Axle strength

[freds40]

I am new to cruisers and I am trying to figure out how strong my stock axles are so I know if it's worth putting the money into them. I have a '70 FJ-40 and I plan on running Longfield's with an ARB. My small block puts out just over 400 ft/lbs @2000 and I am running an sm-465 with the 3 speed case. Eventually I'll add a case or crawl box for lower gears. With say 2" wheel spacers or offset wheels, how big of a tire can I run before it starts to stress the king pins and bearings. I'd eventually like to run 38.5 SX's but not if I'm replacing bearings and races every month. Flame on if you'd like, but I searched and didn't see anything directly related to my question.

[rustyb]

I am no expert on the subject ,but from what I have been hearing, as long as you keep your foot light on the go pedal, you should have no problems running 35s. I know there are some running 38s and are doing fine also. I think it depends more on your driving style than anything.

[BJ On Roids]

yeah, i think that 38.5s wont be that much of a drama,

i could break birfs on 33s with a 4cylinder, but have only broken one front axle with the longs in, and it was with 38" boggers aired right down, and wedged tight in a hole!
and my brass button clutch didnt help!!

also, im now running 42s and despite having ran it only twice they've held up, but i want to step up, cause i know its gunna go

the thing is, depends on your style, some people have never broken a birf, and some people are breaking D60s and mog axles!

its a relative thing, by the sounds of your gearing, you wont be stressing too much with stock axles...jason mace on the board here has run 38s since ive been posting on here and hasnt reported many issues

ive had pinions, arbs, axles, and tailshafts, fail on me, among other things.......but i like to give it some!!

my opinion go easy, on 38s, your cruiser axles with longfields will be super reliable

[freds40]

Are there any upgrades I can doto my axle other than what I've listed. I have read that my shafts are already the fine spline but are there any other areas to look at?

[woody]

knuckle bearing/steering arm torque is critical. Check that prior to every ride and the Toyota axle with Longfields will hold up excellent. I've had no problems in 2 years other than axle breakage...and my new Longfields will help with that a ton.

[cruiseroutfit]

With a 70' FJ40 you will need to upgrade to a disc brake front end...then you can run the Longs... Your axle will actually be course spline at the hub but fine spline at the differential IMHO...

Find a complete hub-hub front end off of a 76+ cruiser and go from there. Be advised that 79+ FJ40 axles will have a higher gear ratio (3.73) in them and it won't be compatible to your stock 4.10's

Welcome to the cruiser world!

[LC Hamma]

Find a complete hub-hub front end off of a 76+ cruiser and go from there.

This is advice I would NOT give someone who's looking to upgrade since I've done it twice. Now I have small LC knuckle syndrome. I would go for the mini truck conversion! You get bigger birfields & knuckle arms, which have a wider pattern & larger knuckle arm stud size, IIRC. Plus they're plentiful in the yards compared to finding an LC disk frontend, which are scarce. Go to Woody's favorite site (where newbies check in) to see this conversion. I have not done the mini conversion due to the info wasn't availble at the time I did my swap. Good luck!

[woody]

I would revise that to say 79+ Cruiser or minitruck. 76-78 used the smaller knuckles, smaller diameter/longer shaft fine spline birfs, and are "next" to impossible to use with SOA if you want hi-steer.

I'm changing mine soon...got the AllPro arms bookmarked already...heh

[freds40]

Yeah I actually picked up a complete mini axle last weekend to do the disc swap and to be able to use the Longs. This is my daily so I have to keep it safe on the street too. I plan to switch to later cruiser rotors, etc. to get the vented a little down the road. I plan on using the Rock Buggy Supply cross over setup. Waiting for the weekend the wife is out of town in March to do the spring over and discs.

[woody]

smart man...

"absence makes the Cruiser grow stronger"

lol

[Spyder]

Ill be the oddball and say that if you want to stay sorta cheap and cruiser go FJ-62. The front axles have extra gusseting that the 40's didnt have, not sure if the truck axles did. 9 1/2" instead of 8" diffs, and newer 88'-90' than any truck front axles. Plus hy-steer is easier, disc brakes, and the added width. If you want to stay cruiser/toyota about the strongest you could go would be FJ-80 axles. These are rare and prized though, being as they have reverse rotation 8" fronts with big knuckles, the strongest birfs, discs, and 9 1/2" rears most prized with FF and both front and rear selectable electric lockers. These are what I want *cough* venezuela *cough*.


Mitch

[pontiota]

Spyder the 40 dose not have a 8" diff your thinking of the mini's and the people here are not talking about swaping with mini's whole axle their talking about just swaping the brakes and far as I thought all the Toy Birfields from 79 and up were the same. I also believe the that the 40's 55's and 60's share the same third.

But I could be wrong I've never actually swaped one into another.

[BJ On Roids]

Originally posted by woody
smart man...

"absence makes the Cruiser grow stronger"

lol

so does boredom, then a lot of late nights go into any cruiser, late nights, take away food, and beer

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by woody
I would revise that to say 79+ Cruiser or minitruck. 76-78 used the smaller knuckles, smaller diameter/longer shaft fine spline birfs, and are "next" to impossible to use with SOA if you want hi-steer...

Yeah, I should have said 79+ front axle complete but where as your swapping the mini-stuff you should be in good shape. You will gain far more options and parts availability if you run the later design...come to think of it that is exactly why I went with FJ60 axles...

[60seriesguy]

Spyder, you don't want Venezuela-spec 80 Series axles, seeing as those don't have rear disk brakes, don't come with locker option, and prior to 2002, were semi-floater only. I guess a front 80 series axle from Venezuela wouldn't be that bad, you do get Aisin hubs on it, but I'd still shoot for a US-spec 80 Series axles with the fatty e-lockers already on, FF rear with disk brakes.