Toyota Gear Styles - Differences between 7.5", 8", 9.5", and more

Frankly, when you go to buy gears it can be a little confusing at first. There are different sizes that go on different Toyotas with a couple of oddballs. When you’re about to click “Buy now” it’s probably after squinting at the generic-sounding gear description and trying to guess if that’s what you need. So here we go:

We are only looking at ring and pinion sets, not differential housings. Make sure to check out our Toyota axle information and also the links at the bottom of the page.

Toyota Differentials and Gear Styles
Known as	Found in	Front or Rear	Ring gear bolts	High pinion or low pinion	Pinion spline count	Pinion nut size	Notes
7.5" IFS	1986-1995 IFS pickups and 4Runners, all 1993-1998 T100s	Front	10	Low pinion	23
7.5" IFS Late Model, Reverse Cut 7.5", High pinion 7.5"	1995-2003 Tacoma, 2000-2004 Tundra, 1996-2002 4Runners	Front	10	High pinion	23		Reverse cut gears
8" short pinion head, 4 cylinder gears	1979-1985 Toyota pickups and 4Runners	Front and rear	10 10mm	Low pinion	27	30mm
8" long pinion head, V6 gears, turbo gears	1986-1995 Pickups and 4Runners, 1996+ 4Runners	Rear	10 10mm	Low pinion	27	30mm	Note that these are used after 1986 in all trucks and 4Runners with every engine, including 4 cylinders!
8" factory 4.88	1992-1995 trucks and 4Runners with V6, auto tranny, 31" tires, and tow package	Rear	10 10mm	Low pinion	pre-1996 27	30mm	VERY SPECIAL! 4 pinion differential
High pinion 8" AKA Reverse cut 8"	1990-1997 FJ80 and FZJ80	Front	10	High pinion	29		Reverse cut gears
9.5" coarse pinion	1969-1978 Land Cruisers	Front and rear	12	Low pinion	1969-1978: 10 spline, 1979+: 27 spline	30mm	Can upgrade to a fine pinion with a 27 spline flange.
9.5" fine pinion	1979-1997 and earlier Land Cruisers	Rear in 80 Series, Front and rear in all other Cruisers	12	Low pinion	27	30mm

Links and Sources

ErikB’s Toyota Differential Info

Randy’s Ring and Pinion

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Johnson

Mike came out of the womb with a Birfield in one hand and a stick of 6010 in the other, ready to weld any piece of trail-busted steel back together. He has wheeled, broken, and modified a variety of rigs, from Toyotas to Jeeps to Fords to Chevies. He likes doing long distance overland travel and would happily spend every night in the bed of a pickup under the stars.

Last updated: June 3, 2019