Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

There isn't really a downside to having the mount closer to the center of the axle. If anything it should provide more neutral handling, even though it transmits all of it's force to the PS frame rail.

The reason a lot of 1st gen SAS chop the frame is to raise it up and provide better uptravel and steering link clearance.

 

Yeah I frame chopped mine. I was just looking at the tight packaging and wondering if making some new frame rails would free up some space, other advantage is you would not have to plate it all the way down (he's obviously well past that step).

 

I’m running that same or similar top link bracket (artec) and chopped it up to make it more narrow. If you stuff the pass side and droop the driver, it might contact the motor.

You move the motor mounts? My upper link tucks right into the “crotch” of the motor mount.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-bullaculla-3-link-sas-build-pic-heavy.293408/page-56

 

Is the trail gear 3 link SAS with 14" shocks

 

If the frame where further out I'd be hitting it even sooner with the tires. As it is I'll be hitting the lower link first. I was going to move the frame lower link mounts in a bit more, but I only have another inch before I hit the frame. It is what it is.

I'll be trimming the top of the mount once I pull the axle out for final welding. The upper link does tuck into the crotch of the motor mount right now.

There's a bracket on the side of the oil pan that'll be getting the chop as well.

 

Right on, just thinking out loud via keyboard when I should be working lol.

 

That's a good point, there's way less linear inches of weld, and probably a stronger end product by just chopping the frame rails and replacing them with 2x4x.25

 

I used 2x3 3/16 if I remember correctly. So nice welding to that as opposed to the sheet metal that the stock frame is made out of. My front cross member is .25 because thats all the metal place had left and that shit is HEAVY compared to the 3/16 I used everywhere else.

Plus to get the ifs off the truck it's unbolt/support the motor, disconnect steering and brake lines and 2 sawzall cuts later the suspension is on the ground.

 

Had a fun day wheeling Saturday...



BTW, that's Mark's truck, not mine haha!

 

How the hell did he roll there?

 

Hard to explain. this is a 30 degree climb, back driver tire there was a big rut he was trying to stay on top of... tire fell in rut, his pass front drove up the little tree at the same time and flopped. It happened so quick.

 

Oops!! I figured some obstacle was obscured by leaves in the pic, that or mark decided to go tree climbing in the Tacoma!

 

Pics do no justice.

 

top pic with the axles flexing is awesome!

 

Anybody ever seen this happen and know if it's bad enough to affect the arb? Guy said the gears went bad and pinion marked up the arb. May be able to trade a guy my 2 3rd members for it.

 

@malburg114 I bought an ARB that the pinion got into, it was the new style case (rd132 I think) the grooves in mine were not quite as deep, but when i took it to yotamasters they said its fairly common for guys that are running crush sleeves instead of a solid pinion spacers. They said I would have no problem running it. If it really bothers you arb sells individual parts and you can buy just the case. Not sure if they have discontinued support for the old style though. Taking it to a machine shop and having them chuck it up in a lathe and turning it even again is also an option but im sure removing material will make it weaker. You could have the ring gear face trued while they are at it, (ARB has quite a bit of runout on this, having measured 3 different models)

 

never seen that before. Those are some serious grooves

But it seems like it is just external. I would look for cracks on the case. If there are none I would certainly use it. Those things are really super strong.

Air lockers are awesome especially in front axles.

 

2 3rds for one kind of messed up ARB seems like a bad deal. Offer him 100bucks for it and if not move on, that's my .02

 

we don't know if the ARB is really messed up

But yea...good point about the the deal. 100 bux sound good considering the carnage to the case of the locker.