77 FJ40 with front drum brakes?

[pepezen]

Hi Guys. I am the proud new owner of a 77 fj40 and it has drum brakes in the front. I wonder if a previous owner switched in an older axle to replace a damaged original? anyway, I want to put discs on it but am curious to what year it is actually from. Is there a way to ID from a serial #? Thanks


Mark P
Tucson, AZ
used to have scouts, now a FJ40

 

[amaurer]

Is it a US truck?

 

[Mark W]

A lot of non US rigs had drums in front.


Mark...

 

[Poser]

Hi Guys. I am the proud new owner of a 77 fj40 and it has drum brakes in the front. I wonder if a previous owner switched in an older axle to replace a damaged original? anyway, I want to put discs on it but am curious to what year it is actually from. Is there a way to ID from a serial #? Thanks


Mark P
Tucson, AZ
used to have scouts, now a FJ40

Welcome.


Please post up some more info on this vehicle and some pictures.




It is not outside the realm of reality that someone made a truck from multiple donor vehicles and then passed it on to some unsuspecting person.

Does your truck have a VIN tag on the drive side doorjamb?


Do the numbers on that match the frame?

Do either number on the frame or VIN tag match the title?

 

[Vicm]

If it is the non-US it will have the bigger wheel hubs.
If you remove the wheel.
You can measure the distance from the face of the drum to where the lockouts start (or drive plate) and post result.
I would like to see what those drums look like.
I will post a pic of one from a 78 German with drums if I can find it.

 

[pepezen]

Thanks for all the replies. The VIN on the frame matches the tag in the door frame and the title. It also has the non catalyst sticker that led me to believe it's a U.S. sold fj. I will measure the drums when I take of the wheels. I will post a pic as soon as I figure out how

Mark P
Tucson, AZ

 

[malcb]

I have a parts '77 FJ45 which has the wider drums front and rear. Will try to get a photo but I am having problems with the camera.

The drums have fins one them rather than being smooth.

 

[dgangle]

It really doesn't matter the year of your front axle as long as the front & gear ratios are the same and it's not so old as to be the ball and claw design.

Covert it to disks with 9/75 later FJ40 parts, FJ6x or 79-85 minitruck parts and be done with it.

 

[Vicm]

Here are few pics of a german sold , 78 with front drum brakes.
These are heavy buggers.

 

[malcb]

Here are few pics of a german sold , 78 with front drum brakes.
These are heavy buggers.

Those are like mine, heavy, just been dragging the axles around and loading them into a van. Shoes are quite wide supposed to work well, first time I ordered some for my '76 I got the wide ones .

 

[pepezen]

OK, Its been a while and I learned A LOT about this truck in the last year+.

The front axle was swapped in from another (early model) FJ likely due to a collision or other damage. I have since done a disk brake conversion using parts off an 86 fj60. I also did a PS conversion with the saginaw gear. Much better!

Thanks for the replies!