Trail-Gear Front Axle Housing

[Chris Geiger]

As we have mentioned before we are working toward producing complete replacement front axle housings. This is not a finished product but we wanted to give an update on the product progress. Over a year ago we put the first prototype under our Formula Toy and have had great success with it. The first axle was a proof-of-concept model from cut steel plate and stock knuckle balls.

This week we have completed building another prototype. In this build the passenger side axle tube is 3" longer than stock, eliminating the need for wheel spacers. We have installed a production sample, 30 spline inner axle on that side that is 3" longer than stock.

This build also includes our exclusive, offset tube design, allowing for a minimum of 3/8" additional clearance under the axle tubes. The custom center section provides 3/4" more ground clearance as compared to stock.

Today we are making a set of longer tie rods and will be installing the housing for a series of on and off road testing.

Disclaimers: We are not able to estimate when production units might be available. We have not discussed pricing at this time but we expect that our price will be competitive. As always product features and specifications are subject to change and evolve as a result of testing and research.

http://www.trail-gear.com/bbs/2008-1983.jpg

[85Runner]

That is awesome!

[jackrista]

i'm drolling all ready!!

[madmanweaver444]

hey if you need a truck to test it on mine is available:thumbs:

[Never Monday]

Hey Chris,
did you get any pics of mine before shipping?

Pat

[squirrel84]

Are you going to be doing right and left drop? I could use lefty for a taco :thumbs:

[Boosted]

very nice. I guess I will be waiting for this axle to be released rather than go with one tons....

Keep us posted! :thumbs:

[subliminaltrips]

boooooooonnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr!!!!! :rockon2:

[YeloSub7]

So why add 3" only to the passenger side and not 1.5" to both to keep things centered with the t-case? Well not near my truck to look at how the t-case and diff line up, so maybe this will be fine, but curious.

Also will you be making a IFS width +2" version to match your wider rear axles???

[EarlKann]

So why add 3" only to the passenger side and not 1.5" to both to keep things centered with the t-case? Well not near my truck to look at how the t-case and diff line up, so maybe this will be fine, but curious.

Also will you be making a IFS width +2" version to match your wider rear axles???

Cheaper to only have to buy one custom length inner axle. The movement of the third by only lengthening one side doesn't affect the drive shaft that much.


Looks like a nice product.

[locktup]

NICE.

Jason

[Addicted Offroad]

Please tell me you plan to offer these with better pinion angles than stock. :rockon2: Say like a 15-20* pinion angle and still have 6* of caster built into the spring perches.

[Chris Dunbar]

So why add 3" only to the passenger side and not 1.5" to both to keep things centered with the t-case? Well not near my truck to look at how the t-case and diff line up, so maybe this will be fine, but curious.

Also will you be making a IFS width +2" version to match your wider rear axles???

Cheaper to only have to buy one custom length inner axle. The movement of the third by only lengthening one side doesn't affect the drive shaft that much.


Looks like a nice product.

Yes, we added 3" to the short side for cost and ease of manufacturing.
The long side still uses the OEM length inner, the short side uses a +3" inner axle.
With the stock length axle we could not add spring perches to the side of the axle housing like stock because of the center section. So by moving the diff over 1.5" we were able to kill 2 birds with one stone. The axle is now 3" wider and we are able to have standard spring perches on both side. We still had to cope the axle housing about 2.5" and make a special tube adapter plate to mate the axle housing center section to the tube.

[Chris Dunbar]

.....Also will you be making a IFS width +2" version to match your wider rear axles???

We are not planning on the +2", only a +3" or more.

[Chris Dunbar]

Please tell me you plan to offer these with better pinion angles than stock. :rockon2: Say like a 15-20* pinion angle and still have 6* of caster built into the spring perches.

With the offset knuckle balls we limit ourselves to one configuration due to the camming affect when the knuckle ball rotates in the tube.

We are still in the process of making straight knuckle balls that can be used with the stock axle housing so you can rotate however much you want.

[Chris Dunbar]

Are you going to be doing right and left drop? I could use lefty for a taco :thumbs:

We are not jigged up for a lefty but it could be done pretty easily.

[Chris Dunbar]

Hey Chris,
did you get any pics of mine before shipping?

Pat

I did not get any pics but Geiger may have. :sofa:

[Never Monday]

I did not get any pics but Geiger may have. :sofa:

no need to hide. I'm just glad y'all would make it. :thanks: If Geiger didn't take any I will in the build and post them up.

[Chris Dunbar]

no need to hide. I'm just glad y'all would make it. :thanks: If Geiger didn't take any I will in the build and post them up.

Cool thanks. That was pretty funny. ("no need to hide")

[MT4Runner]

Yes, we added 3" to the short side for cost and ease of manufacturing.
The long side still uses the OEM length inner, the short side uses a +3" inner axle.
With the stock length axle we could not add spring perches to the side of the axle housing like stock because of the center section. So by moving the diff over 1.5" we were able to kill 2 birds with one stone. The axle is now 3" wider and we are able to have standard spring perches on both side. We still had to cope the axle housing about 2.5" and make a special tube adapter plate to mate the axle housing center section to the tube.

You put a lot of thought into these. Good work. :beer:

I'm building my FToy now before KOH. Any chance you'd offer just the 30spl +3 short side inner before the whole housing is available?? I'd love to build my housing wider before I build steering links.

[loosekannon]

With the offset knuckle balls we limit ourselves to one configuration due to the camming affect when the knuckle ball rotates in the tube.

We are still in the process of making straight knuckle balls that can be used with the stock axle housing so you can rotate however much you want.

All my other questions have been answered, except do you guys plan on making this housing with just stock replacement balls to rotate how-ever much we wanted? And would/could it come with spring perches not welded on?

Please tell me you plan to offer these with better pinion angles than stock. :rockon2: Say like a 15-20* pinion angle and still have 6* of caster built into the spring perches.
Could the center section be turned to a common degree that most people set up for, wouldn't the center line stay the same? Could sell them in 5 degree differences up to what ever. Just wondering if that would be possible or is it just way the hell out there.

And that housing does like bad a$$.

[red beard]

if you wanted i could test one of this for you. i would be sure to put it to work.

[loosekannon]

Another question, the longer shaft for it, would it be a Longfield or someone else? I'm sure he could make a longer one if we wanted to get one from him.

[Mikey_]

any plans to make front housings without the extra clearance tubes?

[Chris Dunbar]

All my other questions have been answered, except do you guys plan on making this housing with just stock replacement balls to rotate how-ever much we wanted? And would/could it come with spring perches not welded on?


Could the center section be turned to a common degree that most people set up for, wouldn't the center line stay the same? Could sell them in 5 degree differences up to what ever. Just wondering if that would be possible or is it just way the hell out there.

And that housing does like bad a$$.

You could rotate the perches if you were going to run full hydro, otherwise the tie rod & drag link will rotate into the leaf springs. Most of the clearance/rotating issues can be solved with link suspension too. You could request the perches not welded on but you will end up with them in the same place anyways unless you were not running leaf springs.

If you rotate the center section it will misalign the axle with the carrier.
There have been a lot of issues that we have had to address by making an offset front axle housing so we are looking into different options that most people will request like wider and different pinion angles.

[Chris Dunbar]

Another question, the longer shaft for it, would it be a Longfield or someone else? I'm sure he could make a longer one if we wanted to get one from him.

We are making our own but it is a simple part that most companies can make for you. We do not want to sell an axle housing that requires you to buy parts from another company just to make it work.

[Chris Dunbar]

any plans to make front housings without the extra clearance tubes?

We plan to sell an OEM replacement knuckle ball that is not offset so it can be used with the stock housing.

[Chris Dunbar]

You put a lot of thought into these. Good work. :beer:

I'm building my FToy now before KOH. Any chance you'd offer just the 30spl +3 short side inner before the whole housing is available?? I'd love to build my housing wider before I build steering links.

I am not sure. We are looking into a lot of different possibilities.

[loosekannon]

Cool thanks for the answers

[TOYOTAPARTS]

Very sweet, cant wait I will have matching front and rear housings!:thumbs:

[RawDawg]

the front housing looks wicked :thumbs: can't wait to be able to buy it, keep up the great work :rockon2:

[leorn]

Please note the anticipated spring perch ht in relation to stock. They appear level. With the 3/8" offset tube, is the driver's side at stock and pass at +3/8"?

It would be nice if there were something lower than stock.

Also, will an e-locker version will be available?

[BNRSHNTZL]

it looks bad a$$, cant wait. there is a lot a good info here too thanks.

[Chris Dunbar]

Please note the anticipated spring perch ht in relation to stock. They appear level. With the 3/8" offset tube, is the driver's side at stock and pass at +3/8"?

It would be nice if there were something lower than stock.

Also, will an e-locker version will be available?

The passenger side on the OEM axle was raised 3/8" due to the coped spring perch into the side of the diff (passenger side drop) so our axle housing is level with the OEM passenger side and the driver side is raised 3/8". Now there is no need for the 3/8" thick spring pad that is normally offered for the suspension kits.

We will have an elocker version available.
The only thing that changes is the faceplate.

[GreyZuk]

maybe a dumb question, but the pic shows leaf spring mounts. Can I assume it would be sold bare with no mounts?

[John Gabriel]

We are not sure yet. We were throwing around the thought of having them welded on in the stock locations for proper caster specs and so the steering will not hit the leaf springs

[leorn]

The passenger side on the OEM axle was raised 3/8" due to the coped spring perch into the side of the diff (passenger side drop) so our axle housing is level with the OEM passenger side and the driver side is raised 3/8". Now there is no need for the 3/8" thick spring pad that is normally offered for the suspension kits.

I was totally backwards, but that makes sense. staying tuned...

[Joebawca]

boooooooonnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr!!!!! :rockon2:

Were you checking out my myspace again subliminaltrips?

[Never Monday]

Thanks Guys!!
UPS showed today.

[Chris Dunbar]

Thanks Guys!!
UPS showed today.

Cool. Thanks for letting us know.

[subliminaltrips]

Were you checking out my myspace again subliminaltrips?

wow your axles housing can even type and pretend they are joseph..... :D

[Joebawca]

Even more of a reason to buy one :)

[John Gabriel]

Well we have the axle housing installed and Matt and I went out and took my 4-runner through some pretty sweet jumps. Housing is holding up great and looks bad a$$ under there with the matching rear end. I will try to get some pics up of it installed soon.

[subliminaltrips]

i wonder if joseph can take that bike of his off any of those sweet jumps?

:loser:

[John Gabriel]

I bet he can. But I think he is too afraid to jump it. He does not want his flowers to fall out of his basket.

[dbright]

how much are they selling for or will be selling far
thanks,

[John Gabriel]

Here are some pics of the TG Front housing installed on my 4-Runner

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/Johnpgabriel/Picture008.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/Johnpgabriel/Picture007.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/Johnpgabriel/Picture006.jpg

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/Johnpgabriel/Picture005.jpg

[Low Range]

ME WANT!!!!!!!! :taz:

[YeloSub7]

Nice! Do you guys plan on installing steering stops stock?

[85Runner]

I reeeeeeeaaaly want on of those

[wayne_l]

bigger question is how much would it run to ship it to Alaska ? christmas is coming !

[Chris Dunbar]

Nice! Do you guys plan on installing steering stops stock?

Yes, we are working on 2 different styles of steering stops.

[locktup]

Are you guys going to redesign the knuckle ball gussets for this housing. Or does it need them.

Hurry up, I'm still waiting for one.

Jason

[884Runner]

TG should offer this axle as a complete assembly from hub to hub w, all the options available from there website. Another website sells a dana hybrid axle for toyotas complete w/ brembo brakes and all the xtas a customer is gonna add anyways.

[ericrunner]

couple of question , do you guys plan on having this out before April ? will it be possible to have it without spring perch ? will it be possible to have the balls not welded ?

My biggest concern is the date thanks

[Chris Geiger]

couple of question , do you guys plan on having this out before April ? will it be possible to have it without spring perch ? will it be possible to have the balls not welded ?

My biggest concern is the date thanks

Due to the offset axle tube design, the knuckles must be welded in the correct position. If the 3rd member or the knuckles are not welded in the correct position the inner axles will be angled and the splines will wear out due to running at an angle. With this design the third member and knuckles can only be in one position. This is not like a stock axle housing where you can turn the knuckles relative to the 3rd member.

Normally I like to see all the items of a kit available separately but in this case I don't think it is a good idea. Without the jig we use to weld the housing up you don't have a good way to align the knuckles to the 3rd member.

We also have a stock replacement knuckle balls in the works that might be better suited for what you are looking to do. This will not have the the offset tube design and can be installed in any position.

[Mikey_]

Does that mean TG will offer a "replacement" front axle that doesn't have the raised tubes?

[Chris Dunbar]

Does that mean TG will offer a "replacement" front axle that doesn't have the raised tubes?

No but we are making the straight knuckle balls for people who want to build their own housing or modify the stock one.

[MAPPcustom]

I would like to know when i can buy this axles and how much cost of this ****ing beautiful part. sorry my english is very bab.....(Québec crawler boy)


Salut pour ceux qui parle francais......


J-S....snow is coming, garage times.....chow...

[Chris Geiger]

Here is a cad drawing that shows the cross section.

http://www.trail-gear.com/bbs/axle-assy.jpg

Cad drawing by Chris Dunbar

[Joebawca]

i wonder if joseph can take that bike of his off any of those sweet jumps?

:loser:

Hells Yeah, i will have you sit in the basket on the handle bars like E.T. :call:

[locknload]

Is the inner axle going to be 4340 chromoly? Alot of people are running Bobby's 30 splines, did you guys contact him about warranty or will we lose our Longfield warranty with your inner axle? I know I don't want to lose mine. Something to think about.

[trailyota]

How much trouble will the high steer arms have with this housing. I've had problems with my stock housing and my steering inks contacting the springs. With the offset tubes will I have to go to coils to solve the problem, or will I be able to run my setup without making alot of contact with the links/springs.

[Addicted Offroad]

How much trouble will the high steer arms have with this housing. I've had problems with my stock housing and my steering inks contacting the springs. With the offset tubes will I have to go to coils to solve the problem, or will I be able to run my setup without making alot of contact with the links/springs.

You shouldn't be unless you are running shims under the axle to rotate the pinion angle up.

[trailyota]

You shouldn't be unless you are running shims under the axle to rotate the pinion angle up.

Thanks, I cant wait to pick this up and put it in my rig.

[rockrash]

I had read on pirate that you were going to have replacable knuckle ball's that were going to +2,+3 and+4?Is this still going to happen and if so how soon.

[subliminaltrips]

:feed:

[TwistedMetal]

any idea on a eta yet?

:flame:

[stealthrunner]

:feed::feed::feed::flame::popcorn::popcorn:

[BLUEY FAB]

:yawn:

[subliminaltrips]

damn slow ass economy!

:taz:

[bkubisht]

Just found out my front axle is bent at the D/S knuckle ball. Will you have the stock replacement balls available soon?