I'll be getting my D44 back from being narrowed, and it will be 63.5" WMS toWMS. I had originally planned on this axle being for my 4runner, but I may be getting a pair o sammis, so I'm wondering if this axle will be too wide?? I know it is a matter of opinion, but let's hear it. :D

I'm thinking toy axles may be a better idea...

It all depends on what you wanna do with it, man.

Not too street-friendly, but it would come in handy for the gnarly stuff:cool:

As long as it fits on the trails your running those axles would rock. Might also want to check with local law enforcement concerning mudflaps and such if it is going to be driven on the street.

As long as it doesn't exceed about 78" total width, I'd be fine on the trails I run regularly. It would not see very much street time, maybe a quick trip to the gas station now and then, and quick jaunts between trails.

Hmm...

right around 80" is where i like them.

Personally I like the idea of keepin' em wide on a zook. Your COG drops radically since the body of the sami is so narrow, and the flex is awesome. I'm finishing up putting full size blazer axles under mine (dana 44 front, corp 12 rear) with 10" wide rims and 35X15.5" SX's. And yeah, I plan on hittin the street with it....but we'll see what that's like when I'm done :D

Here's an older pic of the full size front axle when I first put it on...
http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-680212-wheels3.jpg

Mine are 60/61" now, and will be 64" soon. I have to center the rear so I'm going with a 60 that is radically shaved, and a chevy 44 cut to match...Mike

After I get back from Clayton on the 25th I will be starting the install on a set if full width Dana 60 and 44 for the front that I swapped Gunracer out of. Gotta get the gears, need to sell my zuk axles to finance the gears and locker for the front. I already got the locker for the back(Lincoln) :D

Question,
Am I the only one who wonders at what point a Samuri become a J@@p????

I mean, if you put in 1 ton axles, and cast iron motor, extend the wheelbase as long or longer than a CJ7 and run axles as wide as a full size pickup, is it still a Suzuki? :question:

If you are going to turn a Suzuki into a J@@p, why don't or didn't you just buy a J@@p to start with?

dangerber has a valid question. If the key attributes of a the Sami is light weight, manuverability, small size, at what point do you just have a J@@p with a small cab.....

Originally posted by okcrawler
Question,
Am I the only one who wonders at what point a Samuri become a J@@p????

I mean, if you put in 1 ton axles, and cast iron motor, extend the wheelbase as long or longer than a CJ7 and run axles as wide as a full size pickup, is it still a Suzuki? :question:

If you are going to turn a Suzuki into a J@@p, why don't or didn't you just buy a J@@p to start with?

dangerber has a valid question. If the key attributes of a the Sami is light weight, manuverability, small size, at what point do you just have a J@@p with a small cab.....

Well, it may not be a samurai anymore, but it sure as hell isn't a heep!:mad: They're still lighter, twist and bite better, and will generally out-wheel any jeep, especailly if it's a stocker. Besides, the most capable jeeps out there have very little jeep left to them. At what point do they become a Blazer, or a Hummer? At NO point does a samurai become a jeep, because jeep doesn't have the copyright on trailworthiness, despite most of the jeepers over-inflated opinions out there.

Originally posted by ppillard
but it sure as hell isn't a heep!:mad:

:emb: Yes, I deserved that..... :eek:

At the risk of starting a no win debate, can anyone provide a useful opinion to this guys question?

I'd suggest; My axles are 58" wheel pad to pad with 8" standard offset wheels. I can still fit between the trees on the quad trails (barely), yet I'm still comfortable on quite extreme side angles with 6+" lift and 33" tires. I'll also admit that I built my axles for 56" thinking that was all the width I would ever need. I added 1" spacers a few months later (left over from my sami axles). If I go 35's will I want more? I can't answer that yet :rolleyes:

Well, since you brought up J%$Ps, how much heavier is, say a 3B flatfender, compared to a sammi? How do the wheelbases compare?

Is there really a NEED for 60s under a sammi? I know that the current trend is to go big, but I personally think my 4runner is too big(long) for a lot of the trails I run. I mostly run with my club, which is a J&%P club, mainly consisting of flatfenders. I definitely think wider is better for the trails I run, but I think it would be easy to get to a point where, as someone mentioned earlier, you just have a sammi cab with ginormous axles! At that point, it doesn't matter what the cab or frame is...

I know this is a difficult subject, because it is all opinion, but I would like to hear experience from people who have gone to wider axles, and how your sidehill and off-camber stability have increased, and your impressions of stock width axles in the same circumstances.

Thanks for the replies :D

Oh, and thanks Okcrawler, I just realized you answered my very question!:D

It's a good question, although I anticipate getting flamed for having a toyota, not a jeep. :p Since I plan on running my entire toy's drivetrain under a sammy tub from the firewall to right behind the seats,a sammy hood with a tube front clip, and about 5 feet of the sammy's frame.

It will LOOK sorta like a samurai when I'm done. But it sure as hell won't be a samurai... will it?

What was the original question? haha

Whats up with all the JEEP bashing ! Someone call your zukes' a "little jeep" this morning HAHAA.

Wheel what ya got !

I love the stock zuke being narrow, I can squeeze in places others can't. I usually can take 1 of several lines or even get around a spot where others have no choice. Ya im not running 33s nor do i plan to...


I fully agree with the flatty notion. Look at the lineag of the zuke vs early jeeps. (i love the history channel) Zuke suspension was designed by land rover, land rover started off with old flatty chaiss in its ealry prototypes.... hmmmm look at the many similarities....

Now as far as compairing a zuke to all jeeps....... please...... thats an entire different thread.... Do you think Jeep owners have discussions about how thier jeep stands up to a zuke? I doubt it....

All my jeep friends keep saying how they want to get a zuke to wheel, cause they're cool and it never breaks. go figure.....

-yag

HEY, DIDN'T ANY OF YOU DEDICATED ZOOK NUTS LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PIC OF PPILLARDS FRONT SPRING MOUNTS???????? seems like they would inspire some conversation. look closely , things may not be what they seem. just don't look too long, it might mess up you're brain.

Originally posted by samazuki
HEY, DIDN'T ANY OF YOU DEDICATED ZOOK NUTS LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PIC OF PPILLARDS FRONT SPRING MOUNTS???????? seems like they would inspire some conversation. look closely , things may not be what they seem. just don't look too long, it might mess up you're brain.

I have to admit, that is the first time I've seen a front spring hanger design like that...:D

Originally posted by okcrawler
Question,
Am I the only one who wonders at what point a Samuri become a J@@p????


If you are worried about wether it is a sammy or not,Make sure yours is.As long as you keep yours the way you want it to stay be happy.
As for the rest of us let us be.If we want to keep only a few part from what we started with then thats what we shall have.If I put different parts from different vehicles onto my samurai it is to make a stronger rig,not to deface suzuki.More trail time and less wrench time between runs sounds good to me.
I started with a samurai and thats what the title will always say.According to that it is a samuri.and to me no matter what someone does with thier vehicle I will be backing them in every way,not pointing out to them that it may not be what they started with anymore.:) :) :) and be happy with what you got.

Originally posted by dangerber
I'll be getting my D44 back from being narrowed, and it will be 63.5" WMS toWMS. I had originally planned on this axle being for my 4runner, but I may be getting a pair o sammis, so I'm wondering if this axle will be too wide?? I know it is a matter of opinion, but let's hear it. :D

I'm thinking toy axles may be a better idea...

you will be fine with 63.5" i personally like about 61-62" wide on a zuke with 8" rims and 12.50 tires. you will be fine with the 63.5. it is wide for a zuk but you will have great stability with those axles. i say run them with a set of 8" rims and a set od 36 or 38x 12.50 tsl's or tsl sx's. just my op.:D

Originally posted by samazuki
HEY, DIDN'T ANY OF YOU DEDICATED ZOOK NUTS LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PIC OF PPILLARDS FRONT SPRING MOUNTS???????? seems like they would inspire some conversation. look closely , things may not be what they seem. just don't look too long, it might mess up you're brain.


all of the dedicated "zook nuts" actually have already seen that pic and the thread which it was in, looooong ago.:flipoff2:
(that's why MY brain is all messed up, now.:rasta: :D )

i'm kinda thinking if something goes wrong with your vehicle and your first thought is asking yourself: " i wonder if there are any new Suzuki's at the local wrecker i can vulture" you still "own" a Zook.:D

if your first thought is: "boy a Dodge Ram showed up at the salvage yard, i can use it" i dunno...you may be pushing it calling your "Suzuki" a Suzuki haha.:D

there's definately an excellent blending of Toyota hardware and Suzuki chassis/body stuff goin' on though.:)

It's all good! My true suzuki will be a chase truck. My race suzuki will be a mix of toy & suzuki parts, with a small amount of dana mixed in. At this point I am still drinking too hard to finish the new truck, but I will have a kick ass featherlite trailer to haul my non running race truck in....

Originally posted by okcrawler
Question,
Am I the only one who wonders at what point a Samuri become a J@@p????

I mean, if you put in 1 ton axles, and cast iron motor, extend the wheelbase as long or longer than a CJ7 and run axles as wide as a full size pickup, is it still a Suzuki? :question:

If you are going to turn a Suzuki into a J@@p, why don't or didn't you just buy a J@@p to start with?

dangerber has a valid question. If the key attributes of a the Sami is light weight, manuverability, small size, at what point do you just have a J@@p with a small cab.....


The Samurai becomes a ZUK . Since it somewhat resembles a samurai and wheels like samurai but has different manufacturers part then it becomes your own creation. Hence a ZUK .:D

that's a good way to put it!:D
-stock engine, axles and body="Samurai"
-swapped engine and axles but with stock body="ZUK"
-swapped engine, axles, modified (read: tubed or hacked) body="ZUK BUGGY"

you Tracker and Sidekick guys are on your own.....:flipoff2:

as long as you wheel it who gives a rats arse what you call it??? build it like you like it and call it what you want. i can't believe people cry about weather or not one should be called a zuk or not.:rolleyes: