SOLID AXLE SWAP IN A VITARA

[Try_Me]

hey
thinking about doing a soild axle swap for my vitara
trail tough has a set up for approx $3500 im guessing delivered not installed and still needs diffs to complete kit. http://www.trailtough.com/sidekick.htm

over kill on the other hand told me $6500 drive in drive out for the solid axle swap including diffs and all??

what i was thinking was get the trail tough kit intall my self and by diff and save on some cash??

what do you guys think??

also over kill said they use 60's series diffs and trail tough use hilux diffs not sure which is better??

engineering over kill said should be fine with trail tough kit.

anyone got pics etc would help of any vitara with this sort of lift installed??

[cj]

First stop would be to talk to an Engineer to see what he will engineer. If both options are still possible then you have a choice.

[Gwagensteve]

Wot CJ said. Don't even think about this stuff unless you speak to an engineer. They are likely to be very suspicious of the Trail tough Kit - which is no refection on the kit, only that they don't know how it was put together and had no control over its design.

Hilux diffs should be adequate, (and the rear diff is centred which is better for the application) 60 series diffs are a better width and stronger but are heavy and the rear offset isn't ideal.

Look at GQ patrol as well. Cheap, rear disc brakes, plenty strong and a centred rear diff.

Either way, you will end up with a car which won't ride or handle as well, will be full of custom parts, and there will heaps of little things you need to sort out. (like gearing - any of these diffs will be taller geared than you have now meaning running a big tyre will be a problem.

Why do you want to do it? Do you want a more capable Vitara? Do you like the idea?

For the money you will have in the conversion, you could buy and build a sierra if you want a more capable car in the bush.

From what I have seen, most solid axle vitaras don't stay together as driven cars for long before they get pulled apart or wrecked out.

Just my observations, BUT GO AND TALK TO AN ENGINEER

[v840]

Not positive but I seem to remember reading somewhere that lux diffs are too narrow for the vit. Id go the 60 diffs, you lose clearance under the pumpkin but it comes with a fair bit moer strength. If you can afford it I would get overkill to do it. They have done enough diff swaps under zooks to do it blindfolded.

[SUZOTA]

these are hilux axles

[v840]

I happily stand corrected.

[redzook]

I happily stand corrected.

im pretty sure hilux diffs are around 100mm narrower then vitara diffs

[redzook]

these are hilux axles

is it just me or do you have flipped rims on the back and not the front?

cos it still looks narrow with alot of offset on the rims?

[Squik]

On the same note... and I ask simply because I don't have a farkin' clue ... is it possible to RUF a Vitara?

[redzook]

On the same note... and I ask simply because I don't have a farkin' clue ... is it possible to RUF a Vitara?

rears up front?

u mean put the coils outta the rear or sierra rear springs?

[Squik]

May have used the wrong term. I heard a whisper aaaaages ago about a guy in Thailand who put a Vitara rear setup (axles -diff... the whole kaboodle) under the front of his Vit... have no idea how he did it, but remember hearing about it....

... I daresay it would be a farking nightmare

[nicbeer]

I happily stand corrected.

im pretty sure hilux diffs are around 100mm narrower then vitara diffs

wouldnt this to be to suit the lux front and vit rear maybe? thou he did say lux diffs.

[A1]

Says here LUX both ends.....

http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread. ... ght=suzota


And the newish build not SAS tho but definatley modded


http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread. ... ght=suzota

[jonamaphone1]

May have used the wrong term. I heard a whisper aaaaages ago about a guy in Thailand who put a Vitara rear setup (axles -diff... the whole kaboodle) under the front of his Vit... have no idea how he did it, but remember hearing about it....

... I daresay it would be a farking nightmare

impossible?

[v840]

I happily stand corrected.

im pretty sure hilux diffs are around 100mm narrower then vitara diffs

Then I dont stand corrected! I mean I do.......I mean.......Look, I dont know where I stand but as per the orig. post, I would still go 60s diffs.

Squik, I believe it would be heaps easier, stronger and cheaper to go lc diffs than get knuckles, hubs and steering made up for a vit rear axle. You could use one of those suzana axles that overkill used to make (still do?) if you were hell bent on keeping it (almost) all zook but I think they were pretty $$$$

[SUZOTA]

the hilux rear axle is3 inches narrower than the front, don't ask me why.

the front axle is the same size as a stock vit one.and the spring perches line up with the chassis rails almost spot on.

makes fitting leaf springs easier.


though i plan on a coil conversion next year.

[redzook]

the hilux rear axle is3 inches narrower than the front, don't ask me why.

the front axle is the same size as a stock vit one.and the spring perches line up with the chassis rails almost spot on.

makes fitting leaf springs easier.


though i plan on a coil conversion next year.

has the front diff got IFS hubs on it?
it is a comon conversion on solid axle toyota diffs to gain 1.5" a side (or 3 inches overall)

[SUZOTA]

i didn't know that one.

mine are just stock 84 hilux axles.

[Gwagensteve]

No they're not... stock 84 hiluxes have the same track width front to rear.

[lay80n]

Sounds like you have a later IFS model rear, and a older 84 front. The later hilux with the torsion bar front end had a wider track rear diff.

Layto....

[Gwagensteve]

Except that the front is wider than the back

Regardless, I still think that hilux diffs are too narrow for a vit. An IFS rear might be OK, but the IFS hub conversion in the front if nit really a satisfactory fix IMHO.

I think that a 70 series front end (post 91 - high pinion front diff) would be ideal if you didn't want to go too wide, with an IFS 'lux diff in the rear.

Steve.

[cj]

Sounds like you have a later IFS model rear, and a older 84 front. The later hilux with the torsion bar front end had a wider track rear diff.

Layto....

I would have thought he has the early rear end (narrower) and the IFS hubs on the front from the way the rim offset appears in the pic.

Tony, if you pull a wheel off the front you should see a spacer if it has the IFS hubs put on.

[Fourdogs]

May have used the wrong term. I heard a whisper aaaaages ago about a guy in Thailand who put a Vitara rear setup (axles -diff... the whole kaboodle) under the front of his Vit... have no idea how he did it, but remember hearing about it....

... I daresay it would be a farking nightmare

impossible?

Think it was done by grafting 413 knuckles onto vit rear and new axles. Remember hearing about it.

[lay80n]

Sounds like you have a later IFS model rear, and a older 84 front. The later hilux with the torsion bar front end had a wider track rear diff.

Layto....

I would have thought he has the early rear end (narrower) and the IFS hubs on the front from the way the rim offset appears in the pic.

Tony, if you pull a wheel off the front you should see a spacer if it has the IFS hubs put on.

I realised just then i was backwards in reading his post.

Layto....

[SUZOTA]

the axles are as they came off the truck.

defo an 84 lux.

all i know is that the rear axle is a lot narrower.

well it works ok.

[A1]

Thats the main THING ............

[Try_Me]

so in my case what do i do either build a solid axle swap and with whom or should i just go with the the good old calmini kit or something.

i do want a capable car and one which handles close to well im kidding my self i want a decent off roader that i can drive as a daily with out to much complications

[A1]

To be honest Mate you wont ever get everyone on this or any forum that will all say the same thing (of what axles to use ) .......have alook around and see what kind of axles are available @ a decent price ..... and see how far the wallet will stretch ....... all the ones mention above are all good but have there own good/ bad traits

But do try to get a centred rear diff .....Im not sure how Mine with the 60 series rear would handle highway speeds ....due to the angles ...but for a crawler IM FARKIN STOKED

If your not handy to be able to do the work your self or have mates friends etc that can help out ...than a Business such As Overkill and any others that do the same kind of conversions is the way to go ......you may also want to ask a fab shop such as these for there best views aswell ..as most prob they have done a fair share of this kind of work and have there hands on experienced problems and best ways (parts etc) to do such a modification ...


EDIT :

Just realised that you may only want to or beable to afford the front end conversion hence the SAS thread ....in that case hilux is prob the best .....AND Also you should PM mysteriousvit off the board (scott) and see if he still has his front end ( lux ) setup that uses a custom crossmember to where the links bolt to which I think actually bolts ...and reuses the front stock upper coil perches ....he was trying to sell it a while back (he is currently fitting a V6 to his SWB and goin coilovers I think)

his setup may suit you to a tee for ease of install and cost

[SUZOTA]

personally i would go for a sammy front axle.
swap in you vit front diff, stick some spacers on the axle and jobs done.

will drive well on the road and nice off.

i did one for a mate with ruf and sua.
he loved it.



shove the front axle forwards an inch and you can squeese 33's on it.
you will need to lift the rear by 2.5 inches.
job sorted.

looks almost stock

[redzook]

put a 60 series diff in the front
and forget it

setup well there is no reason it cant be a capable offroader and handle well on the street