Cool Cruisers TREs - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

ToyTech · 09-08-2001, 10:29 PM

Howdy folks.

I'm looking for opinions on the Cool Cruisers of Texas tie rod end "kits" of five that they have on sale for $69.00 Has anyone here used this kit for an FJ40?

Just looking for opinions as far as quality.

For those that have replaced their tie rod ends, did you also rebuild the end of the draglink at the pitman arm side? How about the centerlink kit, was that in need of a rebuild as well?

For some reason we didn't cover FJ40 chassis repair in Toyota School <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0">

Thanks!

Sloan · 09-08-2001, 10:35 PM

Why are you buying FJ 40 parts, did you buy one??? What's up? I'll be at the TLCA meeting for the SoCal chapter tomorrow afternoon to check them out if you're around.

DCruiser138 · 09-08-2001, 10:42 PM

ya i have those on my 721 fj40. i had only one minor complaine though. a few of them were too long and i had to hacksaw them shorter because the threads in my tie rod were not deep enough. that wasnt too big a deal and they have held up good. i did manage to tear the rubber boots on them because of my stupidity when istalling them (i kept taking them off to test for alighnment and tore em). i didnt rebuild the other links although i probly should have. ive heard you shoul;d when you can but i didnt. good luck!@

4Cruisers · 09-09-2001, 09:03 AM

When I tore down mjy steering linkages this week for the mini-truck conversion on my '71 FJ40 I found the guts of the Pitman arm end of the drag link to be in very good shape. I cleaned the parts real well and reassembled them, they're ready to fill with grease.

I had previously torn down the center arm bracket assembly from a '73 FJ55 to get it ready for the '71 FJ40. I cleaned it up real well also, and found that the rubber in the bottom seal and dust seal had turned to a gooey mess (long-tern effect of the grease on the rubber?). Just ordered a new set of seals from Toyota, combined cost (w/o discount) was only $7. When I pulled the assembly off my '71 last week, it had the same problem.

ToyTech · 09-09-2001, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sloan:
Why are you buying FJ 40 parts, did you buy one??? What's up? I'll be at the TLCA meeting for the SoCal chapter tomorrow afternoon to check them out if you're around.

Hey Ken,

Nope, I didn't get one (yet <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">) This is for a friend of mine. I'm trying to help him get his FJ40 into shape so he can go wheeling.

I can't make it to the meeting, got too many things going on. I've almost got my mini done though, so when I roll it out, you'll have to come by to check it out.

ToyTech · 09-09-2001, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DCruiser138:
ya i have those on my 721 fj40. i had only one minor complaine though. a few of them were too long and i had to hacksaw them shorter because the threads in my tie rod were not deep enough. that wasnt too big a deal and they have held up good. i did manage to tear the rubber boots on them because of my stupidity when istalling them (i kept taking them off to test for alighnment and tore em). i didnt rebuild the other links although i probly should have. ive heard you shoul;d when you can but i didnt. good luck!@

Thanks Dustin! I was hoping to hear that they have held up. I think I read that they were made by the OEM supplier, Joint Fuji, so that is encouraging. Was your tie rod modified for a min- truck disc brake swap, making it shorter for some reason?

ToyTech · 09-09-2001, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4Cruisers:
When I tore down mjy steering linkages this week for the mini-truck conversion on my '71 FJ40 I found the guts of the Pitman arm end of the drag link to be in very good shape. I cleaned the parts real well and reassembled them, they're ready to fill with grease.

I had previously torn down the center arm bracket assembly from a '73 FJ55 to get it ready for the '71 FJ40. I cleaned it up real well also, and found that the rubber in the bottom seal and dust seal had turned to a gooey mess (long-tern effect of the grease on the rubber?). Just ordered a new set of seals from Toyota, combined cost (w/o discount) was only $7. When I pulled the assembly off my '71 last week, it had the same problem.

Sounds good. Wasn't there an old-tyme trick of sticking two pennies, one on each end of the draglink, to take up any wear/additional clearance? I think I remember reading about that. Would I do it? Hell no! <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

wngrog · 09-09-2001, 01:12 PM

I have run them for years and they work great!

fj40bill · 09-09-2001, 05:45 PM

Hey Jim,

Got the mini-truck conversion done Friday night. Works pretty good with 33" x 12.50 BFG M/T's. Has the same feel as a factory FJ60 PS with similar tires. No leaks - just need to get it out and test on the trail....

I'll send you some pics of the finished install. Had to cut up the bracket and reweld to get the correct angle.

Thanks again for the parts.

09-08-2001, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
ToyTech Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Member # 852 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 872	Cool Cruisers TREs Howdy folks. I'm looking for opinions on the Cool Cruisers of Texas tie rod end "kits" of five that they have on sale for $69.00 Has anyone here used this kit for an FJ40? Just looking for opinions as far as quality. For those that have replaced their tie rod ends, did you also rebuild the end of the draglink at the pitman arm side? How about the centerlink kit, was that in need of a rebuild as well? For some reason we didn't cover FJ40 chassis repair in Toyota School <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> Thanks! __________________ Jim Brink Ann Arbor, MI

09-08-2001, 10:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sloan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 171 Location: Southern Kalifornie, home of the homeless Posts: 6,080	Why are you buying FJ 40 parts, did you buy one??? What's up? I'll be at the TLCA meeting for the SoCal chapter tomorrow afternoon to check them out if you're around. __________________ "Fawk no it isn't safe, we're at 18,000' on K2 in a blizzard!" Bill Pierson

09-08-2001, 10:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
DCruiser138 Rock God Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2619 Location: kings beach, CA Posts: 1,716	ya i have those on my 721 fj40. i had only one minor complaine though. a few of them were too long and i had to hacksaw them shorter because the threads in my tie rod were not deep enough. that wasnt too big a deal and they have held up good. i did manage to tear the rubber boots on them because of my stupidity when istalling them (i kept taking them off to test for alighnment and tore em). i didnt rebuild the other links although i probly should have. ive heard you shoul;d when you can but i didnt. good luck!@ __________________ Dustin Crawford --- OPEN DIFF DEUSH'

09-09-2001, 01:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
wngrog Moderating Midget Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1154 Location: Canton, MS Posts: 22,057 Blog Entries: 4	I have run them for years and they work great! __________________ Nolen Grogan 1997 FZJ-80 Land Cruiser, 37's 2010 RZR-4 www.cottonlandcruisers.com www.rockmidgetphotography.com USAF Veteran 1988-1998 GOD Bless America

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09-09-2001, 09:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
4Cruisers Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Member # 2157 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 587	When I tore down mjy steering linkages this week for the mini-truck conversion on my '71 FJ40 I found the guts of the Pitman arm end of the drag link to be in very good shape. I cleaned the parts real well and reassembled them, they're ready to fill with grease. I had previously torn down the center arm bracket assembly from a '73 FJ55 to get it ready for the '71 FJ40. I cleaned it up real well also, and found that the rubber in the bottom seal and dust seal had turned to a gooey mess (long-tern effect of the grease on the rubber?). Just ordered a new set of seals from Toyota, combined cost (w/o discount) was only $7. When I pulled the assembly off my '71 last week, it had the same problem.

09-09-2001, 05:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
fj40bill Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4811 Location: Singer Island, Florida Posts: 153	Hey Jim, Got the mini-truck conversion done Friday night. Works pretty good with 33" x 12.50 BFG M/T's. Has the same feel as a factory FJ60 PS with similar tires. No leaks - just need to get it out and test on the trail.... I'll send you some pics of the finished install. Had to cut up the bracket and reweld to get the correct angle. Thanks again for the parts.