Benefits of Solid Front Axle

I have a 1995 tacoma. I have been considering swapping the ifs for sas. I have a friend to help me. My question is, if I completed the swap, would it still drive on the highway?

 

It would depend if you and your friend do a good job more the anything else.

Quite a few options other then using 35 year old Toyota parts .

 

Nope. It would be a dedicated trail/mudder rig.

 

Don't see why not.

Do it right and you can easily daily drive it on the highway.

 

Front end geometry is critical to highway driveability. I once had a solid axle rig that was lifted improperly (front spring mounts lowered) and the caster angle got messed up. It was a highway death trap with no tendency to self-center and go straight. As long as you do it right, it should be just as driveable as the millions other solid axle rigs out there.

 

True.

But do you and your buddy with the craptastics Harbor Freight Chicago Electric flux core wire welder have the skills to do this job?

I'm a skilled fabricator. I won't do this job and have been asked many times.

I don't see the benefit of altering a Tacoma when you could have a dedicated trail/ mud rig with much less hassle.

Not to mention the liability aspect. Xway speeds are normally 80mph+. If you were to have an accident regardless if it's your fault, with an altered vehicle, the people hurt would have field day with your insurance company.

Please give this project some thought.

 

Do a search, there are several existing SAS threads.

 

i missed the Harbor Freight Welder some how!!!

Where is it legal to drive 80 mph plus??

How can I get a dedicated trail rig with less hassle?

Funny I have fixed many botched Solid Axle swaps over the years . Not only do the solid axle but lift things another foot and put huge tires on now that would cause some handling issues .

I guess the same can then be said of any modified vehicles they should be unable to be inspected to be street legal or any parts not sold by the manufacture of the vehicle would enable the person that tee boned you or rear ended you to come out the winner??

What about the thousands of 80,000 pound vehicles with the frames stretched I have done my share.

Any of these jobs done in a cheap or shoddy fashion can fail but then anything mechanical can

I am more worried about people and phones then a SAS truck coming down the road sideways .

 

Montana

 

not true at all.

There are millions of trucks driving around with solid axles as we speak.

It all depends on how well the conversion is done.

The brand of welder you use is irrelevant.

 

I've always wondered if this is something that actually happens.
If so, how often?
Or is it a could happen?

 

Ok I need an excuse to visit out there been a long time

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States_by_jurisdiction

Several states, but 80 mph is usually only on a few long rural highways between cities. I-20 east of El Paso heading toward/from Dallas is 80 mph. That's the only one I've been on.

 

Thanks!

 

Ok thank you, I appreciate the clarifications and help.

 

Welcome to TW.

I mean this in the best possible way: if you have to ask here a solid axle swap is probably not for you.


It is absolutely possible and plenty of people have set up their rig to safely and successfully drive on the highway with a solid front axle. Your original question makes it seem that you are not prepared to do the research required to achieve that kind of result.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/sas-quick-guide-cost.138316/

 

Thanks, thats what I have figured. My friend pretty experienced, but for a beginner like me its out of the question. I get it, thanks!

 

Lol legal? most places its not. But almost every highway and interstate I've been on, if you're not going 80, you're getting passed.

 

So do you plan to take this off road mainly or use as a daily driver?