Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

K

 

Problem solved

 

Next project will be swapping in a 8.75" axle out of a third gen Tacoma. Already have a spare 4.88 and 5.29 e locker diffs sitting in the garage. We shall see how it handles the abuse.

 

For the 3rd Gen’s in here that have shock hoops in the engine bay. How do you have your intake routed (pics?). Trying to help a local guy with his options.

 

First trip is in the books after the SAS, completed the Rubicon Trail (attended the Rubithon event last week). I took my wife and 2.5yo son, drove to the trail (from San Diego, no trailering), made it through the trail, and drove back home without any issues.

I made it up Soupbowl which was awesome! Someone there said they thought I was the first 3rd gen 4Runner to complete that obstacle, anyone here know if that’s true or not?

Some photos:

 

All in all the 4Runner performed exceptionally well, but there is definitely room for improvement. I do want to add light sway bar (rear) and hydro assist - I was doing some research on adding hydro assist so I figure I’d ask my questions here.

1- My plan is to get a 1.75”x6” ram from PSC, and have one end mount to the passenger knuckle (rather than to the tie rod), would 1.75” be the best size or does anyone recommend 1.5” or 2” instead? Keep in mind I’ll be driving this on the highway to/from the trails and it’s on tons and 40s.

2- What pump should I run? I’m looking at a pump from a 4.7L Jeep WJ, has anyone else ran this pump on a 5VZ? Just looking for more info (how to mount the res, any porting/spring mods, etc.)

 

1.75 or 1.5 would be fine. Pretty sure I use a 1.75x8

I run at a 4.5 gpm radial dynamics trail pump which made a big difference over the 2.5 or whatever the psc pump was. Just have to drill out the one hole to fit the trail gear power steering pump mount. I’d run a trail gear pump considering the cost of the radial dynamics pump costs.

 

Heat is a pic of my 14 Tacoma with solid axles.
Definitely not on the same level as the builds I see on this thread but I'll keep working on it.

 

Not true, I seen a handful of third gen up soup bowl. There’s a bunch of capable 3G 4Runner in Sac area.

btw, what’s your wms? Those axles look wide, are you running wheel spacers? What year 1t axle?

 

Adding a rear sway will be super easy and simple. It’s straight forward for a non-steering setup. You’ll be surprise at how much a rear can do but with a front too, man, it’s night and day difference.

IIRC years ago from research, the larger the bore for a ram, the slower it takes to turn. I’m running a 1.75x6.75 and it work well with 40 and 42. I drive mine to and from the trail, get groceries, and anywhere I want. You might want to go with x8 instead of x6 due to the turning radius 1t axle has compared to Toyota, which uses x6

 

Here's a picture of the front and rear axles that I swapped in. Still working on it but it's getting there.

 

hopefully the front axle hanger isn’t 1/8” thick (picture can be deceiving) and at a minimum 3/16” or 1/4”. I seen 3/16” square/rectanglar tube buckle/warp/bend with weight/impact over time.

also, the rear brake lines at the end, why not run out over the springs? Anything that hangs will become anchor and the last things you want is a broken brake line on the trail.

 

Yep the flex lines front and rear somewhat stuck on and over axle believe it or not I never thought of that.
The spring hanger is almost a quarter inch thick but it does bolt up to the existing crossmember. Hopefully it's not going to be a problem. Here's a picture

 

And I thought the TG kit was expensive! I'm hoping to piece together a much cheaper alternative (hence the WJ pump, I'd probably just pick up one from a junkyard).

That’s what I was thinking, I would’ve been surprised if no other 3G4R had done it before (though I did a quick social media search though and I couldn't find anything).

WMS-WMS is 69.25" in the front and 68.5" in the rear, wheels are 17x9 Raceline Avengers with 4.5" backspacing (no spacers). Both front and rear axles are from a 2004 F250.

Good to know the 1.75x6.75 size works well for you! I want to weld a mount to the passenger-side knuckle (rather than a tie rod mount) so the throw will be shorter, ~6".

 

If a 6” fit, send it, less to package.

Majority of the folks who built their rigs aren’t on the gram or facebook. Like me. lol. I’m surprised I’m on TW, haha. So it’ll be hard to find a specific rig complete a specific obstacle. It’s 2025, I’m sure many had done it in the late 90s with their 3G4R at one point or another. Glad you made it up and got it checked off from your radar list. Hopefully Dusy Ershim is on your radar, it’s 3x more difficult and longer to complete vs Rubicon.

 

I’m the same way, I quit social media years ago and have zero desire to go back.

I may do the Dusy Ershim trail this fall, there were a few others at Rubithon that were wanting to get a group together and run it (another 3G4R, a 1G4R, and an 80 series LC). Funny that you say it’s harder than the Rubicon, I’ve talked with so many guys that say “the Dusy is way harder” and so many that say “no, the Rubicon is way harder”… I’ll reserve judgement until I do it. Do you think it’s actually a more difficult trail (like does it have more technical obstacles) or do you think it’s mostly harder because it’s much longer?

 

Length isn’t the issue, obstacles is. Ton of off camber and oh shit rock.

 

I went down to a 1.5” bore ram from a 1.75” and it appreciably sped up my steering and hasn’t left me wanting for power. I run an 8” stroke ram since I’m on custom drilled FROR steering arms instead of standard mini hi-steer arms

 

There is a group in Cali, that has a bunch of SAS Toyota’s that run the Rubicon and Fordyce a lot. https://youtube.com/@wontontacoadventures?si=5EVJpftudLvQ-Eg7

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqgohnye9O/?igsh=MW1vcjR1eHE3bDZ5aw==

 

This is the dream thread no doubt! Does anyone have a parts list for the Martec Engineering kits? I'm looking to price out the parts portion. Also thoughts on the Martec 3 link front kit and there 3 link leaf delete kits?