

Keep us posted on what you go with. I put 4.10s in my old JKU with 35's. Made a huge difference as far as "power." I'm interested in how this turns out and what you decide.

I don't know that I'm keeping my 4Runner a lot longer. But it's still not totally decided yet. I tried 4.56 and took them back out because I didn't like how low my mpg was on the highway. So my logic is that I'll just switch to a GX with the extra overdrive gearing and maybe then go 4.56. For the 4Runner I felt 4.56 was too deep of a gear for a small tire size change and 4.10 would be a better fit. But of course there are no 4.10 gears available, and any other options end up more expensive than just swapping my stuff over to a GX and selling the 4Runner. Either way - 4.10 might also be a good option in the GX for mild lift/tires.

I will update if I get any response back from either of those two manufacturers. I'm not sure I will get any response though. USA Gear doesn't do any Toyota stuff now. And the Koreans may not be interested. I think they'd sell a lot more 4.10 sets than 4.88. If someone like ECGS or Nitto asked, I'm sure they'd probably take it more seriously than from me. We'll see what happens.

 

[nicholas.craft]

I called the folks at Nitro and spoke about wanting a 4.30 option and they said it's just not worth it cost wise for most people. Even with me being only on 255/75r17 (32 inch) tires he said that 4.56 are perfect for that setup or even stick 31.5 tires. Especially at altitude with a little extra weight or towing a small trailer. Basically I would be at 2050rpm at 60 mph from his experience driving them with stock-ish sized tires. At Colorado 75mph speeds I would be right at 2500-2600rpm which puts me in a good powerband spot for 5th gear and would save me from downshifting all the time for tiny hills or headwinds. It would also probably keep the same mileage and not really impact me in his experience unless I add quite a bit more weight or go to 33s. From the sounds of it these things shouldn't have even left the factory with 3.73 gears.