1969 FJ40 Mechanical Refresh (1 Viewer)

[1uzevrythng]

Long time reader/researcher, fairly new member here. I am cleaning up a friends 1969 FJ40 that has been in his family for 30+ years. I figured I would post up some progress pics and get some constructive criticism and knowledge from everyone.

The plans are to eliminate leaks, reseal the front axle and add front disc (fj60/62), refresh the suspension, and hopefully install electric power steering.

 

[1uzevrythng]

If everyone else is like me, then everyone likes pictures.
Front axle disassembly in case no one has done an early 40

start by removing the INNER 3 Philips head screws on the locking hub. Its so messy you cant even see the outer screw head. You can remove the outers first if you want, but that just disassembles the hub locking mechanism for rebuilding (and I'm not rebuilding these).

Next remove the snap ring and the 6 bolts holding the locking hub in place.

 

[1uzevrythng]

You will see the double nut with locking ring in-between. Pry up the locking tab then remove the nut, locking ring then the second nut.

You can then use a pick or whatever tool you want to remove the heavy washer and outer bearing.

you can then slide the whole hub/outer drum assembly off giving you this view.

I then removed both springs and both drum shoes, clipped and removed the safety wire and remaining 8 bolts.

 

[1uzevrythng]

I used a rubber mallet and hammered as shown to remove the spindle sleeve and then gently removed the axle.

Here are the leftovers.

I assume someone had done some repairs at some point in the vehicles life, because it has one birfield on the passenger side, and a ball joint on the driver side. This sucked because I had to source a birfield inner long axle. Has anyone experienced anything similar finding the two different types of axles in use?

 

[knuckle47]

Always enjoy the process… great photos. I will be getting to this after a few previously scheduled changes. Keep the photos coming, I will need them

 

[pb4ugo]

Does the axle housing have an inner seal or a bushing?

 

[Firemedic831]

Those are some fancy coilovers .

 

[DeskJock]

Those are some fancy coilovers .

Interesting. Missed that.

 

[65swb45]

Looks like the main steering rod is bent.

 

[Mark Jennings]

I used a rubber mallet and hammered as shown to remove the spindle sleeve and then gently removed the axle.
View attachment 3598177
View attachment 3598176
Here are the leftovers.

I assume someone had done some repairs at some point in the vehicles life, because it has one birfield on the passenger side, and a ball joint on the driver side. This sucked because I had to source a birfield inner long axle. Has anyone experienced anything similar finding the two different types of axles in use?
View attachment 3598178

I have a complete set of ball/spoon axles if you need them, short and long and both fine spline inner, coarse spline outer. If it’s a 69, should have briefs on both axles.

 

[1uzevrythng]

It does have an inner seal, I have more pictures incoming.

I do believe the main steering shaft is bent, but with the 60/62 knuckles I will need 60/62 tie rod ends and Im not sure yet but also the main steering rod as well. updates to come.

YES when I first saw the coil overs, I about died.

 

[Firemedic831]

It does have an inner seal, I have more pictures incoming.

I do believe the main steering shaft is bent, but with the 60/62 knuckles I will need 60/62 tie rod ends and Im not sure yet but also the main steering rod as well. updates to come.

YES when I first saw the coil overs, I about died.

The later model Knuckles are all the same 40 -60 - Mini truck . The early ones look the same just have a smaller bolt pattern for the steering arms .

 

[pb4ugo]

I could be wrong, but I think the later large pattern fj40 knuckles will have the smaller taper for the 40 tre's.

 

[Firemedic831]

I could be wrong, but I think the later large pattern fj40 knuckles will have the smaller taper for the 40 tre's.

You are talking about the steering arms ?

 

[pb4ugo]

You are talking about the steering arms ?

Yep

 

[pb4ugo]

@Firemedic831, you are correct the knuckles are the same. The 40's steering arms have the smaller taper. I'll be doing a 60 knuckle swap in the near future, but I haven't done enuff research yet on the steering links and tre's. There are several options out there. I'm not going to do large pattern knuckles without upgrading to larger tre's and drag link.