I'm getting mixed responses about driveshafts from all directions here. Some people say I need longer splines up front, while others who have done a SAS say that the stock spline length is adequate for what the leaf springs will allow for flex. I hate to blow cash on a long spline kit and not need it, but I also hate to blow cash on making a new drive shaft with stock splines and then find out I needed the longer ones. The other problem is that around Edmonton, any driveline shop thinks I'm speaking a foreign language when I mention "long spline" anything.
As for the rear, some say the CV shaft will help with vibrations and some say it's unnecessary. It was suggested that I change the u-joints first to see if that helps with any vibration/noise. It's the cheaper route, and I won't feel bad over a $30 joint rather than getting a $300 shaft made that's not required.
And so I finally got my full floating rear axle conversion kit from Front Range Off-Road. I'm not going to lie, I am disappointed right now. First of all I'm annoyed with the delivery time, although they had no trouble putting the charge through on my credit card immediately. I can understand that they didn't have every single item in stock and I much prefer they ship it all at once, but I was surprised to be waiting for over a month when I was charged for it right away. And then I opened the boxes to look at the parts. I discover old, used locking hubs in the box. I also discovered wheel hubs that are still dirty with old hardware still installed and the bearing races installed. Now I knew I was getting used spindles and wheel hubs with the kit, as I'm pretty sure nobody makes them brand new. But I was at least expecting them to be fully disassembled and cleaned. For the cost of this entire kit plus the shipping, I could have bought all the miscellaneous little bits and pieces here, along with a donor front axle for hubs and spindles, and just had Front Range supply the axle shafts and adapter brackets. Nowhere on their website did it say anything about "used" locking hubs, nor did they tell me that when I ordered it. I have 2 sets of old hubs here at home I would have used. I thought the extra charge for hubs was for brand new hubs, that's exactly why I ordered them with the kit. Used Toyota hubs around here aren't a $150 item.....
I have no doubt I will be quite pleased with the overall finished product, but I am seriously disappointed that they did not give me the full information about the parts. Now I'm stuck with some disassembly and cleaning of parts that I could have had for a heck of a lot cheaper while still having to do just as much work.
So, not to outright bash them as a company, but if anyone else is thinking of ordering the same kit from them.......just beware that the parts aren't quite accurately described on their website.
End rant I guess......
![Mad :mad: :mad:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)