SAS kit recommendations

[hntz4x4]

After breaking off the shaft of right side CV inside the diff I think I'm finely ready to do a SAS, even got the wife to agree. Got a lead on a Dana 44 that's ready to go.

So my question is, who has used any complete (or complete as possible) SAS kit that's available and would recommend it? My sons and I will be doing this job ourselves in the garage. So I'm looking for a complete as possible link/coilover kit.

 

[T4topher]

4wheel underground has a great looking link setup/shock mounts. All pro has some SAS kits that look decent. Trail gear looks meh but would probably work. Ruffstuff has great stuff..

 

[Team_Jake]

Links or leafs? If going links, 4 Wheel Underground is really the only company that makes custom fit link brackets specific to our vehicles. Plenty of universal brackets out there if you want to build your own kit - Artec, Barnes4WD, RuffStuff, etc. If going leafs, Sky's Offroad will have almost everything you need.

 

[hntz4x4]

Plan on going links.

Links or leafs? If going links, 4 Wheel Underground is really the only company that makes custom fit link brackets specific to our vehicles. Plenty of universal brackets out there if you want to build your own kit - Artec, Barnes4WD, RuffStuff, etc. If going leafs, Sky's Offroad will have almost everything you need.

 

[busmup808]

Toyota Tacoma Straight Axle parts


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[midcoma]

4WheelUnderground hands down.

I have their SAS kit on the front of my Tacoma and the 4-Link kit in the rear of my 4Runner. Both are daily driven and handle amazingly.

 

[MStudt]

All pro has some SAS kits that look decent. Trail gear looks meh but would probably work.

Both are the same company, and both are now all Chinese parts.

Mike

 

[T4topher]

Both are the same company, and both are now all Chinese parts.

Mike

Honestly I wouldn’t recommend using either but it is still an option and thought I’d mention it. The SAS steering kit from AP looks half decent is why I mentioned it really.. Personally if I was going SAS I’d go with 4wheel underground hands down. I’ll probably end up with one of his kits in the rear when I go LT in the front. His new rear coilover kit looks pretty sweet too

 

[MStudt]

Honestly I wouldn’t recommend using either but it is still an option and thought I’d mention it. The SAS steering kit from AP looks half decent is why I mentioned it really.. Personally if I was going SAS I’d go with 4wheel underground hands down. I’ll probably end up with one of his kits in the rear when I go LT in the front. His new rear coilover kit looks pretty sweet too

I would 100% agree with you. All-Pro had good stuff when the Jon & Tracy owned but, but turned to crap once Trail Gear bought them out. Like most things Trail Gear gas bought (Longfield, Low-Range, Wheeler's). Maybe Ruffstuff will have something some day.

Mike

 

[hntz4x4]

Well I was looking at the WFO kit, they are kinda of local to me. I got off work early yesterday and drove up to WFO's shop to get price ideas. They were extremely helpful. So much so that they asked all the right questions, and to find out the built Dana 44 I had my eye won't work. Apparently the axle came from a 78 Bronco which cast wedges for the factory radius arms to clamshell around.

Unless someone can point me in a direction where I can make this axle work, this whole project might be put on hold. The price on the axle was helping make the rest of the parts do-able.

 

[hntz4x4]

So it looks like it has been done before on a 3rd gen. Sorry I don't know how to make the proper link. Kind of computer stupid. If you search this guys post.

ADH8796 4runner Build

 

[Bad Luck]

So it looks like it has been done before on a 3rd gen. Sorry I don't know how to make the proper link. Kind of computer stupid. If you search this guys post.

ADH8796 4runner Build

There's several people that have done it. Here's some threads for you to glance over if you're interested:
1999 SAS Dana44 ARB 4Runner Build
Addicted's 96' 4runner using TG Tacoma SAS kit
slowpoke99's super slow timeline/build thread
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/53403-photo-timeline-my-4runner-{lots-pics}.html
ADH8796 4runner Build
Dous's Build Thread Version 2.0
DOWNPOUR11's Build Thread
John's 99 4runner rebuild/build

 

[hntz4x4]

Sorry, I meant more specifically using the factory Ford radius arms (modified) with leaving the wedges on the axle housing.

There's several people that have done it. Here's some threads for you to glance over if you're interested:
1999 SAS Dana44 ARB 4Runner Build
Addicted's 96' 4runner using TG Tacoma SAS kit
slowpoke99's super slow timeline/build thread
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/53403-photo-timeline-my-4runner-{lots-pics}.html
ADH8796 4runner Build
Dous's Build Thread Version 2.0
DOWNPOUR11's Build Thread
John's 99 4runner rebuild/build

 

[Bad Luck]

Sorry, I meant more specifically using the factory Ford radius arms (modified) with leaving the wedges on the axle housing.

Oh lol well now you have some options for reading material when you're on the toilet lol

 

[jkeith.w]

are you looking to do links or radius arms? (different animals, handling and articulation-wise)

 

[mrbrenan]

There aren't too many "kits" out there but there are so many options; like guys said links and coilovers or leafs. Also, there are a ton of options for axles, dana 44s are just the start. Are the 44's fully built with gears and good 3rd members or just the housings? Do they have good shafts? Are they Chromoly? Would you ever need Chromoly? What about brakes, are they drums? Do you maybe want to go the extra mile and install disc? What about driveshafts, do they need to be custom? Then you have steering and so much more. There are so many questions to ask when going SAS, so many!! I would create a massive bullet list of questions to ask then start addressing them one by one.

I would give a few shops a call and explain your goals. Shops like Ruff Stuff, All-Pro Off-Road, and a few actual installation shops would be a good place to start.

Cali Fabrication in Sacramento along with Stellar Built in Sacramento have performed their fair share of SAS builds and sometimes it helps to talk to guys actually installing the parts, not necessarily selling the parts. Phone/sales guys are completely different than installers.

Call Stellar Built: Stellar Built - 4x4 Fabrication Shop Sacramento, Custom Off-Road Builds

Just my 02.

 

[hntz4x4]

WFO Toyota Tacoma '95.5-04 BUILDERS SAS Kit - using D44 | Toyota | WFOConcepts.com

This is the kit I was looking at. They can get me the rest of the parts to complete the steering and such.

The axle I'm looking at is a high pinion Dana 44 with 4:88s, ARB and chromo shafts. Has all the good parts I want. The problem is it has the cast wedges for the factory Ford radius arms. So if I pick this axle up I'll have to get a different housing.

Ryan

 

[hntz4x4]

Ok, going to revise this post. Finally collecting all the parts to do this SAS. Just couldn't afford the WFO or 4wheelunderground kits. Some kid was selling all this minus the HP Dana axle, he changed his plans.

For sh*ts and giggles I stopped by Stellar Built to get a quote on doing just the labor if I dropped truck off with all the parts, they quoted me $11-12K!!!!

Parts collected so far:
1. HP Dana 44 out of a 1976 F150 (non cast wedges)
2. Waggy Dana 44 that came with gears, flat top knuckles, high steer, 6 lug outers with Yukon locking hubs. Plan on using all the outer stuff on the HP axle and sell this housing and gears.
3. Drilled and tapped Toyota steering box.
4. TG single case skid plate.
5. Sky Offroad leaf spring SAS kit.
6. TG oil pan conversion.
7. TG firewall plate and steering shaft.
8. Dana 44 to Toyota driveline flange.

I'm looking for some info on brake upgrades for this front axle. If there is a reasonably priced kit to upgrade from the single piston to a dual piston, but not finding much.

Also need to call local differential guy to get price on HP 4:88's and an ARB installed.