Which axle would you choose and why?

any advise on places to take my DD (can't be too difficult that I'm going to break a halfshaft or be down an extended period of time). I have 285/75/16s (Toyo open country at2s). My rear lift is ome springs, my front is just a coil spacer. My truck has the factory e locker in the rear. Yes I plan on doing sliders, skids, and new front suspension (probably ome 881s or 883s, or a toytec coilover). A crawlbox is probably in my more distant future

 

saw this but most were 2nd and 3rd gens on 35s.

 

So send me somewhere. Tell me where to go. Don't just call me dumb lol. I'll check out your build in a couple hours on lunch.

 

Dude, this is why I said you are way over your head with wanting to do a SAS LOL.

You really gotta take baby steps and go from the beginning:

• Make sure you have a good assortment of hand tools, portable air compressor, CB or ham radio, and something to jack up your truck on the trail in case you get a flat tire
• Make sure to have a full size spare tire
• Go online and find local toyota guys that wheel, join them.

 

I'm a diesel mechanic, I have plenty of tools.

I guess a radio couldn't hurt.

I'm assuming the air compressor is for reinflating after airing down. Got it.

I have a full sized spare, just have to find a way to mount it.

guess I need to find people to tag along with next

 

Dude i live outside chicago, the closest place to wheel is 3 hrs away. You live in nor cal with offroad clubs and public lands and trails up the ass, figure it out.

 

Op...you owe me a beer. You just made me spit my beer out......i have been on some pretty nice trails. And guess what..i live 15 minutes from you.

Rubicon can be done with the proper setup. Hit up slickrock, hell hole, deer valley, golds lake, or "the lost goes on".


Lets go hammer down.





I wanna sas too man. And i love to get down. But it is very pricey as well.

 

EDIT: quote fail
@Fernando

 

sounds good, let me get some sliders and skids and ill supply the beer

 

A Dana 44 could survive under your truck with chromos and all that good stuff. But, with all the "higher traction" wheeling you have out west, 1-tons would definitely be more sufficient.

As for the daily driver aspect of it, it's not too terribly bad to do. I've driven an SAS'd vehicle on the road for about half of my driving life, and it's doable but don't let anyone say that a well set up SAS will drive better than stock IFS. The steering is going to act different, the brakes are going to act different, pretty much everything will act different. I drive a stock Tundra as a DD now, and my built Tacoma on the weekends and that's about the most I want to drive it.

 

Wow lot of stuff getting thrown around here, if I can throw in my 2¢...

Basically, I agree with everyone else. Though it seems like everyone is quick to bash you and make you feel silly for asking basic questions, they aren't. I'd say a majority of the people responding have been in your situation and are trying to get out ahead of you because they know how much it sucks to be where you are. Scared, concerned, full of wonder and excitement. I digress...

All I can really say and I've said it before to be with similar questions, is RESEARCH. Read every build on every site, read up on axle rebuilds, read reviews of everything, I did research for like 2 years before I did anything.

To answer you're question, if you REALLY care about keeping 6 lug...go with a custom ruff stuff specialties housing, 9.5" or 8". Yes it's expensive yes it takes time, but you either spend your $$$ and cry once or cheap out and cry multiple times when you have to keep replacing crap.

Oh and I daily drive my big piece of shit, the people telling you not to are just jealous you might have a cooler daily driver.

(It does get a little old driving a big, slowish, loud crawler around, but getting thumbs up from neighborhood kids kind of makes up for it lol)

 

I've been talking to a buddy of mine and he's saying to go with Dana 60s (kingpin if available) or a 14 bolt for the rear. He's big on going 1 tons because he says they're stronger or as strong as a built 44. But good luck finding a king pin 60. Idk what I'm going to do. Probably keep my eye out and if I see a deal, buy and start collecting stuff. It's gonna take a few years no matter what

 

Thats what i want. Juantons for sure

 

There is no comparison between a d60 and a d44. The d60 is waaaaaay stronger. A built d44 might come close to a d60 in factory form. But a built d60 is a whole league in itself.

A lot of people have the D60/14bolt combo. It works plus there's huge aftermarket support. It will be the last pair of axles you'll ever need.

Kingpin axles are more difficult to find for sure, and they are expensive. Very common for people to pay around $1,000 for one that looks like a pile of rust and needs a full rebuild. Add more money if you find the more desirable late 70's model. Some people prefer that one because the driver side axle tube is longer, which makes it easier work with because there is more room to weld shit on - especially helpful if you are using leaf springs or coil springs. Not as big of a deal with coilovers and links.

Ford D60s are the golden ticket for Tacomas because they have the differential on the driver, which matches the Tacoma's transfer case output, and they are high pinion. Which means, super strong and you don't have to rotate the knuckles because the pinion is pointing up towards the transfer case already.

The 14bolt, on the other hand, is just a massive piece of axle. In factory form you can run 42"s easily and the axle won't even feel it. The axle shafts in factory form are just massive, so are the ring and pinion.

 

And that's why my buddy recommended them. He's pretty much a pure rock crawler. And I really want a rig that will do basically everything. I'm not a super big fan of jumping a vehicle (that's what my dirt bike is for). But id love something that can get through almost anything. If I do wind up with either a pair of 60s or a 60 and 14 bolt, a full exo will be created as well.

and for economic purposes ill probably use the trail gear front leaf and shackle kit to mount them up front. 63 chevys in the rear if my OMEs won't cut it. Then all I have to figure out is the steering and drivelines. After I get myself an atlas that is.

 

D60 for the rear is not a good idea, some of them are not even FF. Do some research. Better to go with a D70. Actually, most people go with either a D70 or 14bolt in the rear.

There's more to figure out than the steering

But yea, the steering will probably be the biggest pain in the arse when you go with big axles. Well, it is a PITA with any axle, but with the heavy duty axles there's even less space to locate things.

 

Even with the trail gear leaf mounting kit? Trying to think of other issues besides a light wallet lol

 

If you do a d44 or fj axle now you will regret it down the road. Kingpin d60 all the way. It will be expensive as hell but well worth it. If you can find one for a good deal, buy it.

 

Also a 14bolt rear is ideal. Strong axle