I agree, Erik... it can be done. But common? Dunno.

Axle: 300
Front diff (4.88's, lunch-box locker): $800
axle rebuild: $150
Steering: $400
27 spline Longs: $150
Spacers & Rotors: $200

That's $1700. Sure, a person can go all out, but it's definitely not necessary, nor is it (as you pointed out earlier) comparatively fair.

Minnesota math must be different... Tennessee math comes out to $2000! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

27 spline longfields are 205/ea, total= $2260. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

No offense guys but I almost hate reading this thread because I am so poor and your discussion solidifies the fact that I will probably never be able to a SAS on my pickup, let alone con my wife into letting me.....:(

Damn you all. I didn't realize how much I spent on my front axle until y'all pointed it out. But it's not nearly as much you've quoted...
Mine is just cromo birfs, shafts, 5.29's and lunchbox locker. And sky hi-steer. I don't have the reciepts but I think it's around $1200? (I'm not counting the axle itself since I bought the entire 4runner for $550)

Apparently I suck at the math and with keeping up on price increases... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

But I still call BS on "all those extra parts to break!" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm with Brian on this...I completely disagree with this statement I don't even know where to start.

When you consider the number Toy 8inchers out there and what they've been through and still survive with little more than Longfields, I think it's more than impressive. Funny how people judge the Toy axle purely on gear measurement. The 7.5" Toyota IFS diff is even smaller, yet somehow it survives just fine in the front of a factory V-8 Tundra and Sequolia with 31" tires.

I know 8" ring and pinions do break, but a large percentage of those can be attributed to poor quality gear set up and I'm sure Zuk will attest too.

The Toyota 8" axle is used in far heavier duty applications and in rougher parts of the world than any Dana 44. They're used as front and rear axles in real 1 ton rigs. And not 1 ton highway rigs..1 ton off road rigs. Yet, they seem to handle that perfectly fine. Not to mention under the front of most Land Cruisers, which can weigh twice as much as some of our trucks.

The Longfield has changed everything for the Toy 8". And newest 30 spline Longfield with full size, full width axles has really changed things.

In any case, it's up to you to decide, but if had the choice between my Toyota axle or a Dana 44, there'd be no contest in my opinion.

As for cost, my axle was $300, rebuild kit was $100. Ring longs with stock axles were something like $120 or so. New gears, lockrite and install were all around $750. So with me doing some of the work, the total cost for a complete front axle was around $1200. I didn't count the SAS related parts since that came with SAS kit.

I'm also comforted by the fact that finding parts and rebuilding the axle will be easy as pie and relatively inexpensive going forward.

Of course, since then I had a brand new Land Cruiser 80 front diff built with new gears and ARB...we won't go into what that cost.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Agree. Seems like closer to 90% are not set right. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />ZUK

Thanks for the info. I think I'll stick with the toyota just for the ease if nothing else. I would go D60 but it's my DD and I think the extra weight wouldn't help mpg. Someday though... I'm not sure what year the D44 was from, but another interesting thing they had at the shop was a closed knuckle D44. Never seen one of them before. It was under a Jeep J-400 pickup.
I'm slowly acquiring parts for my buildup. Already put the FRORF frame brace on, got a winch (still working on bumper) and an e-locker rear diff w/ 5.29's. Can't wait to have it all together!

Is there any reason, if this would even work, to put a land cruiser front axle underneath? I might have access to one. And what is the advantage of a high pinion 3rd, other than clearance?