cost for a solid axle swap 89-94

Brendan · 01-25-2005, 01:20 PM

i'm looking around at getting it done and would like to know what people are paying for it. Obviously there are many variables in the equation, but for those that have paid for it, what exactly did you have done and who did it (yourself, backyard mechanic, shop)?

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jimbo74 · 01-25-2005, 02:09 PM

i have looked around @ doing it for my 4x4 to sas conversion on my 4x2....

depends on what you can find the axle for... and how much work you can do... i will be doing all my own sourcing of parts, have about $500 slated for the axle, and will be using as many used parts as possible... total for me after all the parts will be about $1500, from there, labor to have the main stuff welded will probably be around $500... depends on how the axle is set up as well, i dont want the birfields, so i plan on using the modified d44 replacent which will add another $600 to the equation

Flygtenstein · 01-25-2005, 02:51 PM

Marlin quotes 1500 on their site in labor. Figure another 1500 for suspension type parts for the swap. The still does not include an axle. You can stupidly put an open diff, stock geared axle up front and only spend money for a rebuild kit, or you can drop 1500 for a high pinion, regeared diff and another grand for a shaved, trussed, Longfield filled axle with a wide axle kit.

It is not cheap, but you will know when it is time. Then there will be no asking about prices.

Nitro Hotpants · 01-25-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flygtenstein

Marlin quotes 1500 on their site in labor. Figure another 1500 for suspension type parts for the swap. The still does not include an axle. You can stupidly put an open diff, stock geared axle up front and only spend money for a rebuild kit, or you can drop 1500 for a high pinion, regeared diff and another grand for a shaved, trussed, Longfield filled axle with a wide axle kit.

It is not cheap, but you will know when it is time. Then there will be no asking about prices.

Cheese knows whats up!

If you're going to do it, might as well go balls to the wall and get all the bling items right off the bat. At least thats just my $.02

rockota · 01-25-2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flygtenstein

Marlin quotes 1500 on their site in labor. Figure another 1500 for suspension type parts for the swap. The still does not include an axle. You can stupidly put an open diff, stock geared axle up front and only spend money for a rebuild kit, or you can drop 1500 for a high pinion, regeared diff and another grand for a shaved, trussed, Longfield filled axle with a wide axle kit.

It is not cheap, but you will know when it is time. Then there will be no asking about prices.

Yup - and in my opinion, Marlin's price is more than reasonable...

**waskillywabbit** · 01-25-2005, 05:15 PM

I didn't do a solid axle swap as mine already had one...

BUT IMO...

...if you want a SAS'd rig and are worried about money, you'd better not bother.

NCSU-4runner · 01-25-2005, 05:15 PM

maybe im a little more stingy but i wouldnt pay ANYONE 1500 to do a SAS, i paid $200 for welding and thats it, did the rest myself with hand tools and NO experience. Its not hard.

**waskillywabbit** · 01-25-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCSU-4runner

maybe im a little more stingy but i wouldnt pay ANYONE 1500 to do a SAS, i paid $200 for welding and thats it, did the rest myself with hand tools and NO experience. Its not hard.

...and yours is still sitting in the driveway and hasn't moved in what...2 years since you did it!

Yep, $1500 to do an SAS is crazy...but I can see why they charge that because it is time consuming...you learn much more about your rig either doing it yourself or helping someone help you.

WolfpackTLC · 01-25-2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

...and yours is still sitting in the driveway and hasn't moved in what...2 years since you did it!

Yep, $1500 to do an SAS is crazy...but I can see why they charge that because it is time consuming...you learn much more about your rig either doing it yourself or helping someone help you.

Damn... ha ha ha....

But seriously....

Aww... now be nice.... we/he also threw in suspension upgrades, a SAS, fuel tank relocates, and d-shafts.... ALL AT ONCE.

And it does/ did move thank you very much... it's getting sliders and a t-case brace as we speak...

Ha ha ha....

NCSU-4runner · 01-25-2005, 07:24 PM

thats completely un-related to the axle swap

. SAS was a one day event. And its not 2 years YET, 1 year : 2 months : and 20 something days since the truck moved on its own, about 7 months since i did the SAS

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

...and yours is still sitting in the driveway and hasn't moved in what...2 years since you did it!

Yep, $1500 to do an SAS is crazy...but I can see why they charge that because it is time consuming...you learn much more about your rig either doing it yourself or helping someone help you.

NCSU-4runner · 01-25-2005, 07:28 PM

to get back on topic, theres pics from my SAS day here

My SAS

**waskillywabbit** · 01-25-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCSU-4runner

And its not 2 years YET, 1 year : 2 months : and 20 something days since the truck moved on its own, about 7 months since i did the SAS

Fahrenheit 451 · 01-25-2005, 07:37 PM

Let's not forget that the $1500 labor only gets the SAS done leaving the rearend sitting some 5.5" below the front. Swapping coils, links, panhard brackets or going the full monty and doing a leaf spring conversion is another $700 just in parts potentially. After all that, you have a well set up leaf spring all around vehicle that can't get out of the garage because you still need new drivelines. Not for the weak of heart or wallet. I figure on someday finally parting with my '85 and doing the full front and rear swap on my '93 and no doubt it will cost all my '85 and much more!

Trailtoy1993 · 01-28-2005, 11:29 PM

I think I have about $8-900 usd wrapped up in my d44 sas. I did everything myself and would be happy to do another one, probably charge around $3400 to do the project including axle, regear and new bearings and crossover steering. The parts would be rebuit junkyard stuff of course. I would also raise backend to match.

**waskillywabbit** · 01-29-2005, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailtoy1993

I think I have about $8-900 usd wrapped up in my d44 sas. I did everything myself and would be happy to do another one, probably charge around $3400 to do the project including axle, regear and new bearings and crossover steering. The parts would be rebuit junkyard stuff of course. I would also raise backend to match.

I notice a $2500+ difference there, which wouldn't make it much less expensive than buying NEW parts and just paying the labor straight up. Is the backend raise to match included?

I still say that folks worried about "how much it costs" or "I want to do it cheap" need to just buy a Toyota Camry Daily Driver and stay on the pavement...cause it ain't cheap if done right.

rockota · 01-29-2005, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

I still say that folks worried about "how much it costs" or "I want to do it cheap" need to just buy a Toyota Camry Daily Driver and stay on the pavement...cause it ain't cheap if done right.

Agreed 150%.

It's really all simple math, and there is a WIDE range of prices that it can be done for.
Front axle: $200-1200
knuckle rebuild: $100
Rotors: $100
Setup 3rd: $200-1500
Brake Lines: $75
Shock Mounts: $30-100
Shocks: $60-200
Inners: $0-300
Birfs: $0-300
Springs: $0-300
Hanger: $50-150
Shackles: $10-80
Steering: $400
Install: $0-1500
Total: $1225 - 6305 is the range it will likely fall in.

NCSU-4runner · 01-29-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

cause it ain't cheap if done right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockota

Total: $1225 - 6305 is the range it will likely fall in.

I'll have about 4k in suspension F/R when in done, including dual air lockers (most expensive single components)

Trailtoy1993 · 01-29-2005, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

I notice a $2500+ difference there, which wouldn't make it much less expensive than buying NEW parts and just paying the labor straight up. Is the backend raise to match included?

I still say that folks worried about "how much it costs" or "I want to do it cheap" need to just buy a Toyota Camry Daily Driver and stay on the pavement...cause it ain't cheap if done right.

Yeah the $2500 difference is the fact that it is very labor intensive. It is cheap if you do EVERYTHING yourself, and use all boneyard parts. Oh yes, and the back end lift would be 64" chev springs, new spring hangers, and longer shackles.

01-25-2005, 05:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
waskillywabbit Super Moderator-Sponsoring Member Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 14,548	I didn't do a solid axle swap as mine already had one... BUT IMO... ...if you want a SAS'd rig and are worried about money, you'd better not bother. __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC MySpace Twitter Facebook 7th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, 2010 The toughest part of a Jeep is the chick driving it. WabFab Off-Road 4th Anniversary Sale

01-25-2005, 05:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
NCSU-4runner Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 1,597	maybe im a little more stingy but i wouldnt pay ANYONE 1500 to do a SAS, i paid $200 for welding and thats it, did the rest myself with hand tools and NO experience. Its not hard. __________________ Jeremy, 94 4Runner Turbo Leaf Spring SAS front - Coilover 4link rear (starts December) / Supra Swap My Truck is featured on Supracharged.com - Home of the original Supra swap and Forum One of two things will happen, I will die, or the truck will be finished. I'm not sure which will be first.

01-25-2005, 07:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
NCSU-4runner Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 1,597	to get back on topic, theres pics from my SAS day here My SAS __________________ Jeremy, 94 4Runner Turbo Leaf Spring SAS front - Coilover 4link rear (starts December) / Supra Swap My Truck is featured on Supracharged.com - Home of the original Supra swap and Forum One of two things will happen, I will die, or the truck will be finished. I'm not sure which will be first.

01-28-2005, 11:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
Trailtoy1993 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wheelin' Washington Posts: 35	I think I have about $8-900 usd wrapped up in my d44 sas. I did everything myself and would be happy to do another one, probably charge around $3400 to do the project including axle, regear and new bearings and crossover steering. The parts would be rebuit junkyard stuff of course. I would also raise backend to match. __________________ Trailtoy1993 '93 Xtra cab SR5 V6 Dana 44 SAS Locked, 33" TXR's or Boggers (soon to be 36" IROK's) ICE

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01-25-2005, 02:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
jimbo74 Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 6,582	i have looked around @ doing it for my 4x4 to sas conversion on my 4x2.... depends on what you can find the axle for... and how much work you can do... i will be doing all my own sourcing of parts, have about $500 slated for the axle, and will be using as many used parts as possible... total for me after all the parts will be about $1500, from there, labor to have the main stuff welded will probably be around $500... depends on how the axle is set up as well, i dont want the birfields, so i plan on using the modified d44 replacent which will add another $600 to the equation

01-25-2005, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flygtenstein Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 4,246	Marlin quotes 1500 on their site in labor. Figure another 1500 for suspension type parts for the swap. The still does not include an axle. You can stupidly put an open diff, stock geared axle up front and only spend money for a rebuild kit, or you can drop 1500 for a high pinion, regeared diff and another grand for a shaved, trussed, Longfield filled axle with a wide axle kit. It is not cheap, but you will know when it is time. Then there will be no asking about prices.

01-25-2005, 07:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Fahrenheit 451 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: western Colorado Posts: 590	Let's not forget that the $1500 labor only gets the SAS done leaving the rearend sitting some 5.5" below the front. Swapping coils, links, panhard brackets or going the full monty and doing a leaf spring conversion is another $700 just in parts potentially. After all that, you have a well set up leaf spring all around vehicle that can't get out of the garage because you still need new drivelines. Not for the weak of heart or wallet. I figure on someday finally parting with my '85 and doing the full front and rear swap on my '93 and no doubt it will cost all my '85 and much more!

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