solid axle swap question

[xStillb0rn]

So i am looking into a solid axle swap for my 06 sport..I was curious what the best axle would be to use? I am trying to not spend a fortune but want something that I can still go out and rock crawl that's going to hold up...thank you

 

[BlackWorksInc]

A lot of people like the 80 series axles from what I hear.

 

[CXS]

It gets pretty expensive, usually cheaper to buy an old Yota for hard core stuff rather than do a SAS. My 4Runner is my first IFS and I find it to be quite capable. To each their own but this isn't really something to skimp on so a small fortune should be anticipated.

 

[KidVermicious]

^ agree 100%. IFS trucks can rock crawl, and if you're going to SAS a 4th gen you don't want to cut corners. The axle you choose will probably be one of the least expensive parts of the project.

 

[t-man]

I'm all for it! I'll just leave this here for you, the best example I can think of thus far.
Croz's 06' 4Runner SAC - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

 

[zonianbrat]

X2 if you have the cash then Just do it!

 

[t-man]

I want to do it, but was thinking of leaf springs instead of a link type because I don't have anywhere to rock crawl up here, and it would be simpler to design and maintain. You can get a great ride from leaf springs with the right setup too.

 

[Jeremy556]

I want to do it, but was thinking of leaf springs instead of a link type because I don't have anywhere to rock crawl up here, and it would be simpler to design and maintain. You can get a great ride from leaf springs with the right setup too.

Then why SAS at all? The best leaf setup is going to suck compared to stock 4th gen IFS, on road.

 

[t-man]

Then why SAS at all? The best leaf setup is going to suck compared to stock 4th gen IFS, on road.

Wouldn't be that terrible, and you would have a ton of advantages off-road. Not anything I would be concerned with if I ever did it as it would be a trail rig at that point anyways. I'm still thinking of a custom long travel anyways.

 

[xStillb0rn]

Thank you all for the info. I have always owned jeeps so the solid axle is what I know. I haven't dealt much with the ifs

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Thank you all for the info. I have always owned jeeps so the solid axle is what I know. I haven't dealt much with the ifs

From what I have seen even a mildly built up IFS on these J120/J150 platforms seems to be as capable as most Jeeps. I won't lie though, you will notice a difference in articulation; but if you build it right and learn to drive slightly different lines to accommodate the IFS you'll do fine. The solid rear axle provides a great compromise in terms of capability and comfort; which is why Toyota and many manufacturers went with the IFS/SRA set-up. The nice thing is that Toyota seems to have done a pretty good job with the geometry of the suspension so that it mods fairly well and is pretty capable and robust.

 

[RustyLinkz]

Check around for some used D60 out of a f350, not sure if 4th gens are driver drop but those D60s are. Super strong, easy parts, relatively cheap.

 

[Bumbo]

I’ll be honest… with the KOH build, and some of the other solid axle conversation / swap threads I have seen lately, even I caught a little bit of that SAS bug. It looks pretty rad, so does 4-linking the rear, but I think it’s a can of worms I don’t really want to open.

Being more of a desert guy, I really like IFS, and SAS might actually be a mistake for how I personally use the truck. I don’t know, I don’t have enough SA experience. I might get blasted for this but with all the work it takes to make this work on a 4Runner, why not just start with a Heep? I meant Jeep. If I had to do it, sounds like a logical option, but doing it to a 4Runner is pretty badass, I just don’t think I have the resources to pull it off correctly. Some of these builds look like they cost a small fortune.

 

[RustyLinkz]

You’re not wrong, that being it costs a fortune to build correctly. I didn’t want a jeep platform because 1. I already had my runner 2. Toyota reliability 3. Its different and I didn’t want to be another dude in a jeep or just have another LT runner (those LBJs man, they’ll kill you one day) 4. The body style and the cargo space. I still have a shorter wheel base than an unlimited JK even after I pushed my rear axle back ~3” 5. Steeze