A couple of friends and I attempted to go 'wheeling on Saturday, but unfortunately our time was cut very short. After a 2 hour drive to the trail, unhooking the Samurai, and airing down, we hit the trail. A few minutes up the trail and we hit the first obstacle. I got over it after a few attempts, but after I got over it my buddy spotting noticed I had no front tires moving. I broke a birfield. So, the day ended there; we hooked up the Sammy and drove home.

When we got home, my buddy and I disassembled the entire front end. The ring and pinion were fine (thankfully), but I had broken both of my birfields. My response: No big deal. We pulled out the front axle and I went to bed.

Sunday morning, the real fun begins. We swapped in an '82 Toyota front axle (that I planned to start swapping today) with 5.29 gears and an EZ-Locker, rebuilt the front, slapped on a set of 35" MT/R's, and put the front down. By Sunday night, the entire front swap was complete, minus draglink and front driveshaft.

Monday morning, time for the rear. We pulled the Samurai rear out and started the '82 Toyota swap (5.29's and a spool). We have it bolt up temporarily, still need to install the third, weld on the spring perches, slap in the axles, and put on the tires.

I got a lot farther than I thought I would so soon. The front was a lot easier than I expected, and there shouldn't be too much left on the rear. We'll see what I can get done tomorrow. Pictures to follow in a few days. :) ~Steve

Congrats Steve... Glad to hear it's going well and you got the axles swapped.. What trail did you guys run? I haven't done anything to my zuks but maybe one of these days I will get motivation for it.. I've been so burnt out on fixing s*** that I just cant get my self to do it.. .Money is also a big thing LOL... Want to make a trip up to spidertrax one day?

Thanks

Chris Minerich

Originally posted by ShadowZuk
Congrats Steve... Glad to hear it's going well and you got the axles swapped.. What trail did you guys run? I haven't done anything to my zuks but maybe one of these days I will get motivation for it.. I've been so burnt out on fixing s*** that I just cant get my self to do it.. .Money is also a big thing LOL... Want to make a trip up to spidertrax one day?

Thanks

Chris Minerich

Unfortunately, I broke them on the first optional obstacle in Left Hand Canyon (in Boulder). It was our first trip up to Left Hand, and it looks like a fun trail. Just wish I could have seen a little bit more of it. Oh well, that's what I get for not bringing any spare birfields.

We'll definitely have to make a trip up to Spidertrax one of these days. My buddy, Jon, is building a Samurai up from stock and we have taken a couple trips up there before. Tom is an awesome guy. We'll probably be going up in a month or two... Jon is going to get a few things.

Good talking to you man, and get one of those Zuk's running and let's go on a trail! Oh, and what is John up to these days? Jed told me he gave up on his "chop-saw" Zuk. LOL. ~Steve

Your going to like the swap.:)

Locked Toyota axles with 5.29's, I'm jealous. With 35's! Get out the sawsall :eek: .

I broke a birfield. So, the day ended there; we hooked up the Sammy and drove home.
...few days. :) ~Steve [/B][/QUOTE]

Where you running birfield rings?

Sorry, I tried to say WERE you .......?

Originally posted by GBRAVO

Where you running birfield rings?

No, but my Buddy is buying the old axles from me and is going to be running the Spidertrax birfield rings (with new birfields, of course ;) ). ~Steve

I heard axles break when you have rings, anyone have this problem ?

If your locked in front and have over 33 with rings it is a good pos.
I personally havent but I have read alot about guy changin the axles like underwear:flipoff2: :flipoff2: also welcome

Tuesday report: I installed the third member, got my pinion angle set, rebuilt the rear brakes, got the spring perches welded on (Thanks, Chris!!!), and put the axle back under the Samurai. The Samurai almost fell off the jack when we pulled out the axle, but lucky Chris and I caught it before it went all the way over. Very scary. Hoping to get close to finished tomorrow. We'll see. :rolleyes: ~Steve