Stock Gear Ratio Survey

[djskorch]

So after replacing my front diff and having confusion about the gearing as well as other questions that have popped up about stock gearing, I want to create a comprehensive list of 3rd gen factory gearing for people to reference. Once I gather enough information, I will take all of the information and create a year by year, model by model guide for gear ratios for quick reference.

I ask that only people who have physically verified their gearing either through replacing the r&p or counting the teeth (not just the spin test) to respond here. Counting the teeth is the only way to be 100% sure. You can do this by pulling the drain plug (preferably during a fluid change) use a flashlight to look in the hole and use a magic marker on 1 tooth, then have someone spin a wheel while counting the teeth until you get back to your mark. 41 teeth = 4.10, 43 teeth = 4.30 etc etc

I would need the following information that can be found on your door jam sticker in the drivers door. Year, trim level (base, sr5, limited), 4 or 6cyl engine, factory tire size (15" or 16") A/TM code (this is axle and transmission code ) along with if your truck has the factory e locker and your verified gear ratio. A layout like this would be perfect (my truck).

96
SR5
V6
16"
A04A/A340
Yes E-Locker
Verified 4.30 Gear ratio

 

[the great him]

sorry not gonna work or be accurate.

i blew my rear 3rd a while back, got a replacement one from an identical truck, same year, same trim package ect ect ect, the only difference was the color, mine is dark red, his was white... well the "new" diff was 4:30s -no elocker.

the ring gear is the same thickness. in all of the toyota factory gears 4:10, 4:30, 4:56, 4:88, the pinion gear is the same size in all but the 4:88, that one is smaller. on the 4:88 geared trucks(this wont apply to our 4runners because we never got that option to my knowledge but im gonna cover it here just to cover my bases) the flange on the differential where the ring gear bolts on is actually thicker, thus that puts the ring gear closer to the pinion to make contact. so factory 4:88 trucks are unique and if thats what you have, you are stuck with those gears unless you swap out diffs. and you cant install and aftermarket diff and keep that ring and pinion -say like you want to install an ARB, you will have to buy a new ring and pinion from someone like nitro or yukon or sierra gear ect.

anyhow you can not always go by what the door says or the VIN. some people have found that while their door code and the VIN says one thing, what the actually have is another. in my case, im not sure what one of our rigs was labeled wrongly but one was. the only way to know for sure is to count teeth. if you get something other than 41 or 43 teeth on the ring gear you will need to count the number of pinion teeth as well.

i hope this helps and has not confused anyone, but simply going off of what a door says will not work, and you can not make an accurate list from that. toyota has had a habit of using what ever is on the shelf to complete the vehicle when it comes to parts like this. even with other things like window switches... i have seen base model cars with full auto up and down windows were other mid range cars have no auto anything on the windows... or daytime running lights on base model cars like camrys where i have seen SE trim level camrys with just on off, no auto or DRL -both were new on the lot cars too

 

[djskorch]

I wasnt planning to go off just the door code hence why I only wanted verified counted teeth and not just someones door code. That is where some of the confusion lies is in the door codes so I was hoping that doing some research may make sense of the correlation between door codes, model years/trim levels and actual ratios. Since we never got the 4.88's we "shouldnt" have to worry about the different pinion gearing.

If it comes down to it and I cannot find any pattern or logic to the madness, no harm no foul but I figured I would at least make the effort and try to come up with some sort of layout.

 

[PaperweightNate]

Did toyota just confetti gears into trucks or something? My door jam says its got 4.10's... I would thing different models would dictate different gears, but if two of the same year/make/model/sub-model had different ratios Toyota would be on the hot seat for not using any method to their mayhem.. you appear to know more about it than I do, so its more of a question than a statement.

 

[djskorch]

Did toyota just confetti gears into trucks or something? My door jam says its got 4.10's... I would thing different models would dictate different gears, but if two of the same year/make/model/sub-model had different ratios Toyota would be on the hot seat for not using any method to their mayhem.. you appear to know more about it than I do, so its more of a question than a statement.

That is kind of the current consensus that Toyota just threw whatever was available then and there into the current vehicle however that does not seem very logical in creating a vehicle. It also could cause legal and maintenance issues that the vehicle does not have the equipment specified in the required tags. Kind of like the recall for not including the airbag warning visor label in some vehicles.

This is why I would like to create a list in the hope of finding a method to their madness. If that means they did 6 month periods where one vehicle was using code "A" for one axle and then switching to another code for the same axle halfway through the year etc etc. Again, if not, no biggie but its worth a shot.

 

[steezemcqueen]

1997
SR5
V6 5 speed
16" from the factory
A03A/R150F
No E-locker from the factory but i swapped one in. The donor truck had the same A03A code
Verified 4.10 Gear ratio

 

[djskorch]

1997
SR5
V6 5 speed
16" from the factory
A03A/R150F
No E-locker from the factory but i swapped one in. The donor truck had the same A03A code
Verified 4.10 Gear ratio

So just to clarify, the donor truck you got the elocker from had an A03A code and had a 4.10 gear ratio as well as your truck from the factory had no elocker and also the A03A code and a 4.10? Do you by chance know any of the other info about the donor truck?

 

[steezemcqueen]

So just to clarify, the donor truck you got the elocker from had an A03A code and had a 4.10 gear ratio as well as your truck from the factory had no elocker and also the A03A code and a 4.10 also? Do you by chance know any of the other info about the donor truck?

Correct. Both were 4.10's and had the A03A code. Donor truck had a E-locker and mine did not.

Both were V6/5 speeds. Donor was a 1996 and mine is a 1997. I believe the donor had 16's from the factory as well.

 

[djskorch]

Correct. Both were 4.10's and had the A03A code. Donor truck had a E-locker and mine did not.

Both were V6/5 speeds. Donor was a 1996 and mine is a 1997. I believe the donor had 16's from the factory as well.

Perfect. Added to my list. Thanks

 

[02SE]

Bought new off the lot in '97
1997
SR5
V6
5 speed
Optional 16" wheels and tires, and 12.5" rotors
A03A/R150F
E-locker from the factory
Monroney sticker also states the 4.10 gear ratio
Verified 4.10 Gear ratio
This is how I've invariably seen 4Runners geared with the factory installed E-locker.

V6 auto trans. 4.30
V6 manual trans. 4.10
I4 manual trans. 4.56

I haven't seen an I4 equipped with an auto trans, that also had the E-locker.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I have a 2000 I4 equipped with an auto trans, but you are correct, it does not have an E-locker. Also it's 2wd. Axle code is A02A, but I have not confirmed that it is in fact 3.72 ratio.

 

[steezemcqueen]

My 2000 4Runner 4 cylinder had 4.10's. Door jamb code was A03A and verified with the spin test.

 

[djskorch]

awesone guys. keep em coming. so far everything seems pretty on point. im waiting for that first one that will throw a wrench in the logic

 

[xcmtb83]

I don't think the 4 digit door codes are accurate for 3rd gens. They might be accurate for pre 3rd gen 4Runners. I have always referred to what Sonoran Steel has in their FAQ section.

http://www.sonoransteel.com/include...eel/TechArticles/1996-2004ToyotaGearRatio.pdf

The thing to be careful of is on the sticker it may list a smaller tire size than what the vehicle actually came with. Because of this there are multiple options on the pdf.

 

[UnderFire]

1997
2WD
4 Cyl, 5 Speed
15" w/ 225/75
Door code A01A/W59
Confirmed diff ratio = 3.73

 

[djskorch]

I don't think the 4 digit door codes are accurate for 3rd gens. They might be accurate for pre 3rd gen 4Runners. I have always referred to what Sonoran Steel has in their FAQ section.

http://www.sonoransteel.com/include...eel/TechArticles/1996-2004ToyotaGearRatio.pdf

The thing to be careful of is on the sticker it may list a smaller tire size than what the vehicle actually came with. Because of this there are multiple options on the pdf.

this is why i am doing this. i am hoping to find a relation in the way things are coded vs what is actually there. i know the based on what we know now, the door code may be wrong in some cases but if the pool of information is large enough, it may make sense (for example they used the a01a code for 3.73 gearing only in 96-97 4cyl 2wd and then changed it to a02a for the later years. codes are different but ratio is the same. this is just an example not a fact btw)

 

[homer124]

just finished putting in front diff last week

2001
4wd SR5
V6 3.4
265/70/R16
A340F

Not sure what an e-locker is but did verify it was 4.10 ratio

 

[piecesparts]

With the discussions of what the gearing numbers are, does anyone know what the Overdrive ratio is on the automatic with a V6 engine? If the output is known for the tranny and the tire size is known, then the rear axle gearing can be calculated fairly easy.

Example:
Axle ratio = RPMs X Tire diameter
MPH X Tranny Output ratio X 336

 

[djskorch]

With the discussions of what the gearing numbers are, does anyone know what the Overdrive ratio is on the automatic with a V6 engine? If the output is known for the tranny and the tire size is known, then the rear axle gearing can be calculated fairly easy.

Example:
Axle ratio = RPMs X Tire diameter
MPH X Tranny Output ratio X 336

Thanks for that formula however it is not really necessary for what I am trying to do here.

I am simply trying to see if there is any correlation between the trim/year/door code and what is actually in the vehicle. I guess people could use this formula to determine what is in their vehicle however, without doing a precise measurement on the tires ( one companys 33" tire may only be 32.5 while another's is 33.5") this could cause the numbers to be incorrect. Also, they would need a more precise way of monitoring mph as the cluster is not 100% accurate.

Thanks

 

[djskorch]

just finished putting in front diff last week

2001
4wd SR5
V6 3.4
265/70/R16
A340F

Not sure what an e-locker is but did verify it was 4.10 ratio

A key piece of information is missing here. On the door sticker code next to the A340F, it should also say "A01A or A02A" or something similar. The A340F is your trans code, the other is your axle code.

Thanks