Topic: time for High-steer and Marfields?

[Jeffe 81]

 :help:My '81 pick up is in need of a knuckle rebuild and new tie rod ends and a drag link rebuild.  I am in the process of making the truck a moderate wheeler as well as a DD.  I want to upgrade the truck as parts wear and break.  I'm torn between going to cross over steering or getting Marlins HD tie rod and drag link with fj80 ends.  Do I need to get rid of the J-arms if I have 31" tires, no front locker,  and do moderate trails?

As far as the knuckle rebuild goes, should I get the birfield eliminator kit, upgrade to stronger birfields, or just rebuild the knuckles with stock birfields? 

I haven't had any issues with breaking birfields or J-arms, just want to have a strong enough truck to play in the mountains and don't want to waste money with bad parts decisions...

I've searched past posts but haven't found what I was looking for.  Thanks for the advice, my truck wouldn't be running if it wasn't for this forum!

I've searched past posts but haven't found what I was looking for.

[4inchToyotas]

If you're doing moderate trails on 31's just get beefier stock steering. Unless you WANT crossover. You'll need at least 3" of lift before the crossover will fit/work right, so you've got to consider that.

Again, only doing moderate trails, I'd just rebuild the knuckles and MAYBE go with stronger birfields. I a ring welded on mine, similar to some of the other designs out there.

If you aren't doing things that require lockers you might as well stay with the stock/slightly stronger stuff and replace as you break stuff (hopefully trying harder stuff) or find the need to upgrade.

Just my  $0.02

[RustyToy]

Get high steer... the stock push pull is will break with moderate street use. HIgh steer first... everything else later...

[Phazertwo]

Get high steer... the stock push pull is will break with moderate street use. High steer first... everything else later...

problem is you need 3in lift before it works.  3in lift with 31's???  well, it would look like your truck is on cheerios!  I would say stick  with the stock steering for now.  I don't think that you will have a problem with any of the moderate trails.  Here in co, I can do all of the moderate trails in my stock 85 with at 8psi.  But I can't even come close to even THINK about trying any hardcore stuff.  If you are gunna stay small for moderate stuff, keep the stock steering, but if you are gunna go hard core, than get high steer...

my .02

PZ

[85 4runr]

with the high steer everyone says you need 3 inches of lift is that or can that be a combination of say 2inch springs 1inch shackles or 1 inch shackles 1inch springs and 1 inch drop hanger? Or just 3 inches of spring lift

[kyle_22r]

3" of spring lift, or a 2" drop hanger and 1" lift etc.  if you're handy with a hammer, sawzall, and a welder i've seen it done with about 1" of lift, but that includes clearancing the oil pan, running a flat pitman and notching the frame.

this is what my truck looks like with 3" downey springs(the back end is on jacks and about level so just pretend there's springs on the back ), marlin's billet hysteer and 31" tires.  the biggest clearance issue is the pitman arm, but i think it'll be OK.  still have to go flex it out and see if it gets close to hitting the driver's side leaf, if so i'll install bumpstops.  probably gonna end up running 34" LTBs on this rig, but it doesn't look that terrible with the 31s.

[Phazertwo]

that bed is  big!

[wa4x4]

that bed is  big!

HAHAHAHA yeah!

Time to WestCoasterize it Kyle!

[Jeffe 81 [OP]]

thanks for the feed back everybody!  Hey Kyle 22r, did those Downey springs fit in the stock location?  What do you think of them?  I am thinking of getting the 3 inch Downey springs.  I know they aren't as nice as Marlin's, but a lot cheaper and I don't need a 4 inch lift right now.

Oh yea, don't be jealous of the long bed 1st gens!      That seven foot bed with external tie downs is sweeeet!

I think I'll just keep the stock steering and birfields for now.  Its hard not to get nutty with upgrading these trucks.

[4inchToyotas]

Here's mine with 4" Pro-comp springs (no they haven't settled yet only have about 150 miles on them) and 34" LTBs....that's 4 inches.

[79coyotefrg]

Get high steer... the stock push pull is will break with moderate street use. HIgh steer first... everything else later...

hysteer  on his truck is a waste of money, and i have ran class 4 trails  with my truck  and only  slightly bent my stock tierod

of course  i can pick a line and dont just slam against rocks