Hey everyone, Im interested in doing a SAS but I know nothing about it . I would like to learn it and hopefully build my truck up real nice. I know a few things, I would like to have coil overs and I want D44's. Im only looking for 10 or 12 inches cause that should bring my truck to legal height I believe. ( I think it's 30 inches from ground to bumper in PA)

Since so many people on here know a great deal on the subject could you point me in the right direction?

Here are some of my dumb questions.
1. How is the ride when done the SAS? Rough? Smooth?
2. Will everything be breaking all the time?
3. Coil overs or leafsprings ? ( I prefer coil overs)
4. Is there like a "SAS for dumbies" thread?? Haha

As of now I'm looking into this, I'm not fully committed to a SAS yet idk pros and cons yet. Also this will be a DD so 35's are probly gonna be what I wanna run.

 

1. Like **** compared to the IFS
2. If you are beating on it all the time. If you are just daily driving it, and light 4 wheeling, you will be fine
3. Coilovers
4. There are 5 different threads on the first page asking pretty much the same thing. Just do a little reading through the builds. You will likely find all the answers you ever wanted

 

If you are going to start doing serious offroading, such as hard core rock crawling or mud bogging, then do the swap. If its just going to be a weekend wheeler playing a couple mud holes, and trail riding, just put selectable lockers front and rear and call it a day.

 

Your truck is what I want. Im in love with it haha the height is perfect and yeah I'll do some wheeling but not much. How high does your sit now ?

 

Its more handling than ride that you wont be happy with. You can make them ride pretty good just the handling sucks, in ruts, back roads etc at faster speeds. My truck doesnt ride horrible, just likes to follow the road.

 

Thanks buddy, so am I

On the freeway, its golden. On any bumpy road or going down the dirt, it sucks. Im running 37" and probably around 8" or so.

Only reason i went SAS is because i wanted to go crawling, and the articulation of the straight axle really helps (even though mine doesn't do so much "articulating"

The guy who built the arms and the cage had a 91 Ranger that was deserted out and you could fly in that thing. 70+ across hard *** desert whoops, jumps, and damn near anything else. You can do it with a straight axle too, (Zach's is perfect example IMO) but you are going to drop some SERIOUS coin to do it.

BTW, 37s with a 5 speed, street gears (4.56), and a 4.0 gives ya about 13-15 MPG, depending on if you run the A/C or not.

 

Now getting a set of D44's, what should I be looking for? Should I go to the junkyard and pull them from a older bronco and rebuild them? Or should I look at paying top dollar on a brand new set?

Things I know I need
Axles
Coilovers
Leaf springs
Gears

That's all I know as of now. Im gonna do my reserch as you suggested as well but if both you guys could like maybe do a list of the basics?

Also I'm happy you two have posted on this thread considering you guys have my favorite SASed rangers

 

If I were you I would read every SAS thread on here.

Beard has a couple that are packed with info.
Trepaul's is good.
D's (ranger) is good.
Evan's is good.
Matt's thread (99ranger4x4 I believe is his username)

And then even all the other ones. Read every page of all the threads and you will learn a lot if you haven't done so already. Thats the best advice I have heard from some of the other guys that wanted to learn.

 

Did you go through our threads and see what we did?
(ps, there is an entire section devoted to SAS questions like price, newbie crash course, and so forth on TRS. I know some may get upset by telling you this, but i wish someone would have told me when i was in your position)

Like i said, it ain't gonna be cheap (I have about 5-6 grand in my suspension alone, and it is all rebuilt junkyard stuff or used parts). As long as you understand that, lets move forward.... These aer just my opinions, which to some are not worth ****, but I have a lot of complements on my truck and it goes anywhere i have ***** enough to put it, so take it with a grain of salt...

1. Axles
a.Junkyard 44 out of a fullsize Bronco (78-79) or F150 (76 i think -79). Rebuild them. All new seals, bearings, brakes, hubs, gears, locker
b. Junkyard 9" out of the same model year. (You can go with different, but they could be different lengths. My 9" is 1.5" wider on each side than my 44, so i had to put spacers on the front, which SMOKE ball joints) Do the same as the 44. Make sure you get 31 spline shafts, and replace all the bearings, seals, brakes, and matching gears. (9" are weird, so you might not be able to find matching sets. For instance, my Explorer's front is 4.88, while the rear is 4.86 as it was the closest you could get. It doesn't effect driving though)

2. Coilovers
This is where it gets complicated... I recommend getting professional help on this. Their are calculators out there such as the one on FOA's website, but they are still not that accurate. If you have someone local, see if you can get them to help you. If not, talk to one of the engineers at the shock companies. (Bilstein, Radflo, FOA, Fox, King, Racerunner, blah, blah) I am running 2.5" 14" stroke King Prerunner coilovers with a 200/300 spring setup. Both springs are 12" long each, which is why it sits so low now. I had King revalve the truck based on the information they asked me. "Ford Rules" and "ZaBeard" have different setups than me though, so that is why i say you need to talk to someone. Do not cheap out on coilovers.

3. Leaf Springs

Stock chevy 63 or 64" rear leaf springs from a Silverado 1500. I don't care if you like chevy or not, go to a junkyard and get these springs. You'll thank me later

4. Gears

a.If it is going to see more road than trail, go with what i did. 4.56 i can cruise at 85 MPH on the freeway at around 3 grand. It doesn't have the greatest of takeoff, but when i was on 35's, it was perfect. Your odometer will be off by 7mph. (you'll be running 63 when it is registering 70)
b.If it is going to see A LOT of trail, and mainly be a trailer queen, go 5.13's.


I hope this answers your questions. Now, GO READ!!!

 

Yeah I gotta do that but I'm not trying to do that on my phone. But when it all comes together for me I'm going to make a thread "SAS for dummies" so all the info you need is right there. Good idea??

 

^^^ With 37s I would think 4.88s would be the best for road and 5.13s for trail as you said. 4.56s don't seem steep enough considering guys run those with 33s.

You can't generalize like that. All the different axles, suspension setups, and steering setups people use it would impossible to do a step by step thread that would fit all SAS's. I mean beard has done a D30, D44, and a D60 so I think he would be the most qualified lol. But then again he has been coilover the whole time, so you need others to fill in the blanks for leafs and don't forget about straight up coils.

 

Josh that helps me a lot so thank you I'm gonna read your thread and zabeards thread and then I'm gonna read more and more. I'll keep you guys updated with my ideas when I get a clue hahaha thanks for the help as of now I'll be needing it again I'm sure

 

yeah 4.56s with the 37s is just a lil weak for my likings, i wouldave gone 4.88 or even 5.13 (37s + 4mud chains + step muddy hills is alot for the 4.56 in my case).

best advice is dont rush on the sas, school yourself as much as you can (and in the meanwhile save up some $$$ lol )

 

dude said he was wanting to run 35's.... 4.56 with 35's is fine.

4.56 with a doubler works fine rock crawling

4.56 with 37 also corrects the speedo. 75 is 75

 

lol missed that part. yeah 4.56 would do just fine!

 

Yeah my goal is 35's with 8-10 inches of lift.

I think I'm gonna go to a junkyard in a few weeks and look for a 76 bronco or the f 100 and then rebuild them. That's my step one. Still have a lot of reading to do though ...

 

Noob question, does it matter if I get a high or low pinion? Is one better then the other?

 

High pinion is usually desired

 

Don't even mess with the early bronco front. The axle tubes are thinner, the axle shafts are smaller, and it is a low pinion carrier. Alot of them are drum brake fronts as well. Just go full width, or have the 44HP axle shortened. You will be much happier.

 

Josh how far do the tires stick pass your fenders and are your fender flares custom? I've never seen a set so big

 

yeah just go full width if you cant keep i tstreet legal just go for a

wagoneer axle perfect size

 

Bushwacker Cutouts. No clue. I have never measured them

 

If I can get fender flares big enough then I'll be golden I think I gotta check the PA laws not to sure about that. The wideness of the full axle looks so good so I'm shooting for full width

 

yeah it does i wouldave loved going full width but cant make it pass inspections.. someday who knows

 

That's what I'm doing. Shortened 76-78 F250 D44HP and an Expo 8.8 to match.