3 Link SAS?

[rossgoldie]

Been thinking (for fun) about SASing my rig. But because I want it to be my DD, having it sit on leafs is just too high. Also, I would like to keep my rear suspension on coilsprings and shocks for now. I was wondering if there are any build threads where guys have done a 3 link setup on a 3rd gen with 10" or 12" coilovers?

I'm also a college student so I was thinking about ways I could do this on a budget so if I did do a 3 link, I would do it with whatever Waggy D44 axle I could get my hands on and used coilovers.

I was looking at link kits, and this one from RuffStuff seemed like a good deal. I know how to weld and have some fabrication experience but not a whole lot. This project would be done with the help of someone who is knowledgeable about fabrication and SASing.

What do you guys think? Is it possible to do one on a budget and on our trucks? What are some other "cost effective" SASing options that keep the truck low?

 

[Kotrin]

I know a few people who have done it on 3rd gen's and use just coil's and no leaf springs. Looks great, but it wasn't cheap. I know he went high end shocks and coils which were expensive so you could subsitute that easily.

If you bought that link kit, you would still need to find axle, drive line. Depending on where your at, you could find an older toyota axle (but most likely even with a different axle you need to look at re-gearing). It can get really expensive fast but normally if your going down this path your wanting to do more rock crawling..

May I ask what the desire of going SAS for?? Having done it on one vehicle and owning IFS and wheeling both it...I will stick with a LT setup for my new rig. Lots having to do with my current limit due to medicial conditions.

 

[rossgoldie]

I know a few people who have done it on 3rd gen's and use just coil's and no leaf springs. Looks great, but it wasn't cheap. I know he went high end shocks and coils which were expensive so you could subsitute that easily.



If you bought that link kit, you would still need to find axle, drive line. Depending on where your at, you could find an older toyota axle (but most likely even with a different axle you need to look at re-gearing). It can get really expensive fast but normally if your going down this path your wanting to do more rock crawling..



May I ask what the desire of going SAS for?? Having done it on one vehicle and owning IFS and wheeling both it...I will stick with a LT setup for my new rig. Lots having to do with my current limit due to medicial conditions.

I have been doing some price research and if I'm patient and hit the right auto yards I can get the axle/driveline/steer box ect. fairly cheap. Can't use an old Toyota axle because they're passenger side drop and our trucks are drivers side. I'm trying to do the whole thing under $4k.

I thought about LT but when pricing it out it, I'm coming to around $6k minimum to do it right. That's when I started looking at links. Plus I am much more partial to rocks and trail riding than go fast stuff that LT is normally used for

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Help some of us dummies follow along in this thread too? LT?

 

[rossgoldie]

Help some of us dummies follow along in this thread too? LT?

Short for "Long Travel" cause I'm too lazy to type the whole thing out

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Short for "Long Travel" cause I'm too lazy to type the whole thing out

Gotcha. Thanks. Now, I feel pretty dumb

 

[JayRolla]

DD, SAS, budget, college student? For some reason this don't sound like a great idea? Anyone else agree?

 

[ajordan1975]

DD, SAS, budget, college student? For some reason this don't sound like a great idea? Anyone else agree?

Completely!

On another note. Will you be doing the work yourself? That's the only way you're going to get a linked SAS for 4k.
Why not go leaf springs? I have a sec. gen w/ leafs on all 4 corners and a belly height of 19", frame height is 22ish, and it's on 37's.

 

[Andy in Pa]

DD, SAS, budget, college student? For some reason this don't sound like a great idea? Anyone else agree?

Also agreed, a 3 link is not a place to penny-pinch a build. You should be able to score anaxle for cheap $$, but the rest of the build (for a DD'er) is going to be pricey. I would think leafs would be cheaper. A waggy d44 should be close to the right width, and is also the right bolt pattern.

I am going to link the front of my 4r too, and plan to look at some long arm kits for Jeeps. I would think something like this could be adapted to a 3rd gen 4r, but haven't spent any time analyzing it yet.

 

[JayRolla]

If you have driven a SAS leafed rig you don't want to be daily driving it. They also run pretty large tires so remember gears may be needed.

 

[volkinator]

DD, SAS, budget, college student? For some reason this don't sound like a great idea? Anyone else agree?

Only person I know that did any of these on a 'budget' would be [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] but even then I think he went over what he initially intended. But his looks awesome if you've got the fab ability. His was a LT, not an SAS though... Every SAS has been over budget...

 

[rossgoldie]

I should reiterate that the "budget" is just to keep it cheaper than buying and building a trail rig. I guess I wasn't clear about that. The "cheap" part is about being resourceful and not going for stuff like the All-Pro 3 link and diamond axles ect.

As for the DD part. I saw a YouTube video of a guy running 35's on a 3 link front '97 that he DD'd. I just can't remember the video name and where his build thread was .

 

[rossgoldie]

Also agreed, a 3 link is not a place to penny-pinch a build. You should be able to score anaxle for cheap $$, but the rest of the build (for a DD'er) is going to be pricey. I would think leafs would be cheaper. A waggy d44 should be close to the right width, and is also the right bolt pattern.



I am going to link the front of my 4r too, and plan to look at some long arm kits for Jeeps. I would think something like this could be adapted to a 3rd gen 4r, but haven't spent any time analyzing it yet.

I looked at my buddies long-arm WJ. It seems like another good option. I'm gonna see go take some pictures and maybe post them here for discussion.

 

[JayRolla]

I should reiterate that the "budget" is just to keep it cheaper than buying and building a trail rig. I guess I wasn't clear about that. The "cheap" part is about being resourceful and not going for stuff like the All-Pro 3 link and diamond axles ect.

As for the DD part. I saw a YouTube video of a guy running 35's on a 3 link front '97 that he DD'd. I just can't remember the video name and where his build thread was .

Yes. Anyone can DD a tank. Don't mean it's a good idea. That's why people trailer them.

 

[JWaldz]

The words 3-link and SAS are not budget friendly words..

Want my advice, do about 3 more years of research, if not more..

If you have to ask about a SAS, you're not ready for a SAS! There are literally, THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of threads and informational articles regarding this topic.

I'm not trying to be a di*k.. I'm just shooting it straight and to the point for you.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I should reiterate that the "budget" is just to keep it cheaper than buying and building a trail rig. I guess I wasn't clear about that. The "cheap" part is about being resourceful and not going for stuff like the All-Pro 3 link and diamond axles ect.

As for the DD part. I saw a YouTube video of a guy running 35's on a 3 link front '97 that he DD'd. I just can't remember the video name and where his build thread was .

This is very do-able at around 4K. The key is being resourceful and maybe a little lucky. If you buy an axle you don't have to "build", that would save a ton of money. That 3 link kit with tubes is going to set you back a grand. D44 with matching bolt pattern and gear is the hard part. What gears are you running? Jeeps didn't have a six lug pattern, only Chevy's did.

You will find yourself in a big hole if you have to gear either axle or have to rebuild anything. So let's say you are in to it 3K in the major parts. Then driveshaft mod, new brakes and brake lines, don't seem like such a big deal. If you have to buy hubs or rotors, u-joints, then it will kill your budget.

:guitar3:

 

[rossgoldie]

The words 3-link and SAS are not budget friendly words..

Want my advice, do about 3 more years of research, if not more..

If you have to ask about a SAS, you're not ready for a SAS! There are literally, THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of threads and informational articles regarding this topic.

I'm not trying to be a di*k.. I'm just shooting it straight and to the point for you.

This is why I asked if people know any threads? I haven't been able to find any 3-link exclusive ones. Been looking at SAS since I got the 4Runner 3 years ago but damn near every thread has been running leafs.

 

[JWaldz]

Sure, you can get it off the ground and rolling for possibly 4k if you use mostly junkyard parts and the "buddy hookup" for fabrication (provided he knows what he's doing) but at what point do you absolutely NEED to start upgrading or updating parts.

Mind you, this all goes out the window when you have someone who isn't willing to help for beer and pizza, and charges for labor. A complete SAS in general can cost anywhere from 2k-5k in labor alone, all depending what part of the fabrication they're doing and how far down the rabbit hole you want to go with the build.

 

[rossgoldie]

This is very do-able at around 4K. The key is being resourceful and maybe a little lucky. If you buy an axle you don't have to "build", that would save a ton of money. That 3 link kit with tubes is going to set you back a grand. D44 with matching bolt pattern and gear is the hard part. What gears are you running? Jeeps didn't have a six lug pattern, only Chevy's did.



You will find yourself in a big hole if you have to gear either axle or have to rebuild anything. So let's say you are in to it 3K in the major parts. Then driveshaft mod, new brakes and brake lines, don't seem like such a big deal. If you have to buy hubs or rotors, u-joints, then it will kill your budget.



:guitar3:

4.88 gears because they're the only ones that match Toyota (for the rear). You're totally right about the hole if I have to rebuild the axle and/or hubs. That's why if I want to do this I would have to be patient and wait for the right axle to pop up on Craigslist/at the junkyard.

Would the Chevy D44 fit our trucks length-wise? I haven't looked at them at all.

 

[JWaldz]

This is why I asked if people know any threads? I haven't been able to find any 3-link exclusive ones. Been looking at SAS since I got the 4Runner 3 years ago but damn near every thread has been running leafs.

Go to google and type in 3 link 4runner or 3 link tacoma. They have the same front frame setup. You'll find some 3rd gen 4runners and 1st gen tacos in the pictures which likely lead you to threads.