1983 vs. 1984/1985 Front Axle

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xcmtb83

Member
I am exploring options for a SAS on my Taco. I was told that the 1984 and 1985 front axles are the most desirable if I want to go with a passenger side driveshaft using Toyota components. They mentioned something about the addition of gussets that the 1983 axles lack.

Can someone please elaborate or better yet provide pics or links to pics showing the differences? Thanks a ton!
 
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Isn't the tacos driver side drop? So you wouldn't be able to use a toyota axle without modification. Many people use dana 44 fronts on their tacos.
The trusses are really the only difference. They are all good if you add a truss, which comes with most SAS kits.
 
You can use any toyota axle and gut it for all the parts then throw them in a trail gear driver side drop axle housing.
 
I am aware of the difference in driveshaft locations. I was also told that could be fixed by swapping out tranfer cases. He may have even of said this could be done with an adapter plate perhaps. Does this sound legit?
 
I believe 84/85 axles have the gusset all the way under the spring pack up to the end of the tube. 83's stopped short of the spring pack
 
xcmtb83 said:
I am aware of the difference in driveshaft locations. I was also told that could be fixed by swapping out tranfer cases. He may have even of said this could be done with an adapter plate perhaps. Does this sound legit?
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I think you'll be better off finding or using a trail gear axle that is driver side drop. I think that swapping transfer cases AND doing a sas is a bit extreme just to use a pass side drop. Plus, you'll have to re-route your exhaust to the driver side and that is a whole different issue especially if you have a 3.4 because the headers would have to be completely rebuilt.
 
xcmtb83 said:
I am aware of the difference in driveshaft locations. I was also told that could be fixed by swapping out tranfer cases. He may have even of said this could be done with an adapter plate perhaps. Does this sound legit?
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Um, yeah, but it sounds like your friend might not understand exactly what's involved, and be misleading you, and to be frank I think maybe you don't have the best grasp of what's under your truck either.

The adapter to run a passenger-drop gear-drive transfer case is north of $1500, I think, and you still have to buy the transfer case, adapt your driveshafts, modify your shifter tunnel, reroute your exhaust, it ain't cheap. And then you'd still have to use a combination of wheel spacers and the IFS hub conversion to make the track width match the rear, and that'll send your scrub radius to hell. There are lots and lots of reasons that most guys SASing a Tacoma don't use minitruck axles.

If you're set on an SAS, it'd be much much easier to use a drivers drop axle. Look at TrailGear's RockAssault front axle, look at Dana 44 and Dana 60s, I think some Landcruiser axles are driver drop.


xcmtb83 said:
I am lost...
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Yeah. No disrespect, but we can tell. You've got a lot more research to do before you're ready to take this on. There are several SAS projects in process or recently completed in the 3rd gen forum, go check them out, read the threads, learn what questions to ask.

Good luck! :)
 
85toyrunner said:
I believe 84/85 axles have the gusset all the way under the spring pack up to the end of the tube. 83's stopped short of the spring pack
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Mostly right. 83 has no gusset. the 84s axle gusset goes to just before the spring perch, the 85 goes all the way past the spring perch.

Is your taco a 5 speed? Im not sure on the auto, but the standards used the same r150F as the 2nd gens, but with a drivers drop. So (and your gonna have to do some research, im only going off hearsay) you should be able to get a transfer case off a 2nd gen runner (or 3rd gen pickup) and put it into you taco. One of the issues here, is the exhaust for the taco runs down the pass pass side, so if a drive shaft now needs to go there, youll have to do something different with your exhaust.

Iv also heard of people simply flipping over a mini truck axle (or turning it around? I dont remember) . Youll have to cut and turn the knuckleballs to make it line back up. And if its turned, instead of flipped, youll need to cut off the cover and weld on a new one. (and drill holes for the studs).

I would look into a dana 44, or even a 60. Even if you do get a mini truck axle to work, its going to be very narrow. You can run spacers, but it will still be Narrower than your rear, by about 3 inches.
 
Hyde802 said:
Iv also heard of people simply flipping over a mini truck axle (or turning it around? I dont remember).
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Is it safe to drive pramirily on the coast side of the ring and pinon gear? I know it's fine at low speeds in reverse but I doubt the gears will have and longevity by flipping the axle and turning the knuckles.

But as stated before, you're better off to use an axle designed for a driver side drop.
 
Thank you all.

My original thought was if I knew what was desirable I could keep my eyes out for the good stuff over a couple year period while browsing and pillaging self pick salvage yards. On that topic...what years of Wagoneers?

Fwiw my Taco is a 1996 reg cab 3.4 man trans.
 
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Hyde802 said:
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Is your taco a 5 speed? Im not sure on the auto, but the standards used the same r150F as the 2nd gens, but with a drivers drop.
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It's an R150F but not the same as the one in the 2nd gens. Changes to the input shaft,bell housing, clutch, flywheel.
 
SV_Dude said:
Is it safe to drive pramirily on the coast side of the ring and pinon gear? I know it's fine at low speeds in reverse but I doubt the gears will have and longevity by flipping the axle and turning the knuckles.

But as stated before, you're better off to use an axle designed for a driver side drop.
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Not to mention the fact that the diff would be upside down, there's a few problems right there.
 
SV_Dude said:
Is it safe to drive pramirily on the coast side of the ring and pinon gear? I know it's fine at low speeds in reverse but I doubt the gears will have and longevity by flipping the axle and turning the knuckles.

But as stated before, you're better off to use an axle designed for a driver side drop.
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Thats what I was missing. So rotate the axle 180, not flip it. Cut the diff cover off and move it to the other side, then drill/tap holes for the studs. Ive seen a thread on this some where, ill see if I can dig it up.

Also, I wouldnt recommend running IFS hubs WITH spacers, thats a ton of force on the trunions, and ruins your scrub radius. MAYBE witht he TG kingpin kit, but still.
 
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