1st Gen Rear Axle swap for LT front

What’s happening everyone, I have a 03 Tacoma with a 3.5 MCM LT kit in the front and my rear currently has the stock e locker and 4.10, a longer set of leafs(front hanger moved forward ~4in) with 3” lift block and shims. The rear rides like shit. (No duh!)

I bought some 7in shackles to replace my stock shackles and to remove the lift block. Truck is on jack stands right now but I haven’t messed with the shackles yet. I don’t know if this will work or not without moving the front hanger again. Any ideas?


And the main topic. I am looking to revamp the rear set up. I found a Ford 9” (lighter then 14 bolt and others plus I like the third members/carriers) that seems to be a pretty good deal.

I am wanting to regear and it seems like it wouldn’t be vastly much more than gearing (~double $$ what I was quoted for just regearing stock axles) to get everything geared and this rear end caged and shocked.

Would a Ford 9” be a good axle to swap? It’s 65”wms and my front is ~67wms so it gets a lot closer then stock width.

Also what suspension style would y’all suggestion? It’s going to be a overland with higher speeds and street-able. I was thinking SUA and maybe a traction bar?

lemme hear your ideas! I’m new to serious modification, so lemme know if there’s flaws in my reasoning. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

I've got a stripped down Sequoia axle in my garage waiting for me to science out the leafs on my truck (which is currently cut apart). The sequoia axle is ~66" WMS and factory disc brakes with a inner drum for parking brake which is convenient for putting on the taco.

 

Here's some links:

Do a search for "52.5" which is the "magic number" between the front pivot and the rear shackle pivot above the frame to find tons of info:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-with-rear-leaf-mounts.227688/#post-5337762
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/nathans-long-travel-build.217479/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/first-gen-f67-install-critique-advice.349589/#post-9360641

62" Deaver H70 aka Deaver E30's are the best springs to use to keep your ride height.

You can make your own 12" shackles and use some 1 3/4 120 wall tube to make the pivots and use Total Chaos or other bushings that fit of course. If it's easier and you can afford it here's the parts needed:

Total Chaos (Expensive-ish) Parts

https://www.chaosfab.com/accessories/1996-2004-Tacoma-Front-Spring-Hangers-40060
https://www.chaosfab.com/accessories/1996-2004-Tacoma-Shakle-Pivot-Gussets-40450
https://www.chaosfab.com/accessories/1996-2004-Toyota-Tacoma-U-Bolt-Plates-40020
https://www.chaosfab.com/accessories/1996-2004-Tacoma-12-inch-Chromoly-Shackles-41200

Lots of guys use a 1st Gen Tundra axle which is essentially the same thing as the Sequoia axle posted above and works with the drive shaft and Taco brake master cylinder well. You won't be able to swap the e locker into either without a huge headache. You'll have to fab a little for the e-brake to work.

9 inch is an upgrade over the Taco diff and you can use this adapter for the driveshaft with no other modifications:

https://trail-gear.com/axles/driveline-flange-fd-9-to-toyota.html

I had a quote for less than $600 shipped for a pair of 6x5.5 lug pattern axle shafts from Dutchman Axle.

 

@Speedytech7 i never even thought about the sequoia axles.

 

Thats the first time I’ve heard of that 52.5 I’ll definitely search the forms for that more. Thank you for the links. It sounds like I’m definitely going to go with the Ford 9” since it’s a pretty good price.

this is my current set up, I’m not sure what the leafs are, some set of 62s, maybe deavers. Center front bolt to center rear bolt is 57inches. Stupid idea to try to just take the blocks out and put in the new shackles in the last picture? The shackles are just to find a slight improvement over the blocks until I do the new rear end.

 

Given the choice Dalandser, would you go with a Ford 9 inch or a Tundra/Sequoia axle for swapping into a 1st Gen? It seems the 9in has a lot more aftermarket support, but the Tundra will be much easier to swap into the Taco, as far as lug pattern, and driveline bolt pattern, and the master cylinder adaptability.

 

Pretty much - Tundra axle with the drum brakes is a direct replacement with the addition of spring perches and bump stop strike pads if you're installing hydro bumps. 9" you'd have to have axle flanges redrilled or new shafts, remove the lspv and replace it with a manual proportioning valve, and possibly replace the master cylinder if the brakes aren't working well with rear disks. Pinion flange is probably the easiest thing to replace if you get that trail gear adapter.

 

Good stuff! Thanks for the info! I ended up getting a 65” wms Ford 9” with 31 spine Detroit and axles (5 lug). Everything else there, including ebrake lines, just no ring and pinion, delivered to my house for $700.

I’ll be posting it on my build page as time goes on. Thank you again for the info.

 

Where’d you get it from?

 

Facebook market place. Haha. If you’re in SoCal I saw a couple others in hemet/Temecula area for sale, complete no locker, 4.88s.

 

Ah right on thanks man, I’m in the Bay Area

 

@Speedytech7 ,

Just bumping this thread regarding your Sequoia rear axle since i am thinking about this path for my build. Correct width, disk brakes, matched bolt pattern, parking brake and possible cheap prices from junkyard. That checks all the boxes for me.

Cheers, Chris

 

Your braking may be affected by rear disks. The SOS Sequoia mc swap works well with 01-04 trucks with ABS (single diaphragm booster).