I was looking at a shortbed for my truck today (mine is shot). I noticed that there was a 1985 SA on a skid. A SAS is on my "might do" list. Seeing that my truck is a daily driver, would doing a solid axle conversion severly hurt my ride quality, braking? What would be the lift gained on a straight SAS? Depends on springs?

I would like to put an IFS lift (4") under the truck, but those "knuckle adapters" do not look safe to me. I saw longer control arms. But is that just for more travel? You still need new torsion bars, correct?

I still have a bunch of things to fix before I make my decision.

 

IFS generally has a better highway ride, but suffers from less articulation than a SA.

 

pick up the axle for cheap incase u will do the swap b/c im sure it will get bought by the time u decide.

 

My swapped truck rides 1000000000000% better than my hammered IFS.

Compare apples to apples though.

A stock solid axle truck versus a stock IFS truck, IFS is probably the winner.

 

I never owned a stock SA rig, but I can tell you the stock IFS is fairly stiff. It definitely isn't a plush ride, but I imagine it to handle better than a stock sa rig.

 

Yep. My SAS'd '88 truck rides better than my thrashed IFS did. That said, my bone stock '94 truck rides better than my SAS'd '88.



89dlx, as to the IFS lift or SAS question, you'll know it when you need a SAS. No sense in doing it before that. Also, I'd steer clear of any IFS bracket/subframe lift kit. They just raise your center of gravity and allow for bigger tires, doing nothing at all to help with wheel travel or articulation.

As far as the amount of lift you'd end up with doing a SAS, figure 3"-4" minimum. You need 3" springs in order to run hi steer, and when you weld on the drop spring hanger that'll essentially give you another inch of lift. I'm running a Marlin Crawler spring hanger and shackles with Trail Gear 3" springs, and my truck is about 6" taller than stock.

 

IFS rides better, but the difference is more noticeable off-road than on-road. Handling is better with IFS on road, that's the biggest difference I see.

Solid axle ride and handling isn't objectionable by any means. If you can't stand the ride of a solid axle on road you probably shouldn't be driving a truck.

On road IFS is a little better than solid axle, off road solid axle is a lot better than IFS. So overall the gain is way on the positive side.

 

I find my SAS rides very well on the road. In fact, many people I have given rides to for one reason or another have expected to get thier teeth rattled out when they look at the truck... but are surprised on how smooth it actually rides.

As others have suggested, I'd probably buy the axle if you are thinking of doing the swap down the line if the price and condition seem reasonable. You should be able to sell it and get your money back or more should you decide to stay IFS.

Your questions about braking... my beaten up IFS was way more of a handful under the brakes with pivots and bushings and arms wandering around. Most swaps let you use IFS calipers and rotors (basically) so stopping power is the same.

I have no complaints about my SAS besides all the money I spent messing with IFS mods before I commited. Wish I has just SAS'd it to begin with and used that money on other stuff.

 

My IFS rides like crap.

It is comparable to stock SA. I have ridden/driven both.

It is way, way worse than a well done SAS.

 

Well I decided to get a 89 to 95 ext. cab truck. I'll SAS the ext. cab.

I'll still drive my std. cab truck, but decided not to lift or SAS it.
I'll see how much he wants for the axle when I pickup the bed for my truck this weekend.