Alright, I think it goes without saying one of the biggest controversies out there is the ifs vs. SAS question. I have researched it all up (or as much as I could) but still couldn't think of a good answer… so pricing aside, which is better?

It will be my daily driver, hopefully a 1996+ 4 runner (3rd gen had locking diffs in rear from what I'm told), 4 runner because so far I've found the most stick shifts as compared to jeeps… I will be doing some light pre running (nothing 12-15 inches of travel couldn't handle) and some crawling. Basically a all around rig that can go fast, have decent street manners and go crawl as needed.

I know that cv axles and joints are weak, but I would like to upgrade them to the rvc cv's… I've heard and read a lot of stories of ifs doing just as good a job at crawling as solid axle and vise versa but I still want a second opinion from other people who have wheeled ifs…What do you guys think



*If the picture came up, that was of my old jeep, it would be stuff like that and a tad bit gnarlier*

 

Not all 96-2002 4runners had elockers in the rear.

 

I think it comes down to just what you want.



If you were going to do a full out off road vehicle then perhaps .

Money aside I can think of better things to upgrade first.

Perhaps wait till you have something first if the IFS is in good shape run that and see how it works.

When major suspension and steering linkage needs replaced that might be the time

 

If you're doing pre-running, go with IFS. Id go with a long travel kit. SA is better for crawling cause of the strength, but I don't see why IFS couldn't be made to be just as strong, if not stronger than a stock SA. IFS is gonna be better for a daily as well.

I've always been of the opinion that you should run what you got until it breaks, then fix it stronger. It can always be stronger.

 

Get your vehicle first and drive it stock and upgrade accordingly.
Stock for stock ifs and a solid axle are very close in strength.

 

I like long travel for high speed and daily driver and solid axle for crawling,.
LT is better for all around imo

 

How long have you been wheeling? Have you ever wheeled and IFS? Was the heep the only off-road vehicle you've driven?

I ask these questions for a couple of reasons. First, I have an IFS 4Runner on 33's and have yet to go where I couldn't get back from (maybe it's because I'm a little scared of breaking something), but I know that my driving ability has not yet reached the capabilities of my truck. I'm just about to throw in some lockers and that will make those capabilities even further out.

Like said above, get a vehicle. And drive it, see what it can do, and see what you can do in it. You may find that you would much rather drop the $2k+ on something else.

 

Wheeling for about 2-3 years on and off, all my setups have been either sas or stock sa...Never truely wheeled a ifs unless you count just flat dirt trails....had a 91 Xj 4 inch lift on 33 s.... broke the back bumped, needed a recovery 3 times and almost rolled It 7 times (no typo), went througg 3 tires one if them being a thornburg, all where 12.5x33...I only had it about 2 months, haha I had no fear with that thing...I have pics to but can't figure out how to get them up

Had a 1991 Chevy 1500 as well, 6 inch block, 4 inch body on 37s, corporate 14 in rear and Dana 60 up front, and within the first 2 weeks I made it a 3 wheel driver instead of 4 and about a week after that I broke the transfer case in half... wheeled the piss out of that as well, had the same problem with uploading pics to:/

Never have done prerunning or wheeled an ifs but I'm afraid I'm gonna break a lot of stuff

I could go on for days but mainly I want to be able to go anywhere lol

 

My main problem with the jeep was it couldn't go where I wanted...I mean it did everything I could think of but the stuff I was trying I would need long travel and sway disconnects. ..I had a lift and tires and and cold air intake that's it on a automatic, that's it... putting that thing in some crazy trenches

I just am worried that I'll build this 4 runner and it will be the total opposite of what I want you know?

 

Sorry about multiple replys...

The other thing I'm worried about is drifting, once it's all set, are 4 runners a bit top heavy for prerunners? I'm worried if it breaks loose it'll catch and sushi roll down the road you know?



And all mods I apologize if this is to off topic with the jeep thing...just trying to give back round of my experience

 

sounds like you either need to adjust your driving style or get a rig that's more purpose-built for what you want to do, versus a rig that can also be a DD.

 

^^ sounds like you need to build a dedicated rock buggy/sand rail or something and lose the daily driver part of it

 

I never saw the appeal of SA, to be honest. Except for hauling big loads. I guess it probably lowers the COG. I see the strength thing, but until you break something that's a non-issue.

I always though it would be awesome to have a LT setup.
Ive never had a SA truck (except the f-550 I guess) but I have two quads that are identical except one has a solid rear and one has IRS and lockers. The lockers make the one unstoppable.

 

I think I'm going to try an ifs...just for funsies:p

We have a build thread right? This is my 2nd day in the site. ..gotta work 2 jobs to support this insane passion


What is a cog??? Like cog? Meaning front sprocket? Oorr???

 

Center of Gravity I mean it would probably be negligible but I think all that iron down low would lower the COG on a SA truck rather than on an IFS when the gears are all up high and whatnot

 

Here are some photos of my old rigs
These are all I could find before work

 

I have a 2001 Tacoma TRD with 8" e-locker rear and stock IFS front, of course. Wheeled with the IFS for 8 years and now it's time to "upgrade". The trick is to change it to a beam axle yet keep the road manners. I think I can do that.
This is not my first rodeo .......1st sas I did was in 1989 on a friends 1989 IFS truck( it was new and wrecked by a young kid so he got a good deal at the salvage yard for 1800 I think)
.............. truck #2 was a 91 IFS....
...........#3 was a 1992 IFS.....
Presently, my 2001 tie-rod ends/ball joints/control arm bushings are getting out of spec quick..... time to do something about it....gonna bite the bullet and probably do an SAS in a month or 2. Just have to decide on the parts. I have a rear and front complete axle housing assemblies from a 1985 FJ60 so the rear is a semi-float 9.5"....front is also 9.5" but uses the smaller mini-truck birfs which is ok with me at this point. See if I can shoot some pics.
The basic plan is to use the KISS principle......Keep It Simple Stupid!
Plan to fab my own Y-arm for the steering point on the passenger side steering arm. Shackle on the front of the leaf packs to keep the build simple(means that I can keep the stock slip joint on the DS....and no rubbing issues in the rear part of fender well because the tire travels in a straight up arc, steering box does not need to get pushed all the way forward).
ZUK

adding a few pics of what I have so far......
I beefed up the Allpro bumper for road duty protection.








rack and pinion to go bye-bye





the general lay-out of what I have



The housing will be flipped(all the work still needs to be done) so I can keep my chain driven left output transfercase.
Keeping the stock 410 gears and keep it open for now....matches the rear that way.





New rotors and all kinds of goodies were included in the package when I picked up this deal in Grand Junction, CO.

 

8 years on ifs?!

Is that prerunning or crawling or both? How crazy was it?

I originally was going functionality first but I have yet to push a ifs to its limits... well, find them anyway.... should I worry less about that and more about bumpers, cut outs for clearance needed in the future? Spare tire? Off Road tires?

Haha a lot to think about

 

Bought it in 2006. Daily driver 99% and 1% offroad. Mostly taking it to my favorite camping spots which usually isn't all that challenging and maybe twice a year on a IFS challenging trail that surprised my friends as to what that IFS can do. It does help that I had the e-locker and Auto tranny to make the obstacles appear easier
170k miles on this IFS so far and minimal trouble overall. Still the original wheel bearings and balljoints and tie-rods....and same rack/pinion with no changes yet.
My preferred choice would have been the FZJ80 1993~1997 extra wide front axle with the massive birfs but this FJ62 at 58.5" WWM with the monster 9.5" 3rd is aok also. Some 2" wide aluminum wheel spacers and all will be good on the width. Keep the front open and the tire size in control and the mini-truck birfs will never be an issue.
The cool part is gonna be the axle housing flip. I already verified that the 3rd can spin 180 degrees and bolt right down and it's centered for the axles just fine. Just have to spin the welded-on front cover....spin the knuckles....and tweak the perches.

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You should worry more about an Allpro set of weld-on sliders(price is right)..... maybe an air compressor....CB? tug strap

 

ZUK, hell yes.