Toyota axles under a Samurai

[SAMI]

How hard is it to put Toyota axles under a Samurai? What all is involved? is there someone local that you know that had done it? What (in your opinion) might be the average price for such a project? I'm sick of playing mess around! Time to get some armor on my rig!

 

[Hickey]

Are you prepared for your rig to be a "trailer queen"? What I mean is, if you put axles under it that wide, you won't be able to drive it on the street.

 

[SAMI]

Isn't it possible to cut them down?

 

[Hickey]

I'm sure it is, but most guys I've seen do it, don't. Waggy 44's are a good candidate too, or CJ axles.

 

[SAMI]

D44's huh? What would those run?$? To buy em and put them on? Is it a really tough thing to do?

 

[Shawn]

Dana 44's

http://www.projectsamurai.com/projects/index.html

 

[Hickey]

waggy's are easy enough to find at P-n-pull, but just like Toys, they are wide, not fullsize wide, but YJ/TJ wide. Plus, a lot of wags came with an ofset rear 44 that would match your stock transfer case. Expect to pay 1 bill for the rear and 2 bills for the front.

 

[Hickey]

The pic's not too clear, but that looks like a 30 on that sami.

 

[Shawn]

 

[Shawn]

 

[Hickey]

Also, SAMI, if your school has a welding course, you might want to look into it, this would help you a lot. Shawn, that's definitely a 30, prolly from a CJ.

 

[Shawn]

Axles:
Front: Wide Trac Model 30 4.56 gears, custom knuckle over steering using Dana 44 flat-top steering knuckles. Custom Drag link and Tie Rod

Rear: Narrowed (one side) Jeep Wagoneer Dana 44 w/ 4.56 gears, Spool and Samurai front Disc on rear.

 

[Hickey]

tha would be a good setup for you, SAMI, plenty of parts availability too. Shawn, was that rear a centered 44 to begin with? It would make sense if it was.

 

[spencurai]

the big thing with running the toy axles is that the rear diff is not offset. you will have to run a CV shaft with a compound angle. Cutting down axles just increases cost A LOT!!

d-44s can be obtained with offset rear diffs. I have a set laying around but gears and lockers for both are a little cost prohibitive right now.

you will have to redo your suspension also so just run what ya got until it breaks. you dont even have lower gears or lockers, you could run your entire life and never break an axle with that setup.

 

[SAMI]

To you zuk guys: My delema is that I want to run gears and lockers, only I don't want to break alot. So, my first thought was to sell the damn thing and get a Toyota. Then, I thought just upgrade the axles, cause I didn't want to put gears and lockers into axles I didn't wan to keep. In my shoes what would you do? Just build the stock axles up? Or go hardcore and spent alot of money on D44's or something? I know running a locker and or lower gears will increase stress on drivetrain. But how bad will it really be? What can I run on stock drivetrain, and still be somewhat strong?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by SAMI
Isn't it possible to cut them down?

Sure but then why do it? The Sami axles are plenty strong... the only real gain of the toy axles is the width...

 

[SAMI]

So, my best bet is to build the ones on it. And not bother with bigger, longer, fatter, wider, cooler, slightly larger, slightly rounder, heavier, beefier axles. Kurt, hook me up baby! I'm sick of playing mess around.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

So what is really wrong with the stock Sami axles... You can add birf rings... cryogenic treated inner axles... an ARB and some gears... Do samurai owners really have strength issues with them? I thought the only reason sami dudes ever swapped was for the width. It can't take that big of an axle to support a 2000lb wet, golfcart with a 1200 CC engine.... I got lawnmowers with more brass...

 

[SAMI]

That was more my main question. Do I really need to? Well, those who wheel on them should give me some input. They seem strong to me. I'm just wondering what I should be worried about.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by SAMI
That was more my main question. Do I really need to? Well, those who wheel on them should give me some input. They seem strong to me. I'm just wondering what I should be worried about.

I've never heard bad stuff, call Von at Rocklogic 4x4 463-1220, he could probably tell you more than any of us could try... since he has owned and worked around alot of them little things...