Hi guys im thinking of regearing my 97 4runner cause its killing me on MPG with the 33's on with 4.10's so i was thinking of going up to 5.29's where i can run 35's at stock if i ever got some 35" tires or run my 33's with no problems and was wondering if any one here has did a gear swap there self's with sucess w/o paying a shop tons of $'s and if so u have any guides or anything that could help.
Ring and Pinion DIY Any One?
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white_n_slow
Senior Member
My impression is that this is one of those things that you really want someone with experience to do. Here are a bunch of write-ups if you feel up to the challenge. Toyota Gear Installs
Also, FWIW, I think 5.29s will hurt your fuel economy more than help it with 33's.
Also, FWIW, I think 5.29s will hurt your fuel economy more than help it with 33's.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
It requires some specialized tools and some experience with setting up the gears properly. If its not done right, you can easily blow up the diff.
I've basically taken my rig almost completely apart and put it back together..Multiple times. I still won't attempt to regear a diff by myself.
If you are worried about MPG, you should probably just take off the 33's.
I've basically taken my rig almost completely apart and put it back together..Multiple times. I still won't attempt to regear a diff by myself.
If you are worried about MPG, you should probably just take off the 33's.
Stick Figure
New member
Someone remind me again how you get experience?
I won't say I have done millions of gear swaps, but it is absolutely possible to pull it off without too much issue the first time out. If you don't have time and patients to have a learning curve with it though, then I would suggest paying someone else.
I won't say I have done millions of gear swaps, but it is absolutely possible to pull it off without too much issue the first time out. If you don't have time and patients to have a learning curve with it though, then I would suggest paying someone else.
well the shop wants $650 just to do them and thats with me buying gears and bring in the yokes out the punkins which i said screw that. thats way to much just to do something like that so i will call around see if i can find some other places that can do it or get me a old yoke some where and pratice on it and see if i can take it apart and put it back togather again.
With the right tools, and taking your time anything is possible. There isn't anything super hard about setting up gears, its just time consuming and tedious. Im not sure if our front third is the same but the rear third has wonderful collared adjusters for the backlash, rather handy.
There are write-ups all over the internet about DIY gears....use your google-fu.
as far as the comment that 5.29's hurting your mpg more than the 4.10's....i highly doubt that. When in doubt gear it lower! People so often think its just diameter that matters; 33's are heavier, typically wider, have more rolling resistance, and if they are a mud terrain, a higher void ratio which seems to love sucking down the mpg. The more mechanical advantage you can have over those large rubber donuts the happier your motor will be. And the OP mentioned 35's in the future.....5.29's are a no brainer for me with what he described.
YMMV
There are write-ups all over the internet about DIY gears....use your google-fu.
as far as the comment that 5.29's hurting your mpg more than the 4.10's....i highly doubt that. When in doubt gear it lower! People so often think its just diameter that matters; 33's are heavier, typically wider, have more rolling resistance, and if they are a mud terrain, a higher void ratio which seems to love sucking down the mpg. The more mechanical advantage you can have over those large rubber donuts the happier your motor will be. And the OP mentioned 35's in the future.....5.29's are a no brainer for me with what he described.
YMMV
snow junky
New member
Find a shop that will do it cheaper $400 is good bench price
If you haven't done it before I would recomend having some one do it for you. My name is Sam and I work for a differential shop in California, I do regears and stuff like that as a day job. Things like setting the backlash, pionion depth and preload can be tricky with out the right tools and after working on people's vehicals after a failed DIY diff job, trust me you dont want to get it wrong if your trying to be wallet smart. I have 35's on my 3rd gen and I think that 5.29's are to high with the 3.4l engine, 4.88's are going to be good especially if you drive that vehical every day or often on streets and it isnt a dedicated off road truck. Also seeing as how the company I work for is not a sponsor of this site I am not trying to advertise any services or solicite to anyone. If you do end up taking your diffs into a shop you can make the guy who works on them much happier by getting as much oil out of them as possible before you bring them in.
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cj80cruiser
Senior Member
I saw on xtreme4x4 several years ago, Ian used a spacer instead of a crush sleeve to set pinion depth. How do you know which to buy? They may be hard to find...not sure.
Well the solid spacer doesnt necisarily set pinion depth it just keeps the pionion from moving. A crush sleve can crush a little bit more sometimes after it is set up, a solid spacer wont. Theyre are shims, or at least shoul be shims that come with a solid spacer set to set the preload on the pinion bearings. What sets pinion depth is the shim that goes underneath the rear pinion bearing. They shouldnt be to hard to find, most good diff shops will either have some or be able to get some.
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KidVermicious
New member
You might have to hunt around for a good deal. There's a shop 45 minutes from me that will charge $250 a diff in the truck, but that doesn't count the ring and pinion or install kits. I have another guy closer that charges much less, but he won't pull your diffs for you and you still need to bring your own parts to him.
The shop that wants $650 to install your gears in differentials you pulled yourself doesn't want your business. That's highway robbery.
nevada
Senior Member
solid spacers are great. tho, they take a bit more time to get set-up correctly. also, the spacer isnt for setting the depth, but for the bearing preload. there are shims that go in behinid the inner bearing, those are for depth.
and as said, a solid spacer is better than a crush sleeve. if you happen to tap the yoke on a rock or something, the sleeve can actually crush in a bit more. with a solid spacer, this cant happen.
