Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

Sadly it seems everything is expensive these days. I can't even find a toyota axle lying around to gut it and built a rock assault. I'm looking at $3k for the set. Maybe i would be able to sell my TRD rear axle for a chunk to offset the costs. The JK axles would need re geared of course. They're stock with 50k miles on them. I feel like it's a good hybrid between full size and taco width.

 

$3k is a nice price on those axles. They aren’t your dad’s dana 44’s from the 80’s so they will put up with some abuse on 37’s

 

I think that’s a good deal! Jeez, elockers alone are like a grand each if you buy them separatedly. I would buy them.

but then of course you have to figure out the steering and all the other crap but still I think that’s a decent deal.

 

Any of you second gen guys. Did you cut your lower driver radiator bracket off to push the steering box an inch farther forward or just mount it as close to the radiator mount as possible?

 

Im not a second gen guy but cut as much as you need to get the steering box as far forward as you need. I removed pretty much the whole left front body mount to get my box where it needed to be. Worth it to locate the axle forward enough.

 

Jk axles will be way stronger than Toyota axle. They should hold up fine to 40s with a light foot and 37s if you want to get rowdy. All the events we go to is all jks and jls etc and they’re all on 40s with stock axles and no driving experience and most never have issues. 3k for a front and rear is a good deal and great start. Cut all the crap off and go from there. Won’t be hard at all to use. No different than using a Dana 60 or anything as it’s all custom work.

 

So apparently the price was incorrect... i figured it was too good to be true given i've seen front rubicons being listed for $4,000 +. I ended up getting both for $3,900, not 3,000. I was prepared to spend $2,000 on a waggy 44 fully setup (low pinion, Probably needed some work). Even though it's a large chunk, overall i think it's one of the best routes to go without going tons or custom housings. The axles are complete hub to hub, had 50,000 miles on them, never used off road. They come with all the factory steering arms and control arms which i will sell. Obviously i'll sell my factory taco e locker axle to help offset costs. Goal is to wire the rear e locker to work with the tacoma switch/indicator. Front locker will be on a switch next to it and just control on/off without the indicator. ABS will be made to work, which is great considering the waggy 44 would be without. I'll of course need to re-gear front/rear. I get wholesale pricing from 4wheel parts and ive got a shop that will do both gear installs for $750 plus parts. I also ordered my tires yesterday, 37/12.5r17 MTZs

 

You know what they say... "if it sounds too good to be true"... LOL!

I still think the price is decent. You will have two pretty good axles geared, fully locked with elockers and ready to roll for less than five grand.

 

Doing some more research on the axles, I'm very happy. The front is 8.5" ring gear with 32 spline outers. The rear is the super 44 with 8.9" ring gear and 32 spline inner/outer shafts.

 

It’s an interesting knuckle/steering setup. Factory they come with the drag link mounted beneath the arm similar to the tie rod. But it’s an easy flip to do a top mount. As you can see, lots of cutting/cleaning the axle to do. All that shit has to come off. Btw, another pair just sold yesterday for $1,600 more than what I paid for these. Makes me feel better.

 

There are options for the steering, so you'll be good.

Pay some kid to cut all the brackets and clean the axle while you watch and drink beer

You did good with the axles. The original $3k would have been awesome lol, but not a bad deal at the end at all

 

Lol idk if i want some little shit touching these things, next thing ya know he shortened them for me Given the current rain situation, i'm sure i'll find a weekend where i can sit there and play with the angle grinder. I think you'll all love my tire/wheel setup. Also decided on 5.13 gears, probably Yukon given 4wheelparts sell them.

Got my tires, wheels/beadlock rings ordered

 

Pick up a cheap plasma cutter (I like my everlast) and go to town. Your just starting the sas and it’ll do a ton of work and save a lot of time

 

I live in redneckville, so my plan is to take the truck to my friends house and prep the axles, cut off the IFS, and prep the frame. We'll weld a square crossmember on the front and back it onto my trailer with a tractor. Then it goes a couple hours away for mr fab guy to do the 3 link. Originally i was going to buy the crossmember/links and have him install, instead we decided to build it 100% custom. He will also do the truss on the front axle. For the drivelines i'll either need driveline yokes swapped to 1350 joints unless the driveline builder can come up with something, since they use cv joints factory on the jk driveline. Either way im stoked to be using a HP.

 

I trimmed the threads that protruded past the end of the bracket.

 

How long is your lower link?

 

35”

 

Nice, is that just the link overall length or including heim mounting hole to mounting hole?

 

Eye to eye mh to mh

 

Looks like it's finished!