Do you think it is eazer to convert fj40 axles than sammis? I can get me a set from my brother.  Has anybody did this already? I know it is kinda overkill, its heavy, and you do have drum brakes in the front, but the pumpkin is on the same side as the trackick right.   thanks,

I would not do that specially with leafs... and drum brakes( I wheel mostly on mud and they are shit for that).  and I do not think you can get R&P deep enough to justify that axle choice.
as for sammi axles...humm they are too narrow but i remember the raging rhinos website from UK and there are quite a few of them using front sammi's and jimnie's axles with wheel spacers, it is by far the easiest way.
I think the d44's or the hilux axles( gear options is also limited) are more suitable.
why do you want to change axles? to do a SAS for cheap and you will end up with worst truck.
have you looked for info at pirate4x4.com those guys love SAS, here at zukiworld despite the  awesome SASed trucks and the emerging kick SAS market posts the guys are more into keeping the kick IFS since it is what makes the kick what it is...there are quite a few tips to get a decent truck with strong IFS and a IFS that flexes a bit. Why do you want to SAS?
                  Gui
     IFS Pride  keep it low : )
                                 

You can go higher w/ sas and the fj and sammy axles I can get them for cheap.  IFS you don't get that much travel.

If you want to do it, do it with sammi's IMO. I think fj40 are overkill and you won't be able to get big enough tires with the availiable R&P and the stock drivetrain to justify those axles. I think your truck will feel clumsy. Do it right and do it once, this mod is very questionable a improvement.
I think you should at least built a coil suspension up front since you are getting the axles for cheap in this manner you can upgrade axles later on and be happier with the results.
keep in mind that with thw zuki's 4 poper any weigh increase will make feel on your weight/power ratio.
If you want to fit bigger tires, there are IFS kick's with 35'' and 37'', aren't those big enough?
No you will not get as much travel as with a solid axle up front, but it will be decent.
Have you seen rockstar/pornstar/darkstar projects?
And mind how high you want your truck to be or you will end up with a clumsy and tippy ride.
                                                   Gui
                             

As for Samurai axles, I won't ever be the first person to suggest a Samurai axle underneath a Track/Kick. For one -they're awfully narrow. Sidekick "axle" width is 57.5". Samurai axle width is like 51.5". So, this means a shortage of 3" on each side. 3" is quite a bit narrower. This will make it difficult to mount leaves, and it will hurt the turning radius. In order to offset this, you'll have to put wheel spacers on, and/or offset rims. While we're on the subject, let's talk turning radius, too. Turning radius with a Samurai axle on a Sidekick just plain... SUCKS. Also, with wheel spacers/offset wheels, your scrub radius is also affected. Here is a picture of a Sidekick rear, next to a Samurai front. Check the width difference:


The FJ40 axle width is 55". This is quite a bit closer to 57.5. So, he'd only lose 1" on each side. 1" is pretty easily corrected. I'd still rather see wider axles on a SAS rig rather than narrower, but, whatever works.

For two -how about axle splines? Samurai axles are 22 spline. The FJ40 axle (as well as pretty much ALL Toyota axles) is 30 spline. WAY more beefy.

Doing leaf suspension is FINE. It's CHEAP. It's RELIABLE. It's BASIC technology. Sure, you may not get the crazy flex that a coil setup has, but it's simple. Easy parts to replace. Limits your "custom" items. I've got leafs on mine, and it works fine!

There's nothing wrong with "overkill". Sure, it may add weight, but you'll limit your breakage.

As for getting gears for FJ40, Marlin Crawler offers them up to a 5.29 ratio.

Don't knock someone who wants to go SAS. Some people like SAS, some like IFS, and there are pros and cons to them both.

Also, you have to worry about connecting your driveshafts to your transfer case. Be careful if you retain the sidekick case, because the slip yokes are IN the case. Too much movement, and you'll either pull out, or push in too far damaging the case. There are options - Kicker 2/3, going with a 2WD kick tranny and putting a Sammy case behind it... etc. Putting in something like a Samurai case will also reduce your gearing in 2-HI, meaning those R&P gears aren't all that important.

It IS possible to just replace the front axle with a Samurai axle - but mind what I said above. A Samurai axle would allow you to run your same R&P ratio. With the FJ40 - you'll have to replace both front and rear, because of the R&P ratios (they won't match up with what Suzuki offers) - AND this means the rear will be offset to the RIGHT. You CAN run offset to the right in the rear with a centered transfer case output - just make sure your driveline is either high angle, or CV'd.

I hope this wasn't TOO confusing. 

go with toyota pickup it would be the best way to go thay are stronger than the sami axels and if you plan on going into the rocks you will need the sronger axels expechaly if you plan on running bigger than 33" tires. i go into the rocks and broke a sidekick rear axel and thay are stronger than samis. you want to replace both rear and frount  because the r&ps need to match.

Here is a picture of a Sidekick rear, next to a Samurai front. Check the width difference:

On a Trackkick the rear track is wider than the front. A Samurai axle is still narrower but its not as much as that. I have to agree with everything else you said though.

Quote from: hcgalvin on October 02, 2006, 04:57:27 PM

Here is a picture of a Sidekick rear, next to a Samurai front. Check the width difference:

On a Trackkick the rear track is wider than the front. A Samurai axle is still narrower but its not as much as that. I have to agree with everything else you said though.

Yeah, I can understand that, but I always assumed that an IFS rig is wider in the front than the rear? Isn't this common? In any case, the track kick WMS to WMS width is 57.5. A Samurai's is 51.5.