What are the weakest parts of the Suzuki Samuri (axles, trannys, transfer cases?) and how do I go about either upgrading or fixing them? Are there any parts I can scavange from a salvage yard to help keep cost down?

Thanks

g1

From one to another......WELCOME NEWBIE!!!! :flipoff2:

Yea, the Axles are the weak point it seems. To upgrade, do a SEARCH!! :D

There is more info here than you can read in a month, I know, I am reading back to front in the archives, and I am finally down to page 45!

Really do a search. OH, and prepair for the Hazing.

Welcome Aboard!! you'll like it here. I do!, but I'm Nuckin Futs :rasta: :flipoff2:

From what I gather so far.... (I've wore out my Search Button), it sounds like:

Front axle is weak in the Birfield. If you aspire to have 33" tires or larger, the Birfields will go out on you acting as a fuse. Options are Birfield rings, smaller tires (31's seem to be the concensus for stock axles), or swapping out the stock Sami axles in favor of Toyota axles or Dana44's. Dana44's seem to have the suport of the old-school "over-build it" mentality due to their usage in many heavy domestic trucks. They are a staple of US built vehicles and can be found in Chevys, Fords, Dodges, Jeeps (Quadratrack Waggoneers are sought after because of the offset rear which matches the stock Sami) and Internationals. Toy axles appear to be every bit as strong in the internals, have a great aftermarket support base, are lighter weight and are easier to adapt, but the weakness appears to be in the housing.

Rear axles are weak in the shaft. Again, back to the options: Swap out, stick to smaller tires or just go REAL easy on the gas pedal - let the gears do the work for you.

Sami t-cases have probably the greatest amount of aftermarket support than I've ever seen. There are several suppliers of a 4.16 gearset for the case, a couple that are 4.6x or so, a couple more in the 5.xx range and even one (possibly more) at 6:1. Jeep owners get wood just thinking about 4:1 kits, let alone a 6:1 kit. On a very reasonable budget, one could regear the axles to 5.12 and the t-case to 6:1 bringing you to around 113:1 for less than $2000. Obviously, one upgrade begets another, so I factored in there beefing up the t-case mounts, and allowing for a SPOA conversion on the cheap.

I'm really looking forward to building my "new" Sami (those of you that have seen the pics know it's no where NEAR new condition... LOL) My goal is to go as light weight as I can, very flexible, but still stable and gear it low enough to turn the 35" BFG's, but still be able to spin them to knock off the North Carolina mud if I need to. I'll stick with the stock axles until I break em and then swap in Dana44's. I guess I'm just old-school....

Matt

2nd post.... not bad :rolleyes:

where was the first one in the for-sale section ?

Here's a big tip..... try hanging out for a few days and get the feel for things then ask some specific questions......

or you can always go to one of the many other boards who cater to this crap!!! im sure someone will post you links on how to click there.......


in any event... welcome :flipoff2:
-yag

I couldn't have said it any better.

-Jon:confused:

Hey Mike, what's the latest news on that slightly modified rig of yours?

well ok ive been kinda hanging low till i can show some serious results... but i have the 35 MTRs mounted, front axle gear'd, locked, rebuilt and under zuke. Rear is gear'd and spooled and 50% under zuke. Went to sheldons house wednesday to have my skids plasma'd and picked up my free-bee whipped DT shocks-off donnas TJ, 1 skid on last night... (btw: posterboard is well worth the $3.50 for 10 sheets to make transfer patterns.. ) fit 100% other side on tonight along with T-case. tomarrow, seats/frames, maybe gas tank, shafts.....

I will be at Big DOgs come hell or high water !!!

order of importance.

seat, tires, steering wheel, gas peddle.. !!! The rest ill worry about later :-)

ill post some pics saturday....

this is from last weekend befroe i whiped the hood and fenders on..

http://www.yager.net/zukin/new/dscf0531.jpg


-yag

Sounds like it is the same for my Jeeps. Trial and error. I was hoping less error. And I have tried searching. My time is limited, but I will keep doing a search. Anyone out there have any tech article on Sammys they care to share? Or do I have to search for those too??

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Originally posted by Gosling1
Sounds like it is the same for my Jeeps. Trial and error. I was hoping less error. And I have tried searching. My time is limited, but I will keep doing a search. Anyone out there have any tech article on Sammys they care to share? Or do I have to search for those too??

Check out Chris' website, www.azrockcrawler.com . There is a ton of great technical articles over there. It should help you out getting started in general Samurai knowledge. ~Steve

Originally posted by Bill4rest
:confused: :confused: :confused:

WTF White axle......


GOWD DAMN !!!! Y'all dont miss a damn thing !!!! Thats 3 comments this week and it aint even left the garage !!! i was "testing" out a color shceme!!! and "was" gonna change it....do to it showing every damn finger print on it...

I might just have to leave it that way!!!! or maybe purple !!!! :flipoff2:


-yag

[QUOTE]Originally posted by zukipuke


WTF White axle......


GOWD DAMN !!!! Y'all dont miss a damn thing !!!! Thats 3 comments this week and it aint even left the garage !!! i was "testing" out a color shceme!!! and "was" gonna change it....do to it showing every damn finger print on it...

I might just have to leave it that way!!!! or maybe purple !!!! :flipoff2:


-yag [/QUOTE

Make It PURPLE...:laughing:...that way my wife will want you...:laughing:..
and Welcome Newbie....Good Luck....christ I almost feal new now...:D
Ok Newbie Salute...:flipoff2:....:D

check out some of the guyses websites... most of them explain why they did swaps.. I finaly got a good deal on yota axles.. Gonna do 4 link with them and all.

I found some good info on axles, put whatever i can find on my site but i dont have time to upgrade till winter

good luck dude

Sounds like it is the same for my Jeeps. Trial and error. I was hoping less error. And I have tried searching. My time is limited, but I will keep doing a search. Anyone out there have any tech article on Sammys they care to share? Or do I have to search for those too??

Naw, there is little trial and error on the normal stuff like axle swaps, spring setups, cages and such. the trial and error come in if you want something different from what others have already done.

Try the search button, you will become friends with it! :D

what kind of tech you looking for? product reviews and such? goto iZook (http://www.izook.com) and
Off-Road.com (http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/samurai.htm) for stuff like that.

There are more, but thats the only one I remember right now.
peace :D

I lurked here for 2months first...got hazed...then started:

It took me 2.5 months, every weeknight...10 PM to 2 AM...
(when all were sleeping, and I could concentrate)

all driving and articulation tests were in the dark

It was at the 201st hour that my truck first saw daylight and it was on a trailer bound for trails 3 hours away.

It really didn't take too much time to do the standard build up...
but, I didn't tube it either!

trust me...paint it in the daylight!!!

...I shoulda called it the "vampire"

The key to a happy build-up...is to lay an old wall-to-wall carpet down in the garage and dump it when your done!!!

good luck!...you will learn it all here

Sammi Tech Articles (http://www.mystomper.com/4x4/tech.htm)

Welcome


:flipoff2:



In my best Yoda voice.........

"When the search button you find, come with knowledge it will. hmmmmmm?"

Originally posted by zukipuke


WTF White axle......


GOWD DAMN !!!! Y'all dont miss a damn thing !!!! Thats 3 comments this week and it aint even left the garage !!! i was "testing" out a color shceme!!! and "was" gonna change it....do to it showing every damn finger print on it...

I might just have to leave it that way!!!! or maybe purple !!!! :flipoff2:


What aboutPINK :D LOL