solid front axle questions

[chrisrigby]

ok so after looking at nearly every possable route and realizing i dont need the awe factor of some really wild front solid axle builds ive concluded toyota is the way to go. now heres my question. are all toyota solid front axles created equal or is there some that i should avoid? i plan to strip it down and truss it up and reinforce parts the look like a problem spot possably shave its belly install longfield axles a locker or a spool i like spools there is nothing to malfunction in them (if you knew the luck i have less failure points are better for me) again this will probably only hold 33's or maybe 35's. also what rearend is the prefurred one? as i understand it the 90s V6 rearend is a bit beefier in the gear department.

[Crazy Sammy]

on the toyota gears you can have a 4 banger chunk and put v6 gears in itt with the right install kit so dont worry about that! the ifs trucks rear axles are 3'' wider so that would be the one to go with in my thoughts! but for the front you only have to truss at the knuckle balls. on the 8'' 3rd member the 5.29 gears is what i run with my 40'' and i have heard nothing but bad about the 5.71 gears they seem to break alot easier.with your settup you could run stock gears which most probably be 4.11 and 33'' tires you should be fine i run 4.37 in mine which came in the forerunnner i think. with 33'' tires and a piss ass motor so i think you should be fine. i wouldnt run a spool in the front dude ive talked to bobby and he doesnt recommend it with his axles! i run the yukon zip locker and im very pleased with it. i hope this helps you dude. there is several of us that run toyota stuff so just ask and probably one of us will know.

[chrisrigby]

cool thanks. next question is where did you get your front axle from? ive been wandering the junk yards a bit latley and though i havnt been specifically looking for a yota i cant recall seeing one at any of them.

[TheBigDogg]

[quote="chrisrigby"]cool thanks. next question is where did you get your front axle from? ive been wandering the junk yards a bit latley and though i havnt been specifically looking for a yota i cant recall seeing one at any of them.[/quote]
Check Marlin Crawler and Pirate4x4 forums, they are always on there

[Zak.Taylor]

Check craigslist. I found a few when I was looking for one for the 4 runner. U might have to drive a little way but you'll save cash and time

[Toycrawler5481]

For the money go trail gear and get the 3 inch longer axle along with chromo shafts, that's what I'm running,

[Uncle Cracker]

there's some good advice in here, but i'd like to add some detail;

assuming you're on a budget
from 1979 to 1985 the toy front axle was the same>>>>. week spot - the birfield (cv)
running 33" or smaller tires, you'll probably never break one. don't run a spool up front, you'll hate it. use a "lunch box locker",,reasonably priced, simple to install, & quite durable. factory toy front has a lower axle tube truss, but i would do all the knuckle ball gussets.

toy factory rear axle; starting in 1986, was 3" wider and had bigger drum brakes, the v6 models also had larger carrier bearings(possibly the turbo 4 bangers also, but i'm not sure)
and no weak spots.

i've been running 37" military tires w/ double bead locks (lots of rotating mass) for quite some time, never twisted a rear axle shaft, never busted a lunch box locker, front or rear.
destroyed many birfields though

[Crazy Sammy]

hey bud i have the housing for you when you want it! it is just the housing and you can build the knuckles or get them from another but you will end up building it as strong as we all have! i never broke a xle with 33'' tires on toyota front and i also run40'' tires on it as well with a OPEN diff only!!!!!! i put a locker in the front with 40'' tires and stock axles and broke them in the yard! not a joke. but i run longfield super axles now with 43'' tsl sx tires and if you havent been wheeling with me just ask. i can definitely make a damn good commercial for them and havent popped on yet and been in for over a yr.