The Low and Slow Tennessee Build Thread
- Thread starter dbbowen
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You probably won't need rear axles. Stock are way tough.
Make sure you add a spacer plate to the driver's side leaf spring pad. Sounds crazy, but there is a difference in elevation between the two perches from the factory. Unless you're using side-specific leaf springs, the spacer is necessary to level your truck. Believe the Pirate FAQ talks about this.
Cromo rear axleshafts are not only unnecessary, but possibly less robust than stockers. Stock allows for twist, whereas cromos just kinda break. I'm now running one stock and one cromo, so we shall see what's up under hard wheeling
Cromo rear axleshafts are not only unnecessary, but possibly less robust than stockers. Stock allows for twist, whereas cromos just kinda break. I'm now running one stock and one cromo, so we shall see what's up under hard wheeling
- Thread starter
- #25
I think the allpro kit comes with a spacer plate for that spring pad, at least I hope it does, If not I think trail gear sells one. Im cleaning out the housing today since I can actually work in the daylight today for a change. Are you running one stock and one chromo as an experiment?
I'm running one stock because the cromo broke on that side. Bought the truck with cromos, but I've always ran stock. However, if stock doesn't hold up, I will buy the axles that Marlin sells with the full lifetime warranty.
Man they can do a frame off on that 4Runner....hell yes they can do wheels!
Good folks down at 49 Tire.
Just now catching up on some Mud threads...so you go to one Crawl and decide to hack your junk up....that's the way it goes around this place! Take your time...spend extra money in key areas....crawl on..
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- #29
Haha yeah I was pretty bummed my 4Runner could only do certain trails. I'm hoping to buy wheels and tires from them so I can get them mounted and balanced at the same time. I've spent the bulk of my money on marlin transmission and dual case lol. And trust me. I'm not rushing. I barely know what I'm doing. So I read 4 hours for every hour of work I do. Sometimes it's filtering through the Bs and getting to what's correct tech!
Good plan.
FWIW I would go ahead and run 37's...you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. You'll be able to do the moderate stuff more easily and you won't have to thrash your junk to do a difficult trail or two. You'd be surprised what 1" of extra GC will do.
Carry on.
FWIW I would go ahead and run 37's...you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. You'll be able to do the moderate stuff more easily and you won't have to thrash your junk to do a difficult trail or two. You'd be surprised what 1" of extra GC will do.
Carry on.
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- #31
Yeah I was kicking that around back and forth for the past month or so. If I go km2 if I go 37s it will really measure out to 36 or so, and the MTR Kevlars will measure out to be more true. The only stipulation I have on going with 37s is being able to fit in the parking garage at work. Its 7 foot 6 inches or something like that. There is not really any other parking, so if I am too high up, Im SOL. Ive already ruled out having a permanent roof rack.
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- #32
Ive decided at least if I go 37, I will go km2 for the smaller tire. Im estimating that the KM2 will measure up to 36 inches actually mounted up. The MTR has a higher chance of being a true 37, and has a higher chance of keeping me out of the parking garage.
I did a gear ratio calculator and if I can get a 36 inch tire, that will put me on 0-1% with stock gearing when using them with 5.29 ring and pinion. My speedo should be dead on, and I should have a good bit of pep. My 4runner started life as a 22re automatic on 33s. Shift points were all off and the automatic was a dog, manual swapping it made it like driving a new truck. Im on 4.30s and 33s now with a manual... Its decent.
I did a gear ratio calculator and if I can get a 36 inch tire, that will put me on 0-1% with stock gearing when using them with 5.29 ring and pinion. My speedo should be dead on, and I should have a good bit of pep. My 4runner started life as a 22re automatic on 33s. Shift points were all off and the automatic was a dog, manual swapping it made it like driving a new truck. Im on 4.30s and 33s now with a manual... Its decent.
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- #33
So I got home and made a little progress tonight. Yesterday, I got the entire axle clean, inner tubes and all. I basically poured degreaser into it and duct taped a toilet bowl cleaner to a stick and pushed it all in the inner axle, then pressure washed the daylights out of it. So much gunk came out.
Went to Home Depot and bought this awesome contraption, wire wheel thing. I swear theres a tool for everything.
Took the wire wheel to the whole axle. Here is the finished product, doesnt look like much, but compare it to the original photos from page #1 on the thread and its all shiny and silver.
After some painters tape and 2 coats of primer:
And 2 coats of Rustoleum "Hammered Black" paint. I might go back tomorrow and hit it with one or two more coats.
The easy part is done. Now on to doing the same thing to the knuckles and hubs!
Went to Home Depot and bought this awesome contraption, wire wheel thing. I swear theres a tool for everything.
Took the wire wheel to the whole axle. Here is the finished product, doesnt look like much, but compare it to the original photos from page #1 on the thread and its all shiny and silver.
After some painters tape and 2 coats of primer:
And 2 coats of Rustoleum "Hammered Black" paint. I might go back tomorrow and hit it with one or two more coats.
The easy part is done. Now on to doing the same thing to the knuckles and hubs!
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- Thread starter
- #34
Oh also, If you couldnt tell... I upped my light game. My neighbor loaned me his work light, its the kind that gets to be like a million degrees and burns the daylights out of you when you accidentally touch it. Its stupid bright though!
Now is the time to put on a truss if you're concerned with the housing bending. I would for sure recommend knuckle ball gussets and steering stop reinforcements. I have a set of almost-new Trail Grapplers in a 37" flavor if that interests you. Probably save quite a bit vs a new KM2.
Also, I cut out the drain plug on my housing and smoothed the bottom. Slides rocks so much better but you lose the ability to fully drain your diff (how often will you really do that?) Now is the time for diff armor. The sheetmetal housing has a tendency to take some dings in front of the ring gear where the sheetmetal is thinnest. RuffStuff makes a nice simple diff guard that welds on to the housing.
Also, RCV doesn't make rear cromo shafts. Just fronts.
Man, I think I'm finally done replying...
Man, I think I'm finally done replying...
- Thread starter
- #38
Hahaha what wheel size are the trail grapplers and are they 12.5 width? I ordered a truss from lowrange, and the marlin diff cover. I was hoping if I smooth out the cover and get it welded up good enough, it will look factory. I didn't think about the knuckle ball gussets! Are those as critical as the truss and diff cover?
37x12.5/17
Looks like your axle has the full length truss under the long side, so ball gussets will probably add more strength than an over-the-top truss. The housings tend to bend at the balls instead of in the middle, but it takes some serious abuse to make that happen. The nice thing about some of the knuckle ball gussets is that the shock mount is incorporated into it. Ball gussets aren't highly critical, but you may as well.
Looks like your axle has the full length truss under the long side, so ball gussets will probably add more strength than an over-the-top truss. The housings tend to bend at the balls instead of in the middle, but it takes some serious abuse to make that happen. The nice thing about some of the knuckle ball gussets is that the shock mount is incorporated into it. Ball gussets aren't highly critical, but you may as well.
- Thread starter
- #40
I might have to wait on the ball gussets for a little bit. Im like 1000 over budget already lol. My 4runner will probably be 2wheel drive for a little bit, until I can get a custom front drive shaft made as well. Im sending a PM about the tires