What would you do???

[ScottieJ]

Landrover axles aren't that strong, the cases might be but the diffs, shafts and CVs are shit! The shafts and cvs aren't much bigger than stock Suzuki items in fact the shafts are pretty much the same diameter

Personally I wouldn't fit landrover axles to anything! Yota or nissan are the only axles worth considering.

[windsor]

My m8 was running 35s on stock landy axles he broke them eventually
So he swapped out for a sailburys axle the military ones and have never had a problem since
I belive hes planning on going for ashcroft axles as the will run 40s comftably and have a 5 year all parts covers garrenty
If i was spending that sort of moby tho i would spend a grand on a pair of portals
Unimog axles
Good job breaking them and you can run mega tyers but you will need mega power to match as they have more gears in them some more moveing parts to compete with
And if you intend on competeing alot wont alowe the use of them

[windsor]

Forgot to mention fourtrak axles there spoze to be good bit of kit
3ton towing weight on a fortrak so that allmost 5ton off pull thro some axles
And it gets better same wheel fittment as suzukis so no need to buy new wheels to fit the new hubs

[mike harris]

Upgraded land rover axles still aren't the best. You end up having to get the diffs pegged to stop the crown wheel being pushed of the pinion !!

Unimog axles weigh 450kg / 550kg?......... Each.....

Volvo c303 are a bit lighter. And most have disks.

But all these options are too heavy. Spend a bit on your Suzuki axles. Have lightweight simple axles with massive diff clearance over a 7/8 inch land rover or yota axle.

I suggest, Sami front axle. 26 sline side gears (or fit a rear diff). The new type 33spline cv end trail gear shafts and cvs. Truss it and gusset the swivel housings. Solid crush collar kit to stop it falling sort under heavy load. Fit high tensile drive flange bolts, use a 4.1 ring and pinion from a 413 as there the strongest.

Rear Sami, truss it, fully floating kit, hardened shafts, solid crush collar. For high tensile drive flange bolts. 4.1 ring and pinion.

Not to far different from mine but I run davidstow cheese 5.125 ring and pinions

[ScottieJ]

413 diffs are 3.9 mike only Sj axles with 4.1 are 410 axles but they don't fit as you know.

My eventual plan is to try and build a hybrid front axle running a vit rear diff, tbh Sj diffs are strong little bastards and cope with 33-35s easily enough anyway.

[mike harris]

Yes 3.9 sorry. I was thinking 410 !!

Yeh 413 are the strongest of the sj variety

[ScottieJ]

Yes 3.9 sorry. I was thinking 410 !!

Yeh 413 are the strongest of the sj variety

Thought you might have been having a bit of a brain fart

[mike harris]

You know me Scottie !! I know nothing

[jonnyswift]

Thanks guys, a lot of good info there.
I have been thinking about this for a while now, i think you are correct.
I have a 1993 sami, are these axles a good start?

I just bought a 93 vitara with a blown head gasket, its an auto fatboy. bought it mainly for the pas and maybe the gearbox and can either use or sell the wheels.
Any other parts i can use from the vit? i hear talk about the rear diff?
I was thinking about the trail gear 6.4/1 transfer gears, are these ok.

Thanks people

[twiss]

Definitely nab the engine and put a new head gasket on it! An 8v vit engine will go nicely in that samurai!
I'd leave the gearbox for now, scottie has put a vit gearbox in his SJ but its probably not top of the priorities list.

As for the diffs... you can use the ring and pinion out of the vit diffs to change your gearing, so if you're scrapping it, it would be worth keeping both of those diffs... and the rad!

Can't think of anything else off the top of my head