I'm new to the forum. Had a Samurai years ago and LOVED it. My girlfriend at the time couldn't understand my obsession with it. I wanted to start a club and she thought I was nuts. Then it got stolen one night. :'(

Well, many years later, I'm considering getting another Sammy. Saw one with a SPOA lift running 32" tires. I'm wondering how safe is the SPOA for a daily driver? The truck itself is in great shape, but I doubt I'll be rock crawling much. I'm going to be on pavement about 80% of the time locally with trips to the mountains and forests on long weekends for light camping and trail riding.

Thanks for your insight!

It depends on how well it's build.  I would take it for a few test drives before I made a decision.  Especially if it's going to be a daily driver.

Good to see an oldtimer resurface, zukimon!

I run with 30" tires a lot on the street/interstate with no problems.  I can't speak about how 32 inch tires will do - especially without knowing the gearing.  With those tires, you may not have a fifth gear anymore without good gearing.

Look at the axle perches.  If the new ones are mounted exactly opposite or parallel to the old ones, you should not have any problems with driveline vibrations or excessive u-joint wear.  If not, some perch repositioning is in order.

Does it have a drop pittman or some sort of OTT steering system?  If not, you will have serious bumpsteer - the steering wheel violently twitches when you hit a bump.  A Z-type draglink will NOT fix bumpsteer!
  
The best way to find out the condition is to drive the truck on the highway at speed and see how it feels.

Naturally, the more problems that you find, the lower the offer should be.

BE SURE TO SHIFT IT INTO AND OUT OF 4WD A FEW TIMES!  A bad t-case shifter sheet can cause a deep cut in the price offer to your benefit!  ( Yes, I am evil at times...)


I hope that this helps  

i have an 88 Sammy with SPOA, 33" TSL, mini spool in rear, high steer,  and without the sway bar. it handles just fine on the road.  you wont be able to turn 32's though w/o a high range reduction. when i had my 33's on before me 6.5 Xcase gears, i took it for a test drive and on the smallest incline i had to ride my clutch bad. also i dont know how it will handle either w/o the high steer kit, probably pretty bad. i have virtually no bump steer w the kit. if you do have to or end up getting the high steer kit you will need a shorter tie rod, a drag link off of an FJ80 fits perfect.

Thanks for your feedback. It's got a high steer kit, the SPOA was done by a local shop that does Sammy stuff. The engine and gears are stock. But the truck is rust free and in good shape, thus my thinking about getting it.

When reading around the web I see some people think the SPOA is overkill (and suicide one person wrote) for highway or street driving. Yet I've see them on the road. I figured I could put Spidertrax wheel spacers in and get a slightly wider foot print. (I'm already spending money and haven't even gotten the thing.)

The axle perches appear parallel but the front ones look like the u clamps are in a bit closer than the original perch. I'll have to give it a few rides and see what's what. If not this one, there's always another on Craigslist...

When reading around the web I see some people think the SPOA is overkill (and suicide one person wrote) for highway or street driving. Yet I've see them on the road. I figured I could put Spidertrax wheel spacers in and get a slightly wider foot print. (I'm already spending money and haven't even gotten the thing.)

Those people have never seen this video:

http://www.acksfaq.com/consumerreports.htm

My BFG AT/KOs on Ford Bronco aftermarket wagon wheels give it a wide stance for even greater stability!



I'll be driving it to the 'Melt this year - 900+ mile round trip with a very small camp-box trailer hanging off it.

Have seen/drove SPOA Samurai(s) on the road for 10+ years,no issues.

Thanks!

Have seen/drove SPOA Samurai(s) on the road for 10+ years,no issues.

I second tombstone on that. I personally would not run a Zuk without SPOA

Really? Why is that?

LOL I like to look DOWN at all the little cars that think they are so bad a%$ but could never follow me off road  and I think my ride improved with the lift too if i was to do it over again though I would not have bought the homemade shackles I found on a Zuk in a junk yard all they did was tear up the bushings I am now planning on putting something like the bonez shackles on when I can get the money.

I live in the foothills, and DD my Zuk on 31s with Summit wheels (8" wide with 2-1/2" backspacing). I have a 4:1 tcase. I still use 5th gear, but not on hills. I typically run 55 to 65 MPH. My YJ springs give me a nice ride, compared to stock. The Panhard Bar was the best single mod for road manors. I enjoy driving my Zuk on the road.

Wayne

Nice! Do you find the backspacing creates better handling? How does it effect off road handling?

Zukimon, if you are referring to my Zuk, thanks. I have a set of stock wheels, with 29-inch tires (Bridgestones). I used them before the tires and wheels I have now. They are not very wide, and look like cookie cutters. The tires and wheels on the Zuk are much better on the road and off road. I think my width is 66-inches, and stock is about 51-inches? My tires and wheels added about 15-inches. Obviously, the trail must be a little wider than before, but it is more stable on a side hill. I am very pleased with the road manors of my Zuk, it is much better than when it was stock. The tire balance is more critical with the bigger and heavier tires.


Wayne

The tire balance is more critical with the bigger and heavier tires.

You may not have to balance your tires. i have 33x10.5" TSL Radials regrooved to be TSL's on a Pro Comp 15x8" wheek w/ 2.5 back spacing. i never balanced my tires bc i didnt want the rocks ripping them off  as well as making it more easily for dirt to get wedged in my beads. I dont get tire vibe till 64mph. Mostly likely you will have to get them balance i think i just got lucky. 2.5" back spacing does make it feel more stable, but does put a tiny bit more stress on the axles. Also if you plan on wheeling it on rocks, them make stick on wheel weights or use dyna beads if the vibe is bad. i havent used them but hear good thing about them