SAS Questions. Axles and SAS Kits

Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
Around March/April this coming year, My IFS is going in a dumpster or to needy people of what parts remain still in good shape (Spindles\Axles\Diff)

I have a few simple questions about going SAS on my Xterra.

I already have a D44 waiting to be used out of a Wagoneer.
This Xterra lives on the road as much as it does in the woods. I drive out of state quite often.

In everyone's opinion, What would be the best route to go with? Simplest?
I want a decent ride, but able to run around a 37" tire, I don't beat on my Xterra too hard. Its still the DD.

I want something that wont down the Xterra very long (less than a week)
I know calmini has the "cut off unneeded crap and bolt stuff on" kit (short of welding mounts on axle)
But, at a later time I wish to go 3/4 Ton axles to get my needed gear ratio closer to 5.89's (so that limits my use of the calmini kit doesn't it?)

Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
 
outlaw_xterra

outlaw_xterra

Bought an X
Location
Jacksonville Florida
well by far leaf spring is the simplest. however coils will likely provide a better long term ride from state to state. and to turn 37s you will want at leasr 4.10 ratio if not 4.56 for decent road travel, trust me going 300 miles doing 55 sucks. with the right prep it should only take a few days
 
SASXA

SASXA

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Ormond Beach Florida
I have part of the calmini kit with fox 2.5 coilovers and a dana 44 from an old ford with a dana 60 rear end. I'm running 5.38 gears. I don't have any rpms at certain mph because it's more of a trail toy and not a dd. It's a pain though to get it up to 35 mph. Takes a little while. I'm also running an auto transmission. My SAS only took 2 weekends but someone who already SAS'd their nissan helped. So I'd put you at 4 days of nonstop work. If you did half kit half custom. My ride isn't bad but it certainly isn't like a stock vehicle. Little bumpy.
 
AZhiAZiAM

AZhiAZiAM

Suspension Lift
Location
Fresno,CA
xterror04 said:
Huh?
And sasxa you have a hard time going 35mph? What size tires do you have? So the sas made it so your rig can no longer go highway speeds?
Click to expand...

i think he is talking about the gear ration and tire size. because i had 4.10's on 40's on my ford with a dana and i could go well over 75 on it.
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
My current gear ratio is the 4.9's and calls for 265/70r16's. With 37's I would need to have 5.89 or close to that to keep the stock ratio intact. I currently am running 305/70r16's. If it were an automatic I wouldn't care as much, but being a manual, it makes a world of difference.
 
Roadwarrior

Roadwarrior

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Probably in class..
Edodrian said:
You would still be short of a transfer case. Though everything else (front drive related) is gonna be in the pile. Along with my skid plates...
Click to expand...

If you are going to toss the skids.. I call dibs. If you are going to sell them.. I am interested, but funds are short.

\EndThredJack #LetsGetBackToTheSAS
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
When I do the SAS swap in the next few months... I'll let you all know. And y'all can call dibs on whatever you want. If your willing to come after items or have them shipped to you that's cool. I'll most likely turn loose of the stuff for next to nothing.

Back on topic though...
I'd love to go 3/4 ton axles. I just can't seem to find a reasonable priced set near me. Since I have the ARB in the rear and have the D44 laying in the garage out of the waggy, looks as though I'm going that route. I'm still tied over doing leaves or going for the Calmini kit. I've thought about other directions but those tend to break my thouts of simple. I work on stuff all day, I really want reliable and to be able to bash on it some if want to. I want something that's going to be able to drive to Moab (when I get the chance) or wherever and wheel for a while and not worry about breaking like I worry about this IFS.
 
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M

midget

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
what cheer,Iowa
If youve already got an Arb in the rear i wouldnt bother going 3/4 ton. O and my 3/4ton with 5.38s runs 2600rpm at 58mph & the speedo is almost dead on. For a dd/wheeler 5.38s are a great gear i love them if it were a wheeler only i might have went deeper but it really isnt an issue. I run 37" military tires for reference & daily drive my truck to work.
0J5d8ZR.jpg
 
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Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
Well D44 it is.
Although the feeling and thought of "this is nice but it can be better" will still be there.
I suppose after 3 years of procrastinating I should start on overhauling that axle. Are there any parts that I should upgrade from stock beforehand or is this axle tough enough as is?
 
M

midget

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
what cheer,Iowa
Depends on what you want to run. If you want a locker & bigger than 35s id upgrade the shafts and balljoints if you leave it open there pretty strong stock. It helps we dont have **** for horsepower.
 
AaronsX

AaronsX

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Bowling Green, KY
IMO I think D44 is the way to go. Im not sure if D35 fit our trucks but I wouldn't ever go back to a D35. My 4banger heep with like 140hp blew the D35 on some 33's
 
TheFauxFox

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
midget said:
Depends on what you want to run. If you want a locker & bigger than 35s id upgrade the shafts and balljoints if you leave it open there pretty strong stock. It helps we dont have **** for horsepower.
Click to expand...

2nd this. Since you wanted 37s, definitely look into chrome alloy axle shafts and keep the old ones as trail spares for wost case scenarios.
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
37's are what I was aiming at. Most likely I'll see how it does with my current (almost) 33's. 37's look monstrous under there and I'm not looking into much fender trimming... Yet...

Balljoints and axle shafts are what I was concerned about. I'll look into that.
I also think I heard someone say don't go bigger than a 35" on the factory HG49/H223B so I'm keeping that in mind now too.

Sent from my EVO 3D
 
Alpine Spirit

Alpine Spirit

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
South Park, CO
Been running 37s for quite a while SC engine & on 513/514 in the diffs. Runs well can go hwy speeds.

You are going to have to trim fenders especially when stuffed and turning or your will end up ripping them off.
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
Alpine Spirit said:
Oh and on a side note... the Calmini system is NOT designed to run 37s.
Click to expand...

Ok so if I plan to go 37's I should plan toward a custom setup or leaf springs. I'm just a bit concerned about flex if I do go into wheeling this thing more. I've actually slacked off a lot from how much I used to be off-road. But that's going to change with the SAS.

Sent from my EVO 3D
 
M

midget

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
what cheer,Iowa
If youve seen how much I cut out my fenders for 37s........I still rub at full stuff. I could limit my travel but i dont care about the fenders.
 
P

Powerguy37

Test Drive
Location
PA
Jason, I would stick with 35's unless you want to cut a good bit. I'm running 35's with a 2" BL and I still rub at full wheel lock turning. I think you have the 3" bl right? I did the the leaf sprung SAS. It rides okay on the highway but you got to realize you're going backwards by putting the D44 under there. It will ride more like a truck than an SUV.
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
Powerguy37 said:
Jason, I would stick with 35's unless you want to cut a good bit. I'm running 35's with a 2" BL and I still rub at full wheel lock turning. I think you have the 3" bl right? I did the the leaf sprung SAS. It rides okay on the highway but you got to realize you're going backwards by putting the D44 under there. It will ride more like a truck than an SUV.
Click to expand...

Yeah Dana I do have the 3" BL I know it's going to change the ride a bit. The front rides rough ( I don't have it maxed out ) as is. If it would ride like the F250 we have it would be awesome in my book. The whole idea behind gathering my thoughts this early and asking those who have done this already is to see if I can find some common ground about doing the SAS. I don't want to fly into it head first and not have a good idea of the outcome or whatever I choose to do.

I am going to back off to 35's. From the several pictures I have seen they are plenty of tire for this.

My perception of tire sizes is skewed due working on trucks for nearly 4 years now.
I'm sure I could squeeze by with the 5.13 and 5.14 gears since I'm at stock 4.9's now. Unless I decide to can the rear axle so I could go a bit higher.

I know your automatic in your X Dana, but if I do recall your running those gears as well right?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk 2
 
TKDx00

TKDx00

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
S.Subs of Chicago, IL.
Edodrian, Don't know where you are with this but I too have been bitten by the Larger tire/SAS bug...Finally. While looking into this I've been given some really good even GREAT info from a few sources. If you PM me I can pass on some if you like. In any case here is a teaser for you that I posted in another thread.

One of our sponsors is working on flipping the H233B to a front version. Calling by another name tho. It's still several months down the road but it has caught me eye.

And Sponsor if I've spoken too soon...let me know and I'll zip it... :)
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
I've settled with the d44 for now so I can keep some cash in my pocket and run my factory rear that's already got the ARB in it.

I'm sure the X will see a Dana 60 and 70 sometime.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
You can run 37s on a d44. Your setup needs to be strong enough, and designed for, that use. In other words, you can't just bolt on a calmini kit and run 37s, but you can use a d44. Check out alpine spirit's build thread over on ronin, for example
 
Edodrian

Edodrian

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Nitro, WV
NMTerras said:
You can run 37s on a d44. Your setup needs to be strong enough, and designed for, that use. In other words, you can't just bolt on a calmini kit and run 37s, but you can use a d44. Check out alpine spirit's build thread over on ronin, for example
Click to expand...

I've dug into that quite a bit when I was around the computer enough.
I totally understand the limits of the D44 and know a fair bit about breakage, I've seen plenty of twisted off axles and shafts.
35's are my max now, most likely gonna see shy of 33's for nXm, maybe graduate up to 35's I'm actually kinda scared to run much bigger than a 35 on the factory rear. 37's will come in time with D60's
 
NMTerras

NMTerras

Suspension Lift
Location
New Mexico
I actually am just relaying what I've been told by folks who know way more about this than I do...defer to cyclemut, grandpa, Casper and alpine on this...
 
ChiXterra

ChiXterra

Wheeling
Location
Northern Illinois
NMTerras said:
You can run 37s on a d44. Your setup needs to be strong enough, and designed for, that use. In other words, you can't just bolt on a calmini kit and run 37s, but you can use a d44. Check out alpine spirit's build thread over on ronin, for example
Click to expand...

No doubt, but if you want to spend big bucks upgrading axle shafts, and bracing the axle, then go for it. But the cheaper way is a D60 re-geared.


Sent from my iPhone
 
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