My Cruiser currently has 78 axles under it, and I have 79 axles in the shop. I know the knuckles on the 79's and up are supposed to be stronger than the older ones.
My question is, is it worth it to swap the knuckles out? I have a double steering arm on the rig now, which would mean I would have to get another one, or go to hi-steer.
Is there a significant difference? I just want to check before I sell this other axle.

No real strength difference really. Slightly stronger attachement of the steering arms but that is all.

Main benefit is runing Hy steer. For that I would swap...

I love mine..

Speaking of Hysteer, has anyone had success with the Syy Manufacturing arms? they look nicely machined, but looks dont count.

I've gotta choose here soon and I want fj80 tierod ends so that does limit choices a bit.

-Brett

Go OTT.

Great product and their service is excellent..


here (http://www.ottindustries.com)

IMO, I'd run the stronger knuckles. They ARE slightly stronger, and the '79+ arms are stronger too. Additionally, if you were to run into a breakage with your current knuckles, you MUST source knuckles from a '76-'78 FJ40/45/55. If you bust a '79-newer knuckle, you can source from the entire solid-axle minitruck line, '79+ FJ40/45/55 trucks, and the 60/2 series trucks as well. Much larger base to choose from.

I just traded my spare '78 passenger side away this past week for some inner shafts. However, if I have breakage with mine, I'll drop the ones from my '84 minitruck on there and likely do the hi-steer at the same time.

AFAIK, there are no hi-steer options for the '76-'78 knuckles, tho I've heard some are in process.

[No emperical data to support the word "stronger" however....]

I would go OTT but the Sky Mfg arms are one piece,and almost $100 cheaper for the pair. Two pluses in my mind...

Here (http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/) is the link the their site, Click on the Toyota on the left side of the screen and then scroll down...

-Brett

Originally posted by cruiserbrett
I would go OTT but the Sky Mfg arms are one piece,and almost $100 cheaper for the pair. Two pluses in my mind...

Here (http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/) is the link the their site, Click on the Toyota on the left side of the screen and then scroll down...

-Brett

Talk to them, You never know what will happen. Prices will change.

All things considered I do not believe that the two piece arms make any difference in strength. The first thing to fail will be the mounting studs. It is the same as the AP cast/vs OTT billet argument. Both are plenty strong.

My only concern with the Sky arms is spring height. Be very careful that the spring will not hit the tie rod or draglink.

The OTT arms are a bit taller than most others I have seen. I even could not use the AP arms without big spacers (something that would be impossible with TRE's) It all depends on how you set up your SO.

Look at the height difference..

Sky's

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/images/suzuki/highsteerbillit_small.jpg

OTT's

http://www.ottindustries.com/armsnew.JPG

I think the Sky ones might be a bit of a tight fit...


OTT made my arms to my specs. the biggest plus in my book.


:)

My only concern with the Sky arms is spring height. Be very careful that the spring will not hit the tie rod or draglink.

Ahh, GREAT point. Had not realized how low they were in comparison...

How have your OTT arms held up? Are the tapers for the cone washers nicely machined?

thanks,
-Brett

Jason, definently swap the knuckles out and go with the hi steer, at least don't sell 'em......I have trashed 2 passenger side on my SO and Kristie trashed one on her rig, all because of the studs working loose and shearing them, hers now has the 60/mini knuckles and I'm still stuck with the 76-78 era smaller ones on my rig.
Butch

I know that hindsight is 20/20, but I check my steering studs each and every day of wheeling right along with my driveshafts and Ubolts.

THis quick "pre-flight" has saved me some serious headaches on the trail.

yea, but the rest of us don't have access to all those free drugs so we can rise & shine at 4 am.................:flipoff2:
Butch

Originally posted by texican
yea, but the rest of us don't have access to all those free drugs so we can rise & shine at 4 am.................:flipoff2:
Butch

Celebrex is my friend!!

Originally posted by cruiserbrett


Ahh, GREAT point. Had not realized how low they were in comparison...

How have your OTT arms held up? Are the tapers for the cone washers nicely machined?

thanks,
-Brett

They have held up admirably. When you hold one in your hands you will realize that they are made very well.

One of the things that I did not like about the AP arms that I got was that the tapers for the cone washers were very poorly cast.

Also make sure their not to high my draglink rubs my frame every sence I sleaved it that extra 1/4in was all the claerance I had now I need to move my bump stops down. I have 5 deg. of camber so my rods point up at a pretty good angle. I would like to go to a full High steer and get my tierod up but the all the arms I've seen would make it even worses mine needs an arm that sits about an 1 1/2in off the mounting surface especially ofter you put them bigger tierods and ends on.