What axle for sas

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
I'm thinking of doing a sas on my truck and was wondering what axle I should use to keep the curent bolt pattern and still be able to use my nissan locking hubs?

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Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I'm thinking of doing a sas on my truck and was wondering what axle I should use to keep the curent bolt pattern and still be able to use my nissan locking hubs?

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The commonly accepted axle is mid 80s Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It's close to the same width, 6x5.5 lug pattern, but since it's a D44 you have to use their hubs. I don't know of any solid axle that will accept the Nissan hubs.
 

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
Well I guess I'll start keeping an eye out for a waggoner. Has anyone seen a xterra sas using leaf springs instead of coil overs? Since the truck is already got leafes in the back I'd like to stick with that upfront

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jg8992

Hi, my name is Brandon
Location
Spotsylvania, VA
Well I guess I'll start keeping an eye out for a waggoner. Has anyone seen a xterra sas using leaf springs instead of coil overs? Since the truck is already got leafes in the back I'd like to stick with that upfront

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Wife's jeep had front leafs. Not a fan.

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granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
There are a few sased with leafs up front, if done well they work, a little less expensive than coil overs but they are not as adjustable for lift or axle placement.
 

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
Well I guess I'll start keeping an eye out for a waggoner. Has anyone seen a xterra sas using leaf springs instead of coil overs? Since the truck is already got leafes in the back I'd like to stick with that upfront

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Luke's is a leaf spring setup.

IMG_3055_zpsusqeigjp.jpg


http://www.xterranation.org/showthread.php?4815-Xterror04-Build-Thread/page7
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Well I guess I'll start keeping an eye out for a waggoner. Has anyone seen a xterra sas using leaf springs instead of coil overs? Since the truck is already got leafes in the back I'd like to stick with that upfront

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I've seen a few done with leafs. The cool thing is you just need to weld a front perch to the frame. The center section of the frame already has the holes for the pathfinder shackle kit. So it makes it that much easier.

Look at the build thread for @Xterror04. His is done with leafs and the Pathy shackle kit.
 

Cptpackrat

Bumpers Installed
Location
Gillette WY
I've seen a few done with leafs. The cool thing is you just need to weld a front perch to the frame. The center section of the frame already has the holes for the pathfinder shackle kit. So it makes it that much easier.

Look at the build thread for @Xterror04. His is done with leafs and the Pathy shackle kit.

wait... we have holes for shackles??? I need to look into this again!
 

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
How do the struts mount on the nisstec kit? Dose it use the same springs as the rear? They are about 60 miles south of me, and by far the best price. I could grab a set of axles from the wrecking yard.

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xterror04

Site sponsor
Founding Member
Location
Carlisle, Iowa
I have the truck pictured above. I love my leaf spring setup.. the Nisstec kit doesn't cover the shock mounts, I used shock towers for a f250, but didn't like the way they sat so I ended up getting shock hoops made. Www.nissannut.com has a ton of info on the setups.
 

diablo3662

Bought an X
You can use 70-79 Ford axles I have 78 Ford. d44HP axle and a rear D60 in my garage. Also you can use Wagoneer axles . 80-85 don't have a Vacuum disconnect. Which is ideal. But u can use 86-89 but they are weaker and have the vacuum disconnect means u have to by pass it also

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mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
You can use 70-79 Ford axles I have 78 Ford. d44HP axle and a rear D60 in my garage. Also you can use Wagoneer axles . 80-85 don't have a Vacuum disconnect. Which is ideal. But u can use 86-89 but they are weaker and have the vacuum disconnect means u have to by pass it also

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since I am finally getting a house with a garage I am thinking of getting my SAS. Did you use f150 axles? There are about a million later 70s f150s being parted out around here.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
since I am finally getting a house with a garage I am thinking of getting my SAS. Did you use f150 axles? There are about a million later 70s f150s being parted out around here.
Try to stay away from the axles from 79 they have cast spring purches. I'm not sure on what other years have them. I was told the idea axle would be from a 76 but they are hard to find.
 

Mixdnuts

Test Drive
Ok I'm sure if i look a bit harder i would find the answer but it's 4AM and I just want to take the easy road. Do most people swap to the Waggy rear end too? Or is it more common to keep the Nissan diff? Thanks
 

Smileyshaun

Bought an X
Taking the easy road and doing a SAS should not be in the same sentence. Even doing it simple with leaf springs there’s a lot of variables , on top of the axle you need to address.

Steering
Brakes
Spring rate
Shock valving
Drive lines
Frame reinforcement
Upgraded axle shafts
Gears
Lockers (A solid axle swap would be almost pointless without lockers)

you would be amazed how quickly simple stuff like bolts and hardware will add up . Really sit down and write out every part you’re think you’re going to need to do a solid axle swap figure out the money that will be involved and the time, Then double that budgets and triple the time you think it’s going to take is definitely a more realistic way of approaching a major project on a vehicle.
 

Bklyn.X

Skid Plates
Moderator
Supporting Member
Founding Member
Location
Brooklyn, NY
^ This.
Also don't forget brakes. My OEM MC couldn't stop the truck within a safe distance.
I’ve got over $10g into my SAS silliness and although I’ve been daily driving and wheeling the truck I’m not done…

I love it but seriously, what a stupid hobby...people think I'm insane.
 

Cptpackrat

Bumpers Installed
Location
Gillette WY
^ This.
Also don't forget brakes. My OEM MC couldn't stop the truck within a safe distance.
I’ve got over $10g into my SAS silliness and although I’ve been daily driving and wheeling the truck I’m not done…

I love it but seriously, what a stupid hobby...people think I'm insane.


So real... Im at like $8500 in mine and im NOWHERE near the end. Need to get my hydro set up, hydro bumps, and all sorts of stupid sh*t... Im at the point I might just ditch the 44/h233b and go to tons... run 40s and send it
 

Bklyn.X

Skid Plates
Moderator
Supporting Member
Founding Member
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Well yeah, I think a few of us might have gone that way. shiat, I would link the front instead of the radius arms and then link the rear...Yee-haw!
 

Mixdnuts

Test Drive
Taking the easy road and doing a SAS should not be in the same sentence. Even doing it simple with leaf springs there’s a lot of variables , on top of the axle you need to address.

Steering
Brakes
Spring rate
Shock valving
Drive lines
Frame reinforcement
Upgraded axle shafts
Gears
Lockers (A solid axle swap would be almost pointless without lockers)

you would be amazed how quickly simple stuff like bolts and hardware will add up . Really sit down and write out every part you’re think you’re going to need to do a solid axle swap figure out the money that will be involved and the time, Then double that budgets and triple the time you think it’s going to take is definitely a more realistic way of approaching a major project on a vehicle.

I think you misunderstood me. I know a SAS is a lot of work and planning. I just meant I didn’t want to spend a whole bunch of time searching for the answer early in the morning.
I was curious because I have the opportunity to pick up some Waggy axles cheap and just wanted to know if I should go for both or just the front.
Thanks for the detailed input though.
 

harryron

The Grumpiest of Mid-Westerners
Location
ohio
I think you misunderstood me. I know a SAS is a lot of work and planning. I just meant I didn’t want to spend a whole bunch of time searching for the answer early in the morning.
I was curious because I have the opportunity to pick up some Waggy axles cheap and just wanted to know if I should go for both or just the front.
Thanks for the detailed input though.
If you are lucky enough to find a Wagoner axle cheap and it doesn't have a vaccum disconnect I would say go for it. Stay far away from the calmini kit just ask @Cptpackrat about his experience and many others. If you go leaf spring look into the boonymotorsports hanger kit if he is still making them.
 

Cptpackrat

Bumpers Installed
Location
Gillette WY
If I ever built a SAS 1st Gen I'd do leafs. Just for simplicity.

truth be told I have set both up. I think doing a radius arm setup would be WAY easier to set up and get straight. You need shock hoops, a track bar mount, and a crossmember. Building the RAs is super easy.
 

Smileyshaun

Bought an X
The nice thing about radius arm setup is you have no pinion angle change when the suspension cycles and great ride quality and in a lot of ways is simpler to setup than leaf springs are. Just make sure to keep you track bar and crossover steering rod as flat as possible and as Parallel to each other as possible and that will keep bump steer to a minimum.
 

Cptpackrat

Bumpers Installed
Location
Gillette WY
The nice thing about radius arm setup is you have no pinion angle change when the suspension cycles and great ride quality and in a lot of ways is simpler to setup than leaf springs are. Just make sure to keep you track bar and crossover steering rod as flat as possible and as Parallel to each other as possible and that will keep bump steer to a minimum.

exactly, super easy to set up and you can do it with very little welding to the frame of the truck
 

mantree

Wheeling
Location
Fort Collins
Reason I want to do leaves is it simpler with less things to break I tend to beat on my vehicle pretty hard so the less moving Parts the better.
 
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