I'm trying to find a rear axle for my Samurai and was wondering if there are differences in the different years of Land Cruiser axles. I know the minitruck rears got bigger brakes and wider in '86, but I haven't found out anything like that about FJ40 rears. Also, are most R&Ps 4.10s like the mini trucks? I've got a line on an '85 front axle that I will need to match untill I can afford to get geared back down.

Thanks,
Troy

They came with 4.11s and they are all off set to the right. Sort of limits you towhich Tcase you want to run I would use a truck rear if I were you. It will work fine on a light little sammy.

Cool, thanks. Samis are offset right also, so I wanted to keep with that. One more question, gotta SO the rear axle, what size is the axle tube?

All FJ-40 axles are 55" wide in the rear, if you get a FJ-60 axle I believe it is 57-58" but the spare shafts are harder to come by.

I would stick with the FJ-40 axle for the sami.

For FJ40 rears, 4.11 gears are stock from 1978 and older. 1969 thru 1978 are the desired years, fine spline inner shafts and 4.11 gearing.

Tube is ~3" diameter - Dodge perches work great.

The 85 mini front axle "may" be wider than the stock FJ40 setup....

Yeah, the mini truck axle is 1 inch wider than an LC rear, at least according to a search of the archives. I want the front a bit wider to get some stability back into the truck. Stock Sami front is 1 or 1/2 inch narrower than stock rear. Plus the wider front will keep the tires off the springs better. Thanks All! :)

the FJ60's came with 3.70 gears, I am installing a set in my sami over the winter that I picked up cheap.

Just a couple quick corrections....

79-85 mini rear axle is 55" (SAME as 40's), has smaller 10.5" drums........
86-95 mini rear is 58", has 11.5" (I think) drums.... (I know they ARE larger than the 10.5".........)

Oh, yeah, no one mentioned this, and I dont know if you know it, but you'll have to come up with something for an e-brake if you use an LC axle. The LC's have tcase mounted ebarkes....

If you use the mini axle, you're all set. Just make sure you get the ebarake cable & brackets with the axle.....

76-78 FJ40 rears are the desired ones...These are the ONLY two years of fine spline 4.11

69-78 FJ40 gearing is 4.11
79-82 FJ40 is fine spline, BUT 3.90's

The only difference between the fine vs coarse spline gearing is on the pinion flange. ALL 69-82 FJ40 axle shafts are fine spline.
All the axleshafts and 3rd members are interchangeable no matter what year the axle housing is........

;)

Cool, thanks. I meant the front mini truck axle is 1 inch wider than the FJ40 rear. Didn't know about the e brake thing. It's good though 'cause SJ410 (pre-Sami) had ebrakes on the transfer case, and I want to switch anyway. I'll look for the 76-78 FJ40 rear, but I'm pretty sure my Sami won't break the pinion on the earlier axle, though I have broken 2 Sami R&Ps. I'll put up all the measurements I find on www.AbusiveMotorSports.com as I get the chance.

if you find a FJ60 rear axle the E-brake is at the drums

The 60s have a parking brake on them. I have set of FJ60 alxes from an 87 I would sell you just the rear or both whatever you prefer I have both 3.73 gears or 4.88 3rd members no drums but you can pick that up elsewhere. Email me if you are intrested.

I have the drums and backing plates.
How much for the 3rd's w/4.88's?

Originally posted by Cracker

76-78 FJ40 rears are the desired ones...These are the ONLY two years of fine spline 4.11

69-78 FJ40 gearing is 4.11
79-82 FJ40 is fine spline, BUT 3.90's

The only difference between the fine vs coarse spline gearing is on the pinion flange. ALL 69-82 FJ40 axle shafts are fine spline.
All the axleshafts and 3rd members are interchangeable no matter what year the axle housing is........

;)

Small correction....69-77 all use coarse spline pinions. 78 was the ONLY year with 4.11 AND fine spline pinions....and even those were based on available stock at assembly. I've heard stories of those who have, and those who have not.

79-92 FJ40's are 3.73 gearing...no such thing as 3.90 gears in a Cruiser.

The only gear ratios available for LC's, 1990 and older (4x-5x-6x series), are 3.73, 4.11, 4.56, 4.88, 5.13...the 4.88 requires some ring gear grinding to get the cross pin in, the 5.13 requires a TON of grinding and while it's been done on a semi-float c-clip rear axle, it's possibly best for only full-float converted rears.

IMO, a simple anti-wrap bar like the one I have teched on my site will save you pinions and not limit flex. I have never snapped a pinion when the wrap bar was intact...have done 3 without the wrap bar, 2 SOA, 1 SUA.

Originally posted by woody


Small correction....69-77 all use coarse spline pinions. 78 was the ONLY year with 4.11 AND fine spline pinions....and even those were based on available stock at assembly. I've heard stories of those who have, and those who have not.

79-92 FJ40's are 3.73 gearing...no such thing as 3.90 gears in a Cruiser.


I stand corrected.:p

I didnt realise the fine spline 4.11's were THAT rare!

DoH! I knew that about the 3.73's vs the 3.90's, just had a brain fart!

There werent any pinion bearing differences between the coarse & fine spline bearings were there?

Jumping in on the "Fine Spline 4.11" debate, I believe that all FJ-62's sold in the US have fine spline 4.11's in them.

FJ-60 = 3.70 (manual tranny 1982-1987)

FJ-62 = 4.11 (auto tranny 1988-1990)

Fun isn't it?

Originally posted by wngrog
Jumping in on the "Fine Spline 4.11" debate, I believe that all FJ-62's sold in the US have fine spline 4.11's in them.

FJ-60 = 3.70 (manual tranny 1982-1987)

FJ-62 = 4.11 (auto tranny 1988-1990)

Fun isn't it?

Yeah but the flanges won't bolt up to the older LC driveshafts :D
So replacements are necessary...

Wow....OK. So, 78 FJ 40 rear....55" wide, right offset diff, fine spline 4.11's, drum brakes, approx. 3" axle tube, no e-brake, c-clips (why?) and hopefully they come in black. Not to open another can of worms, but should I be on the lookout for factory lockers, limited slips or are they all open? And what of the full floating axles I have seen of the foriegn FJ's? What's the story with those?

Originally posted by Philthy
Wow....OK. So, 78 FJ 40 rear....55" wide, right offset diff, fine spline 4.11's, drum brakes, approx. 3" axle tube, no e-brake, c-clips (why?) and hopefully they come in black. Not to open another can of worms, but should I be on the lookout for factory lockers, limited slips or are they all open? And what of the full floating axles I have seen of the foriegn FJ's? What's the story with those?

C-Clips because the axle is a semi Floater with drum brakes. Keeps the axle in.

Factory Lockers were available for some of the foreign FF versions that were cable activated.

Newer FJ-80 coil sprung rigs with 63" wide FF axles come with electric lockers as do some Tacomas, but I don't know much about them.

The FF axle housings are available through SOR.com for $650 minus the 3rd member.

You will not have problems breaking a semi float Cruiser axle with a light SAMI. You just won't.

I wheel with Cruisers and I have only seen 3-4 broken rear axles over the years ans 2 were mine. My rig is probably 2K heavier than your Sami will be too.

You are going to have a hard time finding a 78 3rd member even though that was the longest production year of FJ-40's.

Course spline pinions found in Late 60's to early 78 Land Cruisers are PLENTIFUL, CHEAP, and trully strong enough for your application. Just make sure you use a traction bar to keep the pinion pointed in the proper direction.

If you are dead set on fine spline 4.11's you will be better off finding one out of an FJ-62. You are gong to have to have shafts made anyway....

All said, any FJ-40 axle from 1968-1978 will net you fine spline axles and 4.11 gears, 55" wide. Open Diff (weld it up cheap) with C Clips and Drum brakes.

Now, to mess things up more....

First off, ALL aftermarket gearsets are fine spline pinion, 4.11 or otherwise.

Second, the center section of the 62 series, with it's 4.11 gearing and fine spline pinion (hell, your making a custom driveshaft anyways) will drop right into a FJ40 rear housing and the axle shaft/side gear splines are identical.

IIRC, pinion bearings on a 40 series are the same regardless of ratio.

I agree that fine spline pinions are only useful for those not running wrap bars....and with all the effort to put wider axles in the Sammi, you're gonna run a 3-link/elliptical rear suspension anyways, right? If that's the case, then buy a cheap 69-77 rear axle and save your $$ for other things.

They do come in black.... :D Factory US is gonna be open, tho there has been rumour of a factory LS. You want a locker or welded anyways. Full Floats in the US are next to non-existent...Canada is your closest shopping place, and they tend to be pretty protective about releasing those! ;-)

The main use of a rear FF would be to enable 4.88s or 5.29s and also the best Detroit Locker available for LC diffs, the Soflocker #225SL124A (30 spline "Australian" locker). On a Samurai I wouldn't bother with a FF unless using a 4.88s or higher or wanting this Soflocker.
I just picked up a FF from Specter for $557.50 - 15% off sale right now. It's going to hold 5.29s and a Soflocker, 36" Michelin 9.00R16 XZLs.
Charlie

Originally posted by USFSIHC
The 60s have a parking brake on them. I have set of FJ60 alxes from an 87 I would sell you just the rear or both whatever you prefer I have both 3.73 gears or 4.88 3rd members no drums but you can pick that up elsewhere. Email me if you are intrested.
i am and have emailed you!

I'm glad a few people have said weld it up. I was worried about that. I thought maybe an LC 3rd member was a little to rare to weld up, I'd hate to weld it up and never be able to find a new carrier in case I ever wanted to put in a locker. And not to disappoint, but I'm going to end up narrower with the LC rear than with my Sami rear, at least until I can get some different rims. And to make it worse, I'm gonna stick with leaf springs, but I might as well inboard them since this is a good opportunity. Again, thanks for all the help everyone.

This is the proper way to weld a Cruiser diff