Live Axle Front Conversion

[T-Boon]

Looking into this dow the track, what is involved in changing a ind front to a live front on a 130 Surf, Is it as easy as ripping the old out and chucking in some spring ,shock mounts and steering stuff in or is there more involved fabrication?

Looking at this if its suitable, looks to be leaf setup is it easy to change to coil ?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =228720810

Or is it better to get something already coil out of something else? cruiser etc ?

Cheers

[GotFlex]

Ive sased a isuzu, different yes,

i wish i had got a cruiser or hilux now,

[J_Dub]

some a the guys down south that have done many sas jobs rekon they can knock the whole job off in a long weekend, but thats leaf not coil and they have done lots.
You be best to wait around till you find Prado or cruiser front (coils), since you in no rush, i remember seing a complete Prado front end on Trade me not long ago go for $800

[gimmemud]

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... ustler+sas

[rokhound]

If you want to do a SAS, then there must be a reason for it. If it is only strength you after, then bang in a prado front end.
If however you are looking for good articulation from the front end, and don't want to go mad on the fab work, leaf the front end (using rear spring packs).
If you want to fab a bit more go for a custom 3 link setup (you can dial this is to suit your needs).

Google and Pirate are your friends.

[hosehustler]

If you want to do a SAS, then there must be a reason for it. If it is only strength you after, then bang in a prado front end.
If however you are looking for good articulation from the front end, and don't want to go mad on the fab work, leaf the front end (using rear spring packs).
If you want to fab a bit more go for a custom 3 link setup (you can dial this is to suit your needs).

Google and Pirate are your friends.

Read hard what rock has said before you jump in and purchase, the main reasons I did a coil swap in mine and not leaves were comfort as it's a dual purpose vehicle, and because I could.
Coil set ups are a lot harder to achieve for the back yarder (that work safely on road at 100kph!) than a leaf SAS, if you intend to do it yourself and your skills are limited the leaf swap is the simple solution they are well documented on Pirate4x4.
Price wise you'll pay a lot more for the prado front end but the CV's are a lot stronger, they have high pinion diff which gets the tie rod a bit more protected as its behind the axle housing.
Either coil or leaf setup is going to be better on the trail for strength, ease of repair, and ongoing maintainence costs.

[rokhound]

Excellent points Tim, I forgot about your playdoh conversion.
Read up all you can on leaf spring SASing, and then have a read of Tims build thread, Then read some more,..............then make your decision .
As stated above, a lot of what you do is based on finance and ability.

[T-Boon]

whats the rough wrecker price for a prado front end these days ?

So many decisions, unsure if i like the idea of coil rear and leaf front, + i`m sure i`d prefer a better ride for a little more $$.

Although i havnt done anything like this before, i have done quite a bit on nissan and toyota performance cars, welding is my only weakness, that said i have a lot of fabricator friends..

[hosehustler]

whats the rough wrecker price for a prado front end these days ?

So many decisions, unsure if i like the idea of coil rear and leaf front, + i`m sure i`d prefer a better ride for a little more $$.

Although i havnt done anything like this before, i have done quite a bit on nissan and toyota performance cars, welding is my only weakness, that said i have a lot of fabricator friends..

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 221243.htm


Keep your eye on TM for one that has been SAS'd already there was a couple a while back, or make me an offer for mine that I can't refuse

[Engineer]

whats the rough wrecker price for a prado front end these days ?

So many decisions, unsure if i like the idea of coil rear and leaf front, + i`m sure i`d prefer a better ride for a little more $$.

Although i havnt done anything like this before, i have done quite a bit on nissan and toyota performance cars, welding is my only weakness, that said i have a lot of fabricator friends..

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 221243.htm


Keep your eye on TM for one that has been SAS'd already there was a couple a while back, or make me an offer for mine that I can't refuse

thats the same front end as whats in mine (lj71/bundera), slighty different to hosehustlers.
the only thing that got me fukd was the castor angle i never heard of it before and didnt know how to measure it i reused the factory lj71s and put them in same as the bundera chassis position not realising the variables involved. once i had that sussed i remade the mounts and was away laughing! the lj71 runs factory 1.5deg castor (according to firestones computer) im running 2.5deg now with 35" tires.
if you make the wheel base 30mm longer than standard to 2665mm youll be ale to run 35" with a bodylift and have clearance alround.