I just bought a 86 sami and I want to use a 86 rear yota axle in my sami. Some1 told me that I can use the rear centerd yota axle with a front CV yota drive shaft with an adapter to bolt the drive shaft to the sami trans case. Will I have any problems with the rear 3rd being centered? I think the stock gears are 3.73's on the sammy it that correct? I am new to sammys so any info would be greatly appreciated.

For trail riding it will be fine. Mine vibrated way too much for any road driving over 30 mph. I ended up getting a sky housing...

I run the 86-95 late housing because it's 3"s wider. I then cut 3"s out of the right side to make it offset and same width as mini truck front:

So you used a pre-85 axle shaft on the side you cut out 3"s? hat do you use to keep the axle housing straigh when you are welding it? Did you make a jig?

Machined a 6" long sleeve to go inside to tube. You look close and you'll see the weld on the axle. I also plug welded it before the final weld. Here's an axle in shop for the next one, Moser will cut and respline an axle for $55.00:

I just bought a 86 sami and I want to use a 86 rear yota axle in my sami. Some1 told me that I can use the rear centerd yota axle with a front CV yota drive shaft with an adapter to bolt the drive shaft to the sami trans case. Will I have any problems with the rear 3rd being centered? I think the stock gears are 3.73's on the sammy it that correct? I am new to sammys so any info would be greatly appreciated.

Yes it can be done, yes Zuks have 3:73, (Problems) some have had a few but I thik its setup issue. A stock setup in a toy is not exactly 100% centered either.. For a trail rig you should be fine, If you want a DD you better measure twice and weld once for your pinion angle.. Soft springs can play hell with the setup also.

I have been running an centered rear diff under my Sammi for about 2 years. It was a daily driver for a good portion of that time. I didn't have vibes to speak of and it ran great . here are a few pics of the angls on my rig before I stretched it this year. I run a shortened and rebuilt Toyota IFS Drive shaft and a flange adapter by Rock 4x Fabrication.

I am running a Centered toy Mini truck axle in the rear of mine. No real issues. Works just fine. As stated by NC Zuk, get Rockrats adapter, and run the Toy CV shaft.

even using a CV shaft you get vibes at high speeds?

even using a CV shaft you get vibes at high speeds?
If you don't get your pinion aligned right it is very probable. I also found out that using a 20 year old DC shaft works better if you acrtually take the time to rebuild all the joints in the shaft. There is a bushing in the center ball portion of the DC shaft that is well known for being worn out and adding slop/vibration to the shaft.

If you don't get your pinion aligned right it is very probable. I also found out that using a 20 year old DC shaft works better if you acrtually take the time to rebuild all the joints in the shaft. There is a bushing in the center ball portion of the DC shaft that is well known for being worn out and adding slop/vibration to the shaft.


I agree... Again.

There are a lot of people out there running this setup.

I will be able to tell ya this weekend as I just installed a centered rear toy axle, and am using the CV shaft, shortened, and aimed so the pinion and driveshaft are equal in angle. I do have a shim in case it needs it. (under accelleration the angle will change due to axle wrap.) I am going to be using a traction bar asap too.

Well, what's the result????????

Just thinking of options at this point.... What do you guys think of isntead cutting down the axle for the offset, and just offsetting the axle itself, then using wheels to even out the off set? I say this because I want to swap out motors/tcase, and it may not have that offset afterwards.

Well, I was going to buy some Yota axles from a guy at work, so I can run my 36"s on my Zuk, but after reading this and the work/problems involved with running a center diff, I may just build up my Zuk axles and run 33's. I dont have the money to buy the sky housing, or the skills to cut down the later axle. :( :mad3: :( :mad3: :(

since the CV can't cancel out the single ujoint angled at the axle, I plan on taking out my Toy CV driveshaft and finding one of the Toy shafts that can handle 43degrees with just ujoints (long ears)