I've heard that the '85 axles are preferred if one is doing a SAS.
Is it a good idea to swap in an axle from a '85? Are the 85 axles that much stronger? Will the ring/pinion swap over?

 

The 85 front axle just has a little more gussetting than the 84, and the 84 than the 83, etc. Otherwise they are all the same, and the diffs are all the same. You can get gussets to strengthen an older axle from vendors or DIY, a lot easier than swapping an 85 for an 83.

 

Well, that answered my question.

Thanks.

 

Anytime

 

I'm not sure if the diffs are the same, my understanding is 83 and older run 4:11 gears while 84/85 run 4:10 gearing.

Kirby

 

I will check the gears to see what ratio they are and that they do infact match when I pickup the truck.

 

well some 4runners and some trucks came with 4.56s or 4.88s and my 80 truck has 4.37s, diff is the same. but different gears. they are all 8in axles.

 

That's true, there were different R&P tooth counts (around 1981), but it makes no difference, you can run a 4.10 and a 4.11 with no problems.