So I am get ready for my build on my 1991 V6. A Jeep friend of mine is going to help. He wants to do a SAS,but I am not sure. I figured I would just beef up the IFS.
Locker questions just to educate me.
With the IFS, do you only lock the rear? If so what type of locker do you reccomend?
With SAS, what type of locker do you reccomend?
I missed if this was going to be a dedicated trail rig or not? Keep in mind that with a front locker, it becomes more difficult to steer. ie, it provides more resistance and you need to turn the streering wheel harder. Not the best for street driving, or turning in tight trails.
If you can; put in an ARB selectable in the front, regardless of IFS or Solid axle. Well with a SAS you can probably put in a toyota e-locker too. This will let you run open until you need it, and you can deactivate it to turn in the trail, and reengage when you're done your turn and if needed. Unless you are trying to ram your way through stuff you should be fine. I wonder if parts breaking is more a function of banging and jumping and hoping to get through or a locker on the IFS? A locker will give you more control, and you don't need to get a "running start..." But maybe i'm an offroading dweeb. My rule is try under my own power 1-2-3 times....then that's it. winch or pull up or out. I'm there to drive, not break down, or spend 40minutes trying to make it, or hold everyone else up.
For the rear it doesn't really matter I think. ARB would be Aw$ome, but could sit lower on the list. Mine is welded. But is not a street truck and only gets driven a few times a month. I only feel some resistance in a parking lot situation.
You can also try with only a rear locker of some type. Then put in a front one if your trails need it. The only trucks I've seen that broke diffs, have been open diffs....the wheel spins and goes in the air, when it comes down and finds traction, BANG.....broken diff. These weren't even old trucks that have done their time, these were all recent FJ Cruisers. 3 of them.
Locker recommendations are going to depend on whether this is a dedicated trail rig or daily driver. You can lock an IFS diff, lots of folks have without complaints. Others break CVs left and right. I suspect it comes down to the stresses put on the setup by individual drivers - tires, gears, and how bad they flog it.
I'm currently planning on a TrueTrac limited slip for the front of my '86, but it's a daily driver in a snowy climate, and I have an aversion to screwing with CV shafts.
I'm not familiar with the intricacies of the TrueTrac, once i got the ARB I flushed all the other info out, to make space for other stuff.... But I wouldn't want something that kicks in and out. I want it locked, or not. I don't want to have to have wheel slip for the lock to engage, or push the gas to have it engage, or disengage when I turn.
The way I understood it when I was looking into regearing and lockers, is that with the Toyota diff, even with the lunch box lockers or limited slips, you still need to pull the R&P out anyway. So the job becomes expensive if you don't do diffs yourself. ( anyways, according to the FAQ on eastcostgearsupply)
So I think most limited slips are not that much less expensive that an ARB, and you need a compressor anyway to inflate you tires....and you need to pull the R&P anyway.
Damn I write too much. :infidel:
