PDA

View Full Version : SOA axle swap


ColoRaider
August 6th, 2011, 04:55 PM
How much is involved with swapping out axles from a SOA vehicle to a SUA vehicle? Is it a simple swap, with the exception of welding strut towers, or is there more to it than that....
frisco31
August 6th, 2011, 05:01 PM
Give me call and I will talk to you.

3039019266
Fordguy77
August 7th, 2011, 12:19 PM
What are you swapping? Because that has a lot to do with how easy or how hard it can be.
ColoRaider
August 7th, 2011, 12:46 PM
swapping axles from a sprung over FJ60 to my FJ60...
Fordguy77
August 7th, 2011, 12:50 PM
swapping axles from a sprung over FJ60 to my FJ60...

So the way your making is sound you have found axles where the spring perches have already been flipped over?
Fordguy77
August 7th, 2011, 12:54 PM
This winter dependent on space, i am going to SOA my 60. I am purchasing a SOA kit from Ruff Stuff Specialties (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/FJ60-SOA.html). And if you go this route you also need to address your steering linkage, as you will not be able to use your factory setup. For this i am using a 4x4 Labs Complete Hi Steer Setup (http://www.4x4labs.com/products/steering/crossover-frombe-hi-steering-system/)

So i will be removing my axles, and cutting off the old spring perch's, and then establishing where they should sit on the top of the axle and using new perches from RuffStuff then welding them on. Its a lilttle harder on the FJ axle series because of the offset on the diff and where the passenger spring mounts. Ive got some good write ups on it if you want um i'll pm you it.
ColoRaider
August 7th, 2011, 01:23 PM
The axles I found have already been C&T, steering, driveshafts etc have all been addressed. My plan is to take the SOA axles and swap them with my stock axles...
Fordguy77
August 7th, 2011, 01:25 PM
The axles I found have already been C&T, steering, driveshafts etc have all been addressed. My plan is to take the SOA axles and swap them with my stock axles...

Oh hell then as long as you have the Steering issue addressed, and have the parts for the Hi steer. its pretty much just a matter of unbolting the old ones and putting the new ones in.
jack her up, throw some stands, and away ya go, if you can do it with out cracking the break system open then its even easier.
Fordguy77
August 7th, 2011, 01:26 PM
If you need any help let me know.
Brody
August 8th, 2011, 06:35 AM
Oh hell then as long as you have the Steering issue addressed, and have the parts for the Hi steer. its pretty much just a matter of unbolting the old ones and putting the new ones in.
jack her up, throw some stands, and away ya go, if you can do it with out cracking the break system open then its even easie

What Chris said. Shouldn't be anything more than simply swapping axles. Strut towers? What are you calling strut towers? Just curious....Should just have leaf spring perches, shock mounts (if they aren't tied into the spring plates), maybe some sway bar junk. Pretty simple like most leaf spring stuff.

Pictures would help. If you pinch closed the rear brake line, you shouldn't even have to bleed the system (me being me, I would anyway), but just tossing that out there.
Mporter
August 8th, 2011, 08:23 AM
What are you calling strut towers?

He probably means shock towers.

Most people use Ford shock towers and just cut the fender wall.
ColoRaider
August 8th, 2011, 10:43 AM
shock towers.. yes.. Ive been dealing with struts on the wife's nissan, so I had struts on the brain.
I will probably be purchasing the rig later this week. I will get some pics up as soon as I can and then I will let every one know when the "BBQ" is :D
ColoRaider
August 8th, 2011, 06:35 PM
Basically, I found a FJ60 that has been sprung over, cut and turned etc. I trust the PO's work on the truck. So I am planning to take the sprung over axles put them on my rig, and then take my axles and put them on the rig that I am buying. From what Ive been reading it looks as it will be a pretty straight forward swap. I will have taller shock mounts welded to my rig, and probably have stock mounts welded back to the donor?
How long of a job would this be? Is it doable in a long day? weekend? week? My truck is my DD but I can do without for a little while.
Brody
August 8th, 2011, 07:00 PM
Two people in a long day if the planets are aligned (and NO, I am not from Boulder nor am I a cosmic hippie type...I was simply being facetious..:D More realistically a day plus with any cutting and welding welding that needs doing.
Fordguy77
August 8th, 2011, 07:14 PM
Depending on how well your equipped with tools has a lot to do with how fast or long this swap can take. If your all set up with a surplus of jack stands/jacks, air impact and sockets and pickle forks and line up pins, then it goes a lot faster, but if your not and have to "make due" it can take a lot longer.