Re-gearing with nitro-gears

[skag1T]

So I am looking at the re-gearing to 4.56 with the folks at nitro-gears.com

I have the basic 2018 4Runner @40k miles, everything is stock except RCI skid plates, not planning to install bigger wheels/tires, the car is basically a camper for offroad trips with sleep-in platform, doing multiple days overlanding trips any time I can in the summer, and having it as plan C for SHTF suv living if the zombie apocalipse hits ….

And who knows, I might go to Moab one day ….


Asking for advice – re-gearing sounds rad, I asked for a quote for parts and install, I live about 200mi from the Nitro shop, if I go on with this I will drive there and have them install everything …

If this comes to around $2,500.- I’m really tempted.

I am freaking out at the thought of this mod though, this involves taking apart all the drive train… front and read diff … Is this a good idea ?

I like the reviews and I understand the benefits …

any thoughts appreciated.

 

[1Louder]

If you are running stock size tires why would you re-gear? Lots of folks debate doing it with 33" tires.

Otherwise, search and read. Lots of good YouTube videos that talk about the pros and cons of doing this mod.

 

[comtn4x4]

So I am looking at the re-gearing to 4.56 with the folks at nitro-gears.com

I have the basic 2018 4Runner @40k miles, everything is stock except RCI skid plates, not planning to install bigger wheels/tires, the car is basically a camper for offroad trips with sleep-in platform, doing multiple days overlanding trips any time I can in the summer, and having it as plan C for SHTF suv living if the zombie apocalipse hits ….

And who knows, I might go to Moab one day ….


Asking for advice – re-gearing sounds rad, I asked for a quote for parts and install, I live about 200mi from the Nitro shop, if I go on with this I will drive there and have them install everything …

If this comes to around $2,500.- I’m really tempted.

I am freaking out at the thought of this mod though, this involves taking apart all the drive train… front and read diff … Is this a good idea ?

I like the reviews and I understand the benefits …

any thoughts appreciated.

I agree with the above post. What are you hoping to gain by re gearing on stock sized tires? Do you tow frequently? I think you could MAYBE re gear at 33's if you have a heavy rig or tow frequently.


Look at this chart for reference and there's tons of information available on re gearing:


Gear Ratio Chart | Revolution Gear & Axle

 

[CajunMikeR]

On stock size tires? I wouldn't bother.

I'm going to be going to 4.56s with 33s (34s planned in the future) but only because I've got a 1800lb expedition trailer that we tow on trips. If I was not pulling anything, I'd probably stay at stock ratio even on 33s. However, I live in the flat lands (Southern Louisiana) and only see hills & mountains on trips... if I lived in or near mountains, that may solicit a different response.

 

[Unretired]

Very Personal Decision based on YOUR Driving

4.56 (or 4.88) isn't the answer for MANY people.
Spend some time looking at RPMs and speeds for various tire sizes and shift points.
My rig is a daily driver in the DC area.
I drove around in 4th gear for a while which wasn't exact but close.
I drive way too fast and just couldn't handle the RPMs - particularly when i have the 265s on.
The transmission ratios just aren't lined up for the re-gear and fast speeds.
Need the GX 4.10 and 6 speed shift points.

My trail needs for 4.56 really aren't that high.
I just need to drive better and control skinny pedal/brake as I come off an obstacle.
I notoriously climb slow and then come crashing down - that's driver, not gears.

What are you going to do with your truck?
Stock/Camping doesn't = re-gear to me.

 

[ruff4runner]

So I am looking at the re-gearing to 4.56 with the folks at nitro-gears.com

I have the basic 2018 4Runner @40k miles, everything is stock except RCI skid plates, not planning to install bigger wheels/tires, the car is basically a camper for offroad trips with sleep-in platform, doing multiple days overlanding trips any time I can in the summer, and having it as plan C for SHTF suv living if the zombie apocalipse hits ….

And who knows, I might go to Moab one day ….


Asking for advice – re-gearing sounds rad, I asked for a quote for parts and install, I live about 200mi from the Nitro shop, if I go on with this I will drive there and have them install everything …

If this comes to around $2,500.- I’m really tempted.

I am freaking out at the thought of this mod though, this involves taking apart all the drive train… front and read diff … Is this a good idea ?

I like the reviews and I understand the benefits …

any thoughts appreciated.

I drove to Cashmere from California to have my rig re-geared to 4.88's at Nitro/Just differentials. I would not worry about them taking apart your drive train. Thats all they do all day, everyday. They train all the shops in the U.S. that install Nitro Gears. I was on 295/70/17's when I re-geared and it is the best money I have spent on my rig. If your on 31's still, I imagine 4.56 may be overkill, but you will benefit the searching for gears on hills, gain power, but loose gas milage.

 

[Nalcyon]

A counter point...

Depending on what you are looking for you may want to re gear with the stock tire size although I, like many, would question spending that much money up front without suspension upgrades.

I say this as someone who went from 3.21 gears to 4.88 gears, (and detroit lockers), on my 08 JK with a six speed manual...with stock tire size, (32's)

Everyone said it was crazy, too high rpm blah blah... I found that most of them had no real idea of how much change it made.

Long story short my gas mileage was not noticably changed, drivability around town and on the highway both were way improved, (with the 3.21 gears It couldn't hold speed on the highway in 6th gear), and offroad was a beautiful thing to behold, (place tire against obstacle, let off clutch, no gas, just walk up the obstacle).

I noticed on my first night home from the dealership hitting some of the hill climbs at my property that I was very under impressed with the stock gearing, this was bone stock. Depending on the terrain you usually see offroad this may not be an issue. I would be Ok with the 3.73 factory gearing if we had a better low range gear. Stock gearing with 3.73 seems adequate to me for road use w/ 33's but leaves me wanting a lot more offroad in low range.

Long winded way of saying there can be benefits even without going to larger tires, just keep doing what you're doing, thinking and asking around.

 

[baldrik78]

There is literally no reason to regear if you aren't on bigger tires and even then not until you are using 34"-35" tires. This would be a waste of $2500. If you think the truck is slow (because it is), save a few more bucks and get a Magnuson super charger.

 

[Jeremy556]

I've been running 4.56 nitros for about 200k miles and no complaints. You should plug in your numbers at a gearing calculator (Grimm Jeeper) to see what RPMs and speeds will be. Your highway rpms will be a good bit higher and your mpgs will be lower. You might want to add lockers while you are at it.

Another consideration on a stock 4runner, is the gearset likely will be noisier than stock.

Install isn't that big a deal, hardest part is dealing with the parking brake mechanism in the rear to pull the axle shafts.

IMHO, the 4runner should have 4.1 gears stock. It would be much less of a dog. 4.56 may be a bit much, but maybe not.

 

[skag1T]

This is my DD and weekend camper. I did a few longer overlanding trips as well. Not planning bigger wheels / tires.

From what I read, 4.56 would better match the engine and transmission of this car. RPMs will go about 500 RPMs higher at 60 mph. From what I read, the mpg hit is minimal.

I plan to keep this car as long as I can, one of my concerns is that the install is very invasive and I am not sure that the Nitro guys will do a good job or not. Kind of a pity to undo what the japanese did when they put togehter this car. Will this mod be as reliable as the original ? Not sure - still thinking about it.

I understand that this might not make sense if I keep the stock wheels, but .... what if ... one day ... a wheel bug bits me ? What then ? :frog:

 

[mo_mo]

This is my DD and weekend camper.
.
.
.
I understand that this might not make sense if I keep the stock wheels, but .... what if ... one day ... a wheel bug bits me ? What then ? :frog:

Then when the 'wheel bug bites' you, then do the gears at that time?

Ask yourself if running ~500 rpm higher at 60 (per your calcs) is appropriate, or can you get where you need by shifting into a lower gear as needed.

Similarly, you could run smaller diameter tires for less $ and get a similar gear ratio boost without the concern about swapping gears.

 

[AMLOR]

4.88 on a Daily Driver

Ok...some will say i'm nuts but once I went with 33's the 4.88's were a natural choice for me. For ME (YMMV) I can live with the 4.88 vs 4.56.

Is mileage worse...overall yes, absolutely. the change cost me just under 2 MPG on MY daily usage. Again, your mileage probably will be different based on how YOU drive and where.

Benefits:
Matched with 4.88's the 285/70/17 are GPS verified perfect with the 4runner speedo. 70 indicated really is 70 mph. No more guessing.

You don't need a Pedal Commander etc. MUCH more responsive.

"Hunting for gears" is a game the transmission no longer plays. It stays in 5th and pulls smoothly. Decreasing the "hunting" by 80% or more. The Trans temp stays lower and more consistent as well.

Off road is SO much easier to deal with. Now with a 44.20:1 crawl ratio, the 4runner basically drives itself...just pick your line and go. Rocks, 20% grades covered in scree, washed out trails, all no worries. Much less on and off the throttle and the brake.

Towing is simpler as well, FAR less hunting going on than with the 3.73s'

As has been said already, do your homework, I tend to be a better to have and not need,than need and not have kind of person. It can be argued that NO ONE "needs" 4.88's...maybe. Pick your poison, stock 4.56, 4.88??
It's your truck but for me, the change is the best single mod and $$$ spent on the truck on the 2 years I have owned it.
Good Luck
AMLOR

 

[Jeremy556]

Matched with 4.88's the 285/70/17 are GPS verified perfect with the 4runner speedo. 70 indicated really is 70 mph. No more guessing.

The 5th gen speedo is actually completely driven by the abs wheel speed sensors, so overall tire diameter is the only thing that will affect speedo, gearing doesn't matter.

The spot where the speedo sender was in the VF2A transfer case is just a blank cover now. You can see mine where the O ring sealing the cover caused an oil leak. (single bolt pointing to the passenger side)

 

[dride]

I’m going 4.88s soon with 34s 305/70r17. Saving for lockers right now. I went 4.88 because it’s my weekend vehicle, it’s usually under 70mph and either city or mountain driving. Usually loaded with kids and gear. Hopeful it was the right choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AMLOR]

The 5th gen speedo is actually completely driven by the abs wheel speed sensors, so overall tire diameter is the only thing that will affect speedo, gearing doesn't matter.

You are correct sir. I did not make myself clear. The swap to the 285/70/17 is actually what changed the speedo...the gearing was because of the 285 change I made, but not the actual cause of the correction.