Anxiously waiting to see your plan with Diamond Axles!
Builds 77 FJ40 Build, It begins...and may take a while
- Thread starter franklin40
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16 months???? Holy chit batman...empires have been built in less time. Here's hoping for a speedy delivery.
- Thread starter
- #143
no kidding. I was starting to loose steam on this whole thing but the thought of axles makes me wake up a little. I'll at least start to see something come together. I know I've already got too much invested in it to stop but this is quickly become at 10 year project at this rate. I really don't want that. the good thing is once I have the adapter plate all the really custom stuff is bought and everything else is either common stuff or bolt on stuff that I just need to order. I'll start making progress again soon I hope
- Thread starter
- #144
had a nice surprise today. an email saying my axles are waiting for clearance at customs. i didnt know they had been shipped yet but i should have them by the end of the week i assume. that means i can get going on things again. still waiting for my adapter kit but at least i can get the axles mocked up and on the frame!! man i can wait to get things going here again!!
- Thread starter
- #145
I also got a mini truck front axle. I want to use the large knuckle pattern knuckles and asin hubs. I'll pick it up from a friend this weekend.
- Thread starter
- #146
so as I'm waiting for my axles I'm going through my check list of items I need to start mocking them up to the frame. I've noticed my springs are supposed to be 2 3/4 inches but really are 2 7/8 inches wide. this makes 3 1/8 wide with bushings in. my hangers are supposed to be 3 inches wide with bushings but really are 2 7/8 over all. this actually makes for a 1/4 inch difference between spring and hanger width. i need shackles but am not not sure what to get! should I get a 3 inch wide shackle and squeeze the spring in and then just tighten it down to the hanger or do I need to get some custom hangers made and then shackles to go with them. I know shackles make an important part of steering and suspension as simple as they look but I don't know what tollerances I need to be within! any suggestions from the gurus out there? remember it's a daily driver so I need hings to be safe
Sounds like you need these: 4" Shackle 1/8" Offset
- Thread starter
- #148
those look like a good idea. i had seen those and wondered earlier if i would need them. looks like that might be the way to go. would you recommend welding in a cross bar in the middle to reinforce them like the H type shackle?
I didn't. However, they are also set up to run a bolt through instead of welding.
It depends on the shackle length, but I'd avoid cross bars if at all possible. The idea behind them is to keep your vehicle tracking straight down the road - the issue with them is it puts a tremendous strain on the bolts and you lose some flexibility off road. On a jacked up Camaro, it's not an issue - but on a 4x4, you wear the bolt because all of the twist is now on the bolt, and the spring can't twist. If it can't twist, it's like bending an edge in metal, it makes it stiffer. OTH, if you have long shackles, you don't really have a choice. I'd consider a set of Teraflex shackles... you could get different widths on either end and solve the problem along with getting better (read, more predictable) flex.
- Thread starter
- #151
I've had teraflex and didnt like them. i don't think i'd trust them up front anyway. i think i'll look into the ruff stuff ones
it's kind of a darned if you do darned if you don't kind of situation. I know this will result in flaming, but perhaps avoid the issue by doing a shackle flip?
- Thread starter
- #153
flipping the shackle will still lead to a width mismatch though. I won't gain anything that way...unless I'm not understanding what you mean
creepersleeper what springs are you running?
creepersleeper what springs are you running?
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shackle reversal... sorry, wasn't clear. it'd give you a shorter shackle and no need to worry about a cross brace.
I am running Toyota Mini Truck rear springs on the front. I originally had Teraflex revolver shackles, but steering in the rocks would cause the axle to shift laterally under the rig. I went to the RuffStuff shackles to remedy that.
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- #156
I just ordered the ruff stuff shackles. my axles also arrived today. I'll get pictures tomorrow
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- #157
these axles are awesome. the front has an extra seal right inside the pumpkin so its one more layer of protection from getting diff oil into the knuckles. the rear housing has diamond axles new brackets to put fj cruiser rear brakes on. this allows a dedicated ebrake which is a drum inside the rotor for the disc. very nicely made. i just need to get the brake set up now. beside the palate is another fj40 axle that i picked up from a friend today too. it has the mini truck knuckle swap already done so i'm going to canabelize it and the axle shafts and use them on the new axle housing. they tacked the knuckle balls on only for me so i can essentially do a "cut and turn" as i need them and then weld them in place. afterwards i'll weld the steering stops and gussets on. the tubing they use is super stout!! i'm quite excited about getting going again. hopefully by the time i have these set up the engine adapter will be ready and i'll keep going forward again.
I'm sure if i searched id find the answer elsewhere but are the vented rotors from a 77 front axle the same dimensions as the mini truck solid ones? as you can see i'll need new front rotors and i want vented ones.
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All you need now is a cool 40 Series LED dome light kit. 
- Thread starter
- #159
- Thread starter
- #160
All you need now is a cool 40 Series LED dome light kit.
believe me I need way more than just that.... but yes it's on the list
