I have a 1993 sidekick 5sp 8 valve soft tp. stock gearing and engine. I have an early 80's jeep wagoneer axles. The front is passager side droop. I really would like to a s.a.s. But I don't know if this is a good choice. I would only like to run 33's. Would I also need to swap the rear axle also? I'm thinking I'm going to go with leafs all the way around. I have heard theese are weak axles comparitiely? What about drive shafts? Is their gearing options for those axles? I don't know where to start? Has anybody done this? With results? Right now I have 2.5 in. of coils spacer lift and 30's. I really don't want to build up the ifs. Any help or knowledge on this would be great help. Thanks

I believe that is what hcgalvin is running.

I believe that is what hcgalvin is running.

Nope.  She's running Toyota FZJ-80 axles.

I don't have any experience with Wagoneer Axles, but I hear that they are not so much "weak" as they are prone to developing leaks that requires frequent repair to the seals to keep the oil inside and the dirt outside.

Quote from: takai on May 12, 2006, 12:00:03 PM

I believe that is what hcgalvin is running.

Nope.  She's running Toyota FZJ-80 axles.

My mistake.

Waggy 44's are very strong axles! I had them in my old rock crawler sammy turning 36" swampers. I had no problems with them at all. If you only use the front, it will be quite a bit wider than the rear kick axle. Waggy's with the quadra track t-case have an offset rear axle so make sure you don't use that one in the rear of your kick.
Here is a pic of my old sammy with the D44's.

That's an impressive sammy! That's cool to see that the swap is possible.
If possible could you give a spec list?/How long did it take to set up? What leafs?
How much lift? Driveshafts? Gearing? Etc.....
Thanks

Let me see if I can remember, that was about 6 years ago.
Not sure what you mean by spec list.
Took 1 weekend to complete.
CJ fronts in the rear, Sammy rears in the fronts with ML.
I never really measured the lift it gave.
Stock front drive shaft with D44 yoke welded to diff end.
A custom CV rear shaft built by Tom Woods.
The R&P's were 5:38's or something close to that with GRS II
Its a pretty easy swap, just have to grind down one side spring perch on the front axle because it goes up onto the diff some.
Had to cut off the brake line ends and swap them for SAE thread to mate up to the D44 calipers and cylinders.

I am pretty sure the only weak point on a D44 is the pinion if I remember right... still great axles, don't get me wrong.. especially seeing as how quadshop had no problems with them while using 36'' tires. They should work great on your kick however IFS does have it's advantages. I guess it's a matter of what strong points you want it to have. I am thinking a solid axle is probably overall going to get you more places though unless you had one hell of an ifs setup.. even then, it's tough to say which is better overall

D44 is in no way a "Weak" axle.  Weak compared to a D60 maybe.  I know a few guys in Jeeps running V8s, 4.0s, all pushing 180HP at the minimum with little to no breakage on 38s.  A guy I go wheeling with 96 Ford F250 351, 39.5s hasn't broke his front (Swapped in 79) D44.  He dont wheel too hard tho.  But the Jeep guys beat the snot out of them, mostly on rocks locked f/r.

I see no problems with a 2500lb 90HP SideKick. 

They're definately breakable, heck I've broken D60 parts    But like I said, in a Track/Kick, should have no problem.  Just use quality (Spicer) front U-Joints. 

I think that this guy, Walt, has put like Jeep J10 axles under his Sidekick.
(close to a waggy I think)

http://www.granitepath.com/~kd7skn/BlackZuk/index.html

I would recomend a link over leaf spring. If I were to do it again I would use 44's over  yota

I think that this guy, Walt, has put like Jeep J10 axles under his Sidekick.
(close to a waggy I think)

http://www.granitepath.com/~kd7skn/BlackZuk/index.html

I like that thing's wide stance