Me an Tankota just spent a number of hours rebuilding an abused 1980 FJ40 disc brake front axle and man was it a pain in the @ss!! Wheelinjp took pity on us and donated a portion of his shop and the "cool green axle trolley" to keep us from freezing off our tukas and watching rain drops and rust defeat the restoration of one of the pinnacles of Toyodas FJ40 series front axles.
Lessons learned:
1. a hammer only qualifies as a BFH if it is over 3 lbs and has a shaft of 12 in. or less.
2. the more force and swear words you put into separating hubs and rotors, the quicker they will separate and join. (there is no trick, you just beat the living hell out of the offending parts)
3. Always make sure you place the inner wheel bearing into the hub BEFORE puting in the new seal......works better that way just trust me :D
4. Air tools are a must for loosening and tightening pinion nuts, you don't even need to stake pinion or wheel studs into an immobile positon.
5. a rusty cotter pin will break needle nose pliers.
6. a 4 in grinder is tits for removing old seal residue and poor mans screw driver tightening cuts on wheel nuts.
7. spend the bucks and replace the seals, sh!t, you got the damn thing open, don't be a smuck and half @ss the job thinkin you'll save a buck or too, or get it done faster......do it right the first time, or let someone else do it and you spend the bucks for their patience......and labor. .................I'm just sayin this because during this procedure you WILL come to a point where you get tired and just want to rush to finish it, don't cut corners.

We had a blast restoring the front axle but if truth be known I'm kinda glad I'm putting in a D44 / FJ axle in my Cruiser, it won't last as long between rebuild times, but you've got to appreciate the simplicity of king pin / ball joints. I know I do after completeing this rebuild for my Dad's soon to be new front end.
Thanks to Tankota for showin me the ropes and doin the time, and Wheelinjp for the use of his shop and plethora of tools.

-Rick

"hours" on a rebuild....out of vehicle?? CHERRY! :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by macgyver
"hours" on a rebuild....out of vehicle?? CHERRY! :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Hey this wasn't a pristine AZ rig axle rebuild bro, we had to get past 21 years of Canadian weather. If you wanna see "cherry" fly up here and take my rig for a spin....:D

:D :D :D

So when are you coming to get these axles again? My buy and sell ad comes out Sunday, MMMUUHHHHAAAA need more money-must sell friends parts-no one wants my parts must sell Toyota stuff.:D :D Just kidding and I am glad I could help Rick. I would have helped on the rebuild but three on one axle is overkill.

Yes, I will be looking for ya when we get into the Dana stuff for my new front end bro, what I know about Dana rebuilds couldn't fill a cherrio......

I've got a question on the axle rebuild job. I recently did this same service to my FZJ80 and found there is no provision for bottom shims on the steering knuckle - just top shims on this axle. I understand the FJ40 has shims both top and bottom on the steering knuckle - allowing for alignment of the axle within the axle seal.

I'm hoping you guys A) did the alignment and B) can explain how you perform this.

As best I can tell, the only way you could possibly align this is to set it up, then at the next axle seal replacement note whether the axle has worn the inner axle seal evenly or if it needs to have a shim added or removed. Is there another way to do this?

How do you FJ40 guys do this? The reason I'm asking is that my axle seal was worn slightly offcenter on one side and the next time I'd like to make my own shims and properly align it.

Thanks,

Shims serve 2 purposes in Cruiser axles, they "preload" the bearings and define how tight or loose the knuckle will turn, and as you mentioned, they align the shafts to the seals. Most folks just put the old shims back in they way they came out, which works because they really don't lose thickness unless rusted to flake. In your instance I would buy a shim kit that matches your bolt pattern and drop in a skinny or a fatty (depending on how much wear on the seal) replace the seal, check your preload and see how she spins. I don't know how you shim a FZJ80 axle though.

I got your preload hangin!!!!! No show tonight ahh? I was wondering when Lucy was going to flip.

Naa, the wife made Tacos so naturally I had to compliment with Corona's :D I was considering tomarrow morning to fit the brake lines and finishing the paint. Lucy is a lover at heart, somewhere behind those 5" fangs lies sunshine.......I'm just glad I can run fast :D
-Rick

Sixgun,

The 80 only has shims on top to adjust the preload on the steering knuckle bearings. Toyota doesn't make them for the bottom, so guess there was never an intent to provide axle alignment. Obviously, if you wheel one day you're going to wish you could, so that's my dilemma. That's what we 80 guys do also - just put the same shims back in. Guess you answered my question that even if I make the shims there is no way to align things before buttoning the axle up (I can't see how, since the birfield blocks the view when it's installed, and there's no way of checking the seal alignment after you've bolted everything up. Hmm. I was hoping someone would jump in and say "Yeah, there's a tool for it and here's the part number". So, I'll just have to see how the alignment I did looks in another 7 years when I do the axle seals again. Bummer.

Hey Doug, send Steve Tetu an E-mail at www.extremebends.com
he tried explaining to me how to align the axle using shims but I didn't have the tools. Steve might be able to help ya.
-Rick

Sixgun, post your sig pic so it is BIG. I'd like to get a better look at that rear flex:D

It's quicker if you email me at steven@extremebends.com
the cruiser@uniserve.com is being demoted

Originally posted by Tankota
Sixgun, post your sig pic so it is BIG. I'd like to get a better look at that rear flex:D

Flex aint too good in that pic, here is a better one, but the rear FJ60 flexes alot better, I have sipe's in my tires from the rear quater panels now :D

Originally posted by Tankota
Sixgun, post your sig pic so it is BIG. I'd like to get a better look at that rear flex:D

you call that flex???? i've seen a jetta flex more than that!!! :rainbow: :rainbow:

j/k rick....what does my beautiful god daughter need for x-mas? pm me...i did you.

Why don't you post the side view of the same pose?:D
You know...the one where your cruiser looks like a jacked up trans am from Kent:D

lost that pic........got one of the log pile though.....kinda looks like a low rider from south Taco :D

That pic above is of me and Wheelinjp deciding that baldy @ssed 33's just arn't cuttin it :D

Is that a bent backing plate on your e-brake drum:D

Wow I tell ya that is a fine lookin man guiding you through the log pile. The flex pic looks bad with those mud and snow tires you run. I remember the little rabbit pellets they left on my hood. Hey Dave you should hook him up with those 35s you want to get rid of. J/K Rick everyone has diff. purposes for there rigs yours sees too much assphault to warrant the big knobby noise makers, and your rig work great.

I have 2, I just need 2 more,,,,,,,and some rims of course :D