Hi Myron----This is ZUK....originally out of Chandler AZ and recently moved up here to Prescott (God's country). I had a 1990 Sami and became very familiar with it.....lots of modding was done to it....modding back in 1990 was basically a leaf over axle front with a shackle reversal, a little bigger tire, Nerf bars, and make some steel bumpers. That was modding :) The Toyota 8" ...swap the entire axle housing under the Sami....is probably the greatest mod for all around driveline strength👌👌👌👌👌

I built my own hybrid front housing, fun project. I wish you could buy new knuckle balls.

Its stronger to use lower diff gears aswell, compared to lower case gears. Less stress is above the gears/diffs that are lowered.. something to mention my 6.5 gear case puts more stress on my ujoints then lower gears will

Richard is awesome and so are you sir.

Yes Richard and Cody are great they are working on mine right now. I drove 8 hrs to get mine to them. And you are also awesome, I love your videos and you are very knowledgeable on these vehicals. Love it.

@Zuksoffroad

8 ай бұрын

Yes they are! Thank you

I run a hybrd rear with a tracker/sidekick center with samurai axles tubes welded in and 5.12 gears so i dont blow rear ends as often, and i dont need two front, i can run a front and rear

@Zuksoffroad

8 ай бұрын

Yes sir, sounds like a discontinued hybrid axle from trailtough. We made some changes to stronger larger OD bearing cups and DOM tube. We call it the rock breaker. Zuksoffroad also makes a hybrid using a rear large sidekick differential offset steering axle, whew that’s a long sentence.

@heathkill4821

8 ай бұрын

@@Zuksoffroad we made the rear end years ago, i never thought about doing the front. We usually go toyota, but i wanted to keep this sami small and geared on propane so it doesnt break. Right now im running a set of 27 inch super swamper mtb and its like a rally car. I like to run 31’s usually unless i go yota. I love your videos, its nice to see others that really dive into these diamond in the rough😎🤘

Very good information, thank you. My front housing pinion did not come with a shim and my contact pattern shows that it needs more pinion depth. Bearings are all new. Backlash and preload are in spec (using solid pinion spacers)- any pointers on starting shim thickness? Also note I have the stock gearset. Thanks.

@Zuksoffroad

Ай бұрын

The shim you want is under the old pinion bearing. That’s gonna get you near perfect for your pattern.

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

You were talking about samurai gears and running large 34+ inch tires. What is the largest size you are comfortable running on samurai axles?

@Zuksoffroad

7 ай бұрын

Stock front 22 spline front axle with 4:16 gears will go up to 235 tire Chromo front stock rears with gears in t-case OR even better stronger set up is 4s in t-case and axles up to 33” tire that’s for wheeling. For show only-never leave pavement 35” on stock axles is doable in only good weather conditions.

Hello Myron you said the fuel injected Samurai's had similar fronts to the sidekick. Did that start with the '91?

@Zuksoffroad

8 ай бұрын

I am not sure when single pin carriers started. Suzuki was no doubt using whatever they could find. The end of the samurai the end of OBD1. Beginning of OBD2 in sidekicks 96. Suzuki Japan embraced the suck and got thru it.

That’s a lot of good info. My 16v swapped samurai has a 6.5 transfer case gear, with 4.30 gears and 35’s. I can currently run 62-65 mph down the highway at 4500 rpm’s but wish I could run 70 mph. What gear ratio combo would you recommend to get it a little better highway speed?

@Zuksoffroad

5 ай бұрын

4:9

@CTMadModz

5 ай бұрын

@@Zuksoffroad that’s exactly what I was thinking, thanks Myron

Good stuff! I want to upgrade my axles and toyotas arnt cheep

@Zuksoffroad

8 ай бұрын

Starts with tire size then gearing then front chromos then front Locker/Power steering. Tougher more capable samurai

I have a bone stock '88 Samurai. The rear diff has been slowly getting louder, to the point I'm not wanting to drive it. I won't have time to rebuild it for a couple months. Is it safe remove the rear drive shaft and drive in 4 high on the front axle? It would be easy street driving, rarely over 35mph and never over 45mph, maybe once or twice a week for about 20 miles or so per trip.

@Zuksoffroad

2 ай бұрын

No this car was not designed to do front wheel drive only for any speeds above 30mph. The car will shake and make strange noises

Almost more confused than before I watched. Just to be clear you prefer to do a rear diff swop to the front and run samurai components right? I have an 87 sami that at some point I will upgrade the suspension and would like to do axles and lockers as well. Trying to put a complete game plan together firstly.

@Zuksoffroad

6 ай бұрын

Almost got it. I prefer 26 spline side gears in a front samurai with chromo axles locker and ps. Makes for an almost unstoppable set up. Rear difs have been run every mile showing in the odometer. Fronts are always in better condition because they only run when engaged. The 22 spline front axles are just too weak for any serious size tire.

@michaelantonio1367

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the response . I own two sami's one is Tuki a fully custom crawler its a beast running FJ front custom rear all toyo axles on 37". Then I have a mostly OG 88 with the 1.3 that needs a new suspension and lockers....I purchased Tuki already built by a guy named Rick but want to do the work on little Sami myself. just want to map out a plan. I'm only looking to run 32 or 33's I believe the OME YJ kit is what I want not sure on sring over or under yet . Thanks again for you videos. @@Zuksoffroad

@Zuksoffroad

6 ай бұрын

@@michaelantonio1367 OME makes springs NOT YJ kits. ARB is a good brand but all YJ springs have different weight to sag numbers. Get educated on the YJ kits. None of us make a SPUA that will clear 32-33” tires.

@michaelantonio1367

6 ай бұрын

Yes I was referring to the yj JP-eater kit from RR. They have one that used OME wrangler springs but it looks like it has way more lift than i need for 33's. The regular YJ springs sprung over look like the way for me. @@Zuksoffroad

@MrFinality69

28 күн бұрын

I have a 1995 geo tracker. Do you know who makes a spool for the rear and what I can do to make the front stronger? Only going up to 32" tires at the very most.

Walk around on the red samurai in the back

@Zuksoffroad

8 ай бұрын

Thats Judds Sami. He is passionate about the Samurai and his shows. Here for engine freshen up after turbo attempt. I will have to ask him to show it off. Sans engine.

I have a 1995 geo tracker. Do you know who makes a rear spool and what I can do to make the front stronger? 32" tires at the very most.

@Zuksoffroad

25 күн бұрын

Was on the road 2k miles missed replying. No 2wd reduction putting 32” tires on will make it very sluggish on pavement. A samuria spool fits inside a rear sidekick tracker carrier.