Yukon Gear 5.29 Ring & Pinion Gear Set | Toyota 8" V6 / Turbo 4WD (1986-95 4Runner / 1986-95 Pickup)
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Yukon Gear V6/Turbo 5.29 Ring & Pinion Gear Set
For 1986–1995 Toyota 4Runner and 1986–1995 Toyota Pickup 4WD with Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Rear Differential
Overview
The Yukon Gear V6/Turbo 5.29 Ring & Pinion Gear Set is a deep-ratio differential upgrade for Toyota 4WD trucks and SUVs equipped with the V6/Turbo-style Toyota 8-inch rear third member.
With a 5.29:1 gear ratio, this setup increases mechanical advantage compared with taller factory gearing, making it well suited to larger tires, low-speed trail driving, rock crawling, and other applications where increased low-speed gearing is preferred.
This gear set uses a 29-spline pinion. Vehicles retaining factory 27-spline pinion hardware require the appropriate 29-spline companion flange, pinion seal, and pinion nut. A configuration including these conversion components is available for applicable 27-spline installations.
Key Features
- 5.29:1 ring and pinion gear ratio
- Designed for the Toyota 8" V6/Turbo rear differential
- 8.125-inch ring gear diameter
- Heavy-duty 29-spline pinion
- 10 ring gear bolts
- High-grade steel ring and pinion construction
- Gear-tooth surface finishing designed to reduce friction and heat
- Deep ratio well suited to larger tires and low-speed off-road use
- Available with or without 29-spline conversion hardware
- Professional differential setup required
Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential Identification
The Toyota V6/Turbo rear differential is different from the standard 4-cylinder Toyota 8-inch third member.
V6 / Turbo Toyota 8" Differential
- Typically identified by four reinforcement ribs and a trapezoid-shaped upper rib
- Commonly associated with 22R-TE and 3VZ-E applications
- Uses the separate V6/Turbo-style gear set
Standard 4-Cylinder Toyota 8" Differential
- Commonly found in 20R, 22R, and 22RE applications
- Typically identified by three external reinforcement ribs
- Uses this 4-cylinder-style ring and pinion gear set
Fitment should be confirmed by the installed differential, especially on vehicles that have undergone axle, engine, or third-member swaps.
Toyota 8" Differential Identification
Toyota used different 8-inch third-member designs across these vehicles, so identifying the installed differential before ordering is important.
V6 / Turbo Toyota 8" Differential
- Typically identified by four reinforcement ribs and a trapezoid-shaped upper rib
- Commonly associated with 22R-TE and 3VZ-E applications
- Uses this V6/Turbo-style ring and pinion gear set
Standard 4-Cylinder Toyota 8" Differential
- Commonly found in 20R, 22R, and 22RE applications
- Typically identified by three external reinforcement ribs
- Uses the separate 4-cylinder-style ring and pinion gear set
Because Toyota 8-inch third members are frequently swapped between vehicles, verify the actual differential installed rather than relying solely on engine type.
Vehicle Fitment
4WD models with the Toyota 8-inch V6/Turbo rear differential only.
Toyota 4Runner
- 1986–1987 Toyota 4Runner – 1st Gen – 22R-TE Turbo – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
- 1988–1989 Toyota 4Runner – 1st Gen – 3VZ-E V6 – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
- 1990–1995 Toyota 4Runner – 2nd Gen – 3VZ-E V6 – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
Toyota Pickup
- 1986–1987 Toyota Pickup – 2nd Gen – 22R-TE Turbo – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
- 1988 Toyota Pickup – 2nd Gen – 3VZ-E V6 – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
- 1989–1995 Toyota Pickup – 3rd Gen – 3VZ-E V6 – Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Differential – Rear Only
Fitment Notes
- Rear differential application only
- Toyota 8-inch V6/Turbo-style third member required
- 5.29:1 gear ratio
- 29-spline pinion
- Factory 27-spline applications require a compatible 29-spline companion flange, pinion seal, and pinion nut
- Does not fit the standard 4-cylinder Toyota 8-inch third member
- Does not fit the Toyota 7.5-inch IFS front differential
- On 4WD vehicles, front and rear differential ratios must match before engaging four-wheel drive
- Verify the installed third member on vehicles with drivetrain or axle modifications
- Professional installation and differential setup are required
- Correct pinion depth, bearing preload, backlash, and gear-tooth contact pattern must be established during installation
- Proper ring-and-pinion break-in should be completed after installation
Product Specifications
Brand: Yukon Gear & Axle
Product Type: Ring & Pinion Gear Set
Differential: Toyota 8" V6/Turbo Rear
Ring Gear Diameter: 8.125 Inches
Gear Ratio: 5.29:1
Pinion Spline: 29-Spline
Ring Gear Bolts: 10
Material: High-Grade Steel
Position: Rear
Drivetrain: 4WD
Installation: Professional Differential Setup Required
Choosing 4.56 vs. 4.88 vs. 5.29 Gears
Gear-ratio selection should account for tire diameter, tire and wheel weight, transmission, permanent vehicle weight, highway use, terrain, and future tire plans. Larger or heavier tires reduce effective gearing, while bumpers, winches, sliders, skid plates, recovery gear, spare-tire carriers, roof racks, tools, and camping equipment increase the load the drivetrain must move.
The ranges below are Preserve Rad selection guidance for Toyota V6/Turbo 4WD builds rather than hard fitment limits. Two vehicles with the same tire diameter can benefit from different gearing when their transmissions, wheel/tire weights, permanent equipment, terrain, or highway usage differ.
Gear Ratio Selection Guide
| Gear Ratio | Best Tire Range | Typical Sweet Spot | Added Equipment | Best Use | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon 4.56 | 30–32 in. | 31 in. | Stock to lightly modified; approximately 0–200 lb of permanent added equipment | Daily driving, highway use, light trail use | Balanced cruising RPM and acceleration; mildest gearing of these three ratios |
| Yukon 4.88 | 32–34 in. | 33 in. | Moderately equipped; approximately 200–500 lb of permanent added equipment | Mixed street/trail use, hills, moderate overland builds | Strong all-around choice for 33-inch tires with more mechanical advantage than 4.56 |
| Yukon 5.29 | 34–36+ in. | 35 in. | Heavily equipped; approximately 500+ lb, or a particularly heavy wheel/tire package | Trail use, mountain driving, heavy overland builds, low-speed use | Most mechanical advantage of these three ratios, with higher highway engine RPM |
Tire Size & Vehicle Weight Guide
| Tire Size | Light / Near-Stock Build | Moderately Equipped | Heavy / Trail-Focused Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–31 in. | 4.56 | 4.56 | 4.88 |
| 32 in. | 4.56 | 4.88 | 4.88 |
| 33 in. | 4.88 | 4.88 | 4.88–5.29 |
| 34 in. | 4.88 | 4.88–5.29 | 5.29 |
| 35 in. | 5.29 | 5.29 | 5.29 |
| 36–37 in. | 5.29 | 5.29 | 5.29 |
Tire weight matters, not just diameter. A heavy mud-terrain tire on a steel wheel places more demand on the drivetrain than a lighter tire and wheel combination of the same diameter because the drivetrain must accelerate additional rotating mass.
Permanent vehicle weight can justify deeper gearing. Steel bumpers, winches, armor, sliders, skid plates, spare-tire carriers, tools, recovery equipment, camping gear, and other permanently carried equipment increase the load the engine must move. The weight ranges above are general selection guidance rather than fixed cutoffs.
Transmission and highway use matter. Automatic-transmission trucks and vehicles that spend substantial time climbing grades or carrying weight may favor deeper gearing sooner, while a lighter manual-transmission truck that spends most of its time at highway speed may favor the less aggressive ratio when tire size allows.
Future tire size matters. If a truck is currently on 33-inch tires but is being built around a planned move to 35-inch tires, choosing 5.29 gears can make more sense than gearing only for the current tire size and paying for another differential setup later.
Available Configurations
29-Spline Gears Only (Requires Conversion Hardware)
- (1) Yukon 5.29 Ring Gear
- (1) Yukon 5.29 Pinion Gear
- Requires existing compatible 29-spline pinion hardware or separately purchased conversion components
29-Spline Gears + 27-to-29 Spline Conversion Hardware Kit
- (1) Yukon 5.29 Ring Gear
- (1) Yukon 5.29 Pinion Gear
- (1) 29-Spline Companion Flange / Yoke
- (1) Pinion Seal
- (1) 29-Spline Pinion Nut
- Provides the required pinion hardware for converting factory 27-spline configurations to the 29-spline setup