I have a line on a set of Land Cruiser axles for my 87. What would be entailed in the swap other than moving the perches, hybrid driveshaft, and rerouting brake lines. Does anybody know what the strength difference in these are over stock?

Originally posted by tZUKnami:
<STRONG>I have a line on a set of Land Cruiser axles for my 87. What would be entailed in the swap other than moving the perches, hybrid driveshaft, and rerouting brake lines. Does anybody know what the strength difference in these are over stock?</STRONG>


Yuck...birfields..I hate birfields...They are much stronger than stock, but you get birfields and C-clips...you can't get much worse than that..If they have front discs they would prolly be worth the swap, front drums it would be iffy to me. I think they are about 4-6" wider than stock, but I am not sure...


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not the way to go I'm told <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> the only good thing would be the d/shaft lining up.think they are a lot heavier than say toy mini <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

go with the fj60's at least they're wide. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> or you could use toy mini's which would probably be easiest. randys r+p is supposed to have a birf eliminator kit by the end of december for $599. (so i've heard)
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[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: poppyseed ]

Originally posted by orangezuk:
<STRONG>
Yuck...birfields..I hate birfields...They are much stronger than stock, but you get birfields and C-clips...you can't get much worse than that..If they have front discs they would prolly be worth the swap, front drums it would be iffy to me. I think they are about 4-6" wider than stock, but I am not sure...


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How many Toyota Birfs you broke on your Zuk?

With all this talk about breakage I Have to know, who here has broken there Toyota shiat? Let's here it.

Originally posted by poppyseed:
<STRONG>go with the fj60's at least they're wide. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> or you could use toy mini's which would probably be easiest. randys r+p is supposed to have a birf eliminator kit by the end of december for $599. (so i've heard)
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[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: poppyseed ]</STRONG>
599.....you can get a set of waggy axles for that....you dont have birfs there....

Originally posted by fatkid:
<STRONG>How many Toyota Birfs you broke on your Zuk?</STRONG>

2 Dana 44 front axles...and counting...i steered away from toy axles b/c they were not wide enough and b/c they have birfields. Too many bad experiences with the birfields...a buddy with a minitruck front end in his zuk has broken 3 (i think) birfields - one was a newfield. if you want toy axles you can have them...i want a 60.


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i only have about 20 street miles on my setup. <IMG SRC="smilies/blush2.gif" border="0"> i'm happy to report no breakage yet with 38's. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by poppyseed:
<STRONG>i only have about 20 street miles on my setup. <IMG SRC="smilies/blush2.gif" border="0"> i'm happy to report no breakage yet with 38's. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

You mean that thing moves???
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it was smoking like a locamotive but it went. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> had it up to like 40mph. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by poppyseed:
<STRONG>it was smoking like a locamotive but it went. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> had it up to like 40mph. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

When you going to have that BIG block in?? Youll love it!!!

Originally posted by orangezuk:
<STRONG>2 Dana 44 front axles...and counting...i steered away from toy axles b/c they were not wide enough and b/c they have birfields. Too many bad experiences with the birfields...a buddy with a minitruck front end in his zuk has broken 3 (i think) birfields - one was a newfield. if you want toy axles you can have them...i want a 60.


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I have em, and they have done well, not to mention they've done well for Toyota's. And your right if you want width 44's can give you that. So did you break the u-joint or the shaft? Cause breaking a axle shaft is a different story, not to mention I think a 44 axle shaft is just about the same size as a Toy front shaft.
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Originally posted by fatkid:
<STRONG>I have em, and they have done well, not to mention they've done well for Toyota's. And your right if you want width 44's can give you that. So did you break the u-joint or the shaft? Cause breaking a axle shaft is a different story, not to mention I think a 44 axle shaft is just about the same size as a Toy front shaft.
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The first time I broke the ujoint, stub and the inner axle..it was gruesome...the second time I took out the Ujoint which killed the stub shaft.


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Originally posted by fatkid:
<STRONG>...not to mention I think a 44 axle shaft is just about the same size as a Toy front shaft.</STRONG>
<font color="yellow">Nope. Not just about. exactly the same size. You can slide a D44 shaft into a toyota carrier.

D44 & Minitruck front have same spine cound & diameter. Only difference is that the D44 has a steeper taper to the shaft... so a D44 fits into a Toy, but not *quite* vice versa.

That's all a birf. eliminator kit is... custom length D44 shafts and a yoke that will fit inside the Toy knuckle.

IMHO, a D44 is a better choice if you don't have any money in the Toy stuff already. But I already have a locked carrier and a bunch of shitzu ready when I take the torch to the IFS. The only reason to go with Toy stuff is if you find a complete donor truck for the drivetrain and already have the axles, or if you get the hook up on a set of 'em.

A D44 and an 8" are theorectically the same strength - [b]IF[b] you ignore the U-joint vs. Birfield part. Only other strength differences are that the D44 housing might be stronger, and the Dana ring gear is 0.5" bigger.

That said, it's cool to be able to blow a gearset out on the trail and have the spare one in and ready to go in 2 hours. Of course... R&P rarely break compared to Birf's.</font>

Originally posted by Yota-San:
The only reason to go with Toy stuff is if you find a complete donor truck for the drivetrain and already have the axles, or if you get the hook up on a set of 'em.
.</font>[/QB]


You think so, sounds like you went to the dark side.
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I do have a hook up on a set of them. By the way, what is the difference in clearence between the FJ axles and the D44's?

i think it's a 9.25" ring gear on the cruiser axle. so it's not much bigger than the 44.

How much clearance will I lose from stock axle to FJ40 axle?

I just measured, it hangs 1 1/4" lower. If you go with larger tires you can get your clearance back. Its a reasonable trade-off for the stronger axle. Also, each one weighs about 100lbs more, thats not too bad. We are building my buddies sami up over the winter and I am putting Cruiser axles in mine so I may be gaining 200lbs in axles but his fat a$$ wont be riding with me anymore and he weighs 250lbs. The way I see it, I'm gonna be 50lbs lighter!:D

i run 38s on a fj62 with stock axles and 5.29s a welded rear and a lockrite front. i have not popped a birfield yet. and my rig weighs about 6k when we hit the trail. i don't think i will have a problem with the birfs on a light weight zuk. i would not go with a drum brake land cruiser set up. i have a set of axles out of a fj62 that i am putting in my zuk. the land cruiser rear is way stoughter than a mini rear end and has the right off set for the zuk t case. the rear axle is rated for a 1 ton. there are a lot of people that have never pulled a land cruiser axle apart. they are stought. the best bet is a set of fj 62 axles they have the most bracing on the housing. you can get gears down to 5.29s for 195.00 a set. the early axles have 10 spline shafts and are not very desirerable. the 76 up fj40s have disk brakes and fine spline pinions and axles. the fj 40s have 4.10 gears the fj60s have 3.73 and the fj 62 have 4.10s. if you can get a set cheap jump on them. my rig gets wheeled pretty hard, just not stupid and has held up great. so here is my 2 cents worth mike

think the fj60 axles are too wide? I was going to narrow mine to fj40 width. Cops are picky about that stuff around here.

Originally posted by samiguy
think the fj60 axles are too wide? I was going to narrow mine to fj40 width. Cops are picky about that stuff around here.

Dear god what did you just say? Too wide.:confused:

fj 40's are still wider then stock. I will get pulled over if my tires are sticking out 6" past the flares:mad: You dont think they will stick out too far? It would be nice if I could run them full width!! Dont suppose anyone has a pic?

if i remember right i think oil burner is running one in the rear with a mini toy front. mike