98+ solid axle swap?

[cmequestionu]

I was wondering if anyone has done one, how they did it, what they used, and any problems you ran into. I want to do one on my 2000 ranger and the project seems very overwhelming and i dont want to get stuck trying to figure something out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ozwynn]

first you have to ask why you want to do it? Are you doing to biuld a bad ass rock crawler or are you doing it because you are having a problem with a suspension system you don't understand.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I just finished a SAS on my 2000 Ranger. PM me if you have any questions. I'll tell ya, it's a bitch and a half.

 

[Ozwynn]

I just finished a SAS on my 2000 Ranger. PM me if you have any questions. I'll tell ya, it's a bitch and a half.

see I agree with that, after SASing an 89 toyota I would just buy something with a straight axle. lot less headaches.

 

[sasdranger]

i'll make a build thread on here later when i have time.

have a plan and have the parts. unless its not a DD and you have no time restrictions. I would say read around on here and on pirate.

 

[cmequestionu]

first you have to ask why you want to do it? Are you doing to biuld a bad ass rock crawler or are you doing it because you are having a problem with a suspension system you don't understand.

I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of buying a pre fab kit or going with a sas. The kit i really want is the RCD 5.5" but if i have to shell out $2500 plus install can i build a better, stronger rig with a sas?

 

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

i did a sas on my 94 with a dana 44. worked out for me. Pm me if you have any questions im in CO (littleton/morrison). the whole sas part wasnt hard. do lots of research and ask lots of question before you start.

 

[c_note]

well i am curretly doing a SAS on my 2002 fx4. its a pain in the ass but i already had everything set up to where i just cut, weld n go. im working on the steering right now and i just finished day 2. it is on its wheels with coilovers and y-links in place.

if i had to do it again... hell ya! i take pride in my work and ive built almost everything for the swap. i have no one around me that has ever done an SAS and so far, my build looks good. as you will learn, the 2000 and up SAS takes more skill than the others.

ill post up some pics on tuesday.


btw, im using a dana 44 out of a Jeep Rubicon, with the warn maual hub conversion, detroit locker, chromoly shafts and 4.88 gears. i built the y-links, trac bar, tie rod and drag link. i machined inserts for the teraflex high steer knuckle for heims. i also machined the trac bar mount on the axle along with some of the hardware for the coilovers. i did alot of this myself to save me a couple Gs.

sasdranger has gave me some pointers on the steering.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

after SASing an 89 toyota I would just buy something with a straight axle. lot less headaches.

That is one of the easiest SAS going, especially with the new TrailGrear kit...makes it fool proof. I've helped 3 buddys now do that swap. Man would it be nice if someone would build stuff like that for rangers.

 

[JohnnyU]

That is one of the easiest SAS going, especially with the new TrailGrear kit...makes it fool proof. I've helped 3 buddys now do that swap. Man would it be nice if someone would build stuff like that for rangers.

Ford practically did. The EB44 can be a completely bolt-in swap if you wanted it to be.

 

[c_note]

Ford practically did. The EB44 can be a completely bolt-in swap if you wanted it to be.

ya but thats only on a 97 ad older. on a 98+ theres alot of cutting and measuring.

 

[sasdranger]

the 2000 and up SAS takes more skill than the others.

ill post up some pics on tuesday.

sasdranger has gave me some pointers on the steering.

did you get it figured out? I have pics of the hoses now.

i'm going to basically make a thread with all the junk i've sent to him, i don't want to have to write it all out again.

ya but thats only on a 97 ad older. on a 98+ theres alot of cutting and measuring.

there ya go, 98+ is a PITA, you have to plate/sleeve the frame, get PS hoses made, make the intermediate shaft, hell you even have to decide where you want to put the box.

not to mention there's a ton more cutting to even get the intermediate shafts and shock hoops in.

 

[Ozwynn]

That is one of the easiest SAS going, especially with the new TrailGrear kit...makes it fool proof. I've helped 3 buddys now do that swap. Man would it be nice if someone would build stuff like that for rangers.

this was done in 94 from scratch, before i discovered the internet.
And I just had to have coil springs, leafs would have been easier. I did most everything but the welding. The "old Man" did the Welding.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

this was done in 94 from scratch, before i discovered the internet.
And I just had to have coil springs, leafs would have been easier. I did most everything but the welding. The "old Man" did the Welding.

Yea, the stuff available for the toyotas makes me sick at time