I want to start collecting parts for my SAC on my '96 4Runner. The first, and most obvious item is an axle. I know some (or most??) use the Dana44 out of a Waggoneer (year model??). I was checking out All-Pro's web site. They have the Hybrid Dana60/Toyota axle. The All-Pro site said the Dana44 was hard to steer with wheel spacers and crossover steering and limited to what gears and lockers could be used to match the Toyota rear axle.Could some of you who have experience with one or both of these give me some feed-back. Also, I'd like some input on a three link with coilovers vs. a leafspring setup.

 

Check over on the TTORA site, those guys are loaded with info on the SAS and 3-link setup:

Solid Axle Swap Parts Thread
http://www.ttora.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=40

Solid Axle Swap Tech
http://www.ttora.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36

 

First, no one wants to see your SAC.

Second, there is lots of good reading to do on this.

Third, any axle is hard to steer with wheel spacers, that is the nature of the beast.

In part, suspension choice dictates axle choice.

I have Diamond axles from Front Range Off Road/Diamond Axle. They are Toyota based, custom width and just flat out bomber.

 

I don't know much about coilover conversions. I know they need to be setup right to work and not flop around too much. I have a sprung under "built" D44 on my '96 4Runner. It is simple, proven, and strong as hell.

Your design will depend a lot on how you use the truck, so think hard about that. On a 3rd gen its a huge project, and very expensive. Good luck, and keep us in the loop!

 

check your laws, some states you cant have the tires past the fender, i was reading somewhere, that a guy was being hassled by the police, for his tires 2" past his fenders, here in Colorado, i dont think they really care to much, but i personally dont want the tires sticking out past the fenders more than and inch or so, that being said, when,,,,,,,, i get to the point of "needing" a solid axle, im not going with a full width axle, and it will be a coil-over. like other said, research, research, research, and figure out what you want to do...
please keep us posted on your progress.

 

Thanks guys! The more I read and think about it, I'll probably just go with a spring over. Another question, how does the rig handle on road. I definately don't want to lose driveability. I know it won't handle and be smooth like IFS but how does it compare?

 

How does "what" handle, the coil-over, the spring-over, or the spring-under?

JGM, did you do the work yourself on your spring under?

 

I have done two. His and mine.

 

I'm wondering how the soa and ifs compare drivability wise (on road). The reason I'm asking is it's my daily driver, and probably will be for at least a couple more years.

 

oh, ok.....
don't know why the rolling eyes are needed, but ok.

 

I've heard from some that the SOA, if setup for a soft ride is really nice compared to the IFS.

Comfort was also high on my list, hence the Coil-overs. I wanted to have a great ride (daily driver) as well as super flex. My wifes uses the 4Runner as her daily driver.........

 

SteveO, what'd you do on the rear susp?

 

Swapping trucks is a series of compromises.

The truck, by default, will be taller from the suspension. It will also likely have larger tires, again adding height. Tall narrow trucks are going to handle differently than a stocker.

I combatted modest height with width.

 

I have a combination setup.

When I had coils, I had a set of Rancho 9K- 9-way adjustable shocks. I really like these shocks, so I wanted to incorporate them into my rear suspension, and did as you can see from the photo below. I ordered 5.5" (at the time they had 5.5" over stock) 57" springs from All-Pro with some Johnny joint shackles and spring perches. The Spring perches had to be modified to fit the larger tube axle, no problem there. Up above I made a custom cross-member to support the upper mounts for the shocks. Jason Blanchard came up with the idea of cutting some box tubing I had in half and using these as upper shocks mounts, simply an ingenious way to use scrap metal.

What you don't see in the below pictures is a custom battery mount I attached to the cross member and the custom track bar with a johnny joint to eliminate axle-wrap. Currently, the springs are rated at 250lbs/in. This works really well on the trail, but I find its a bit soft for carrying my load of junk to the trail. I'm looking at putting coils in place of the bump stops. This will give me a little larger load carrying capacity at a cheaper price. The springs handle the side loads very, very well. This past weekend, I was comfortable with a side lean of 30 degrees, with room to spare.

 

Yeah - I hypnotized Steve into swapping my truck. I just wanted to work the LONG list of parts for it. That is where the real fun is.

 

You've got a bullet proof rig now.