2004 Tacoma SAS

I guess my biggest question, how much better if any is your Solid axle steering over the IFS steering that you started with?
I currently have a built 85 4runner with an FJ80 axle, I am familiar with toyota solid axle steering.

 

It’s hard for me to say, I didn’t drive it much stock but with the added wheel base and solid axle, on paper it would be less turning radius. I’ll compare it to my new truck and let you know.

 

Thanks.

 

Tire size must be considered too

 

An SAS with a mini truck axle usually ends up with a ton of scrub which is why they are generally known to turn poorly and break knuckle studs. Trail Gear's Knuckle balls do not neck down as much (for durability?) so they turn even worse than a stock housing.
Still, there are tons of built trucks on mini truck axles out there and they do work.

Per the FSM stock IFS will turn to 35°-38° on the inside wheel. Outside will be less due to ackerman. The steering stops are not adjustable.

A stock solid axle will be less per the FSM but they do have adjustable steering stop bolts.

I have an 80 series axle in my garage the FSM says 32° on the inside wheel. However the axle will turn 35° before the wipers start to touch and will even go to 38° if you dent the wiper seal retainers.

Sorry I have no real measurements on a mini axle. Don’t have one around. I suspect it will turn slightly less since the knuckles are smaller.

Keep in mind you will have to be pretty wide to use all of that steering with large tires though.

 

Good info! And +1 on the width. I can’t get my tires out of things!

 

I got a response from RCV, they said Max is 38.
I am thinking I will do an FJ80 +3" to make an overall 66" wide front.

 

66” would be nice. Being at 61”, I definitely see the need for width. If I could get another 2-3”, I could have avoided a lot of cutting and rubbing.

 

Busy couple of weeks lately. New floor board and cleaned/retimed/grey wire modded the e locker the new Tacoma, back half/63s on my brothers Tacoma, arb compressor install for a friend, and a quick fire in some snow!

My new red Tacoma will be getting a rear frame section next to address some rust. And while the interior is fully out anyways, I’ll do some sound deadening. I took the carpet to the car wash and got it looking much better!

 

Some solo cruising. Trying to put some miles on it with low air pressure to soften up the sidewalls on the tires a bit. Since these tires have never touched an actual highway/paved road they’re super stiff. This is about 4 psi and they barely looked aired down


Also got the other tacomas floor primed and seam sealed! Onto paint tomorrow.

 

I should probably make a thread for just the “rebuild” of this truck, but this is easier. Floor is done, interior is back together and bed is off for frame work!

 

Sawzall blew up 98% through the first frame rail so I was at a stand still.

Ordered a couple of these mag safe charger mounts (one for each truck). Still waiting for them to get here so I ran the mag safe and put in a USB-C power supply.


New superduties have these dual USB outlets in them, which just so happen to fit almost perfectly in the original cigarette lighter hole, then wired it to the cig lighter wiring. I’m a big fan of clean accessory installs, especially when they look like they’re meant to be there. Super happy with this one. It’s the little things!

 

You have a P/N for that Super Duty dual USB? Can't quite make out the text on the photo.

 

PU5T-19J211-BA for the usb plug
WPT-1822 For the pigtail

 

Gettin somewhere! I think I might be starting to enjoy doing these things

 

Got the red truck finished up today. Was a little concerned it would sit low in the back due to frame size difference but it turned out great. Very excited to start driving this thing!

A few maintenance things I need to address - rear axle seal, muffler and steering rack bushings. Oh, and clean the thick grinding dust off of everything

 

Picked up a set of these Toyota fake beadlocks, not sure how much they suit the truck yet. Maybe I’m getting old, but I do really like it on the factory wheels lol

 

So I didn’t like those wheels. Sold them, gonna keep it stock for now. Brought the silver truck home for some maintenance before spring snow wheeling is in full force

 

Solid days off! Finished up the red truck completely with some steering rack bushings and then found the carpet soaked after a good rain. Turns out there was a TSB for water leaks through the firewall. Did some seam sealer inside the wiper cowl and that sorted that out.

Took the silver truck out wheeling a couple days. Came a little too close to a telephone pole while cruising out and the soft snow pulled me off the trail, luckily the front wheel stopped me before I hit body!

 

cruisin down the trail in my 04, damn near wrapped it around a telephone pole!

eazy E.

Lol