Martec SAS kit for 2nd gen

https://martecnv.com/products/p/2v1jihwc1hc440pe8frv9lz3rxs5ku

 

Stop posting this You're going to cost me alot of money.

 

I'm not super knowledgeable on setting up links but I know everything comes into play such as weight, ride height and even tire size so you can get the geometry you want. I wonder how this one size fits all kit does with that and how well it works on multiple trucks. Maybe it comes down to packaging on the front end and we're limited to where we can fit mounts for everything so this is irrelevant. Either way, I'm curious to hear third party reviews on it.

 

It's an impressive looking kit, if I were in the market for a SAS kit for an 05+ Taco this would be my first choice. @EatSleepTacos you are correct, but with this kit fitting specifically to the 99-04 Superduty axle I think the weight of each rig this goes on will be similar (at least in the front), and being a dana 60 axle nearly everyone running this kit will also be running ~40" tires. I've designed a 3-link for my own rig and I can say this is well thought out and well designed.

My only concern is the lower link frame mounts, they look like they will get hung up on rocks fairly easily. If they had longer ribs and more gradually sloped walls in front and behind to better slide over rocks I think that would work much better.

 

That's along the lines of what I was thinking, every rig will be similar enough and there are only so many places you can mount stuff up front, so I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

https://youtu.be/N4Bv1_Bhpgs
https://youtu.be/RO5Hq0wP6BY
Here's a couple of videos on the kit. Looks pretty interesting.

 

The kit looks well put together, nice removable cross member.

The issue with these type of kits, however, is that people always end up having to modify/bastardize them to fit their particular application anyway. Things always change, or people realize they want to change directions slightly as the build progresses. Because of this, generic link kits are hard to beat when it comes to links.

But I see the appeal of these model specific kits, and I'm sure it takes a lot of time and effort to design them.

 

Plus, IMO 14 CO should be the minimum standard for link and not 10 or 12 as the kit recommend.

 

Good point, agree. Perhaps that was an attempt to prevent having to push the coilovers through the engine bay. But it comes at a price.

 

https://youtu.be/4d_tptd5YMI
Looks like it works pretty well to me.

 

Why?

 

Not worth the effort over a leaf pack SAS. Sending that shit through the engine bay is the only way to go if you’re going through the effort to link it in my limited opinion.

 

Yea but that didn't answer my question.

 

Not sure what you’re asking

 

My question to 02hilux on what he stated on min shock length.

 

Why?

 

I feel like if you’re going to go through the effort to link it over doing leafs you should go the extra step and mount them higher and fit at least 12” coil overs. It’s really a necessity from what I’ve seen, not an option unless you want to sit super tall and have no uptravel. What length shocks are people typically pairing with leaf SAS’s?

 

I have a 14" travel shocks upfront without going into the engine bay right now on my leaf sprung SAS.

Why would a truck with a 10 or 12" shock sit super tall while having no uptravel?

 

It wouldn’t if they went into the engine bay. Lots of variables and every truck is different, just speaking from my experience from my second gen there was no other way to do it with my particular set up. That kit uses later model super duty axles so maybe they’re a bit easier to mount lower axle side. I wanted the most uptravel I could squeeze out of it. I don’t think I’d be able to fit 10” coil overs under the fender. I don’t see the point in doing all this work to fit any less than a 12” coilover. It’s not all about travel, but still.

Having seen your truck, it has very little uptravel. What’s your limiting factor? Can you cycle the entire 14”? I’m guessing about 12” would be droop.

 

It's preference. Why link if you're going to be limited on travel with a 10" travel CO? Yes 12 is better than 10 but why not go 14?

Dropping all that money for link suspension on 10" CO, might as well go leaf setup.