8series steel vs. aluminum rims strength?

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Blade

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After searching for a long time in Panama I couldn't find any steel 8series rim, same here in Colombia. Nobody has steel, but now I saw already a few times OEM Toyota aluminum 8series rim (5 spoke). Can anyone tell me how strong this rim is compared to the stock steel?
I got about 2.2tons on the rear axle and already broke two M/T rims (that were supposed to hold 6200lbs per axle, but didn't!) and now two Nissan Patrol Steel rims, TOTALLY cracked everywhere, very scary!
So I am in urgent need of new rims... anyone can tell me if I should grab those stock OEM aluminum Toyota rims? Are they cast or forged?

Thank you!

Michel
 
Try MRW steel wheels. They can custom build one for you.
 
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HZJ75 with travel gear for 3-4 years traveling... I would say 90% of the 7series you see traveleing like that are carrying that weight... some 2.5tons! I have a total of 3.6-3.8tons (depending on fuel level and water level), most I meet have more like 3.8-4tons on those cars...
So I need a really strong rim, so far the Nissan Patrol rims cracked (so much about steel wheels not cracking...) and so did the M/T Classic 2 rims (probably fabricatino flaw, although they never really got back to me WHY the rims cracked...they were specified at 3100lbs each!).
 
and, anyone has experience with those 80series aluminum rims on a heavy car? I think I should be able to get them here in Colombia...
 
MIchael.

Not much help but to offer the OEM 80 series alloy is a single piece forged unit. I have no idea if it will stand up to the weight. What are the other travelers you run across running or are you hearing similar issues.

So you know there are two different 16 alloys. The early style run the acorn style lug nuts and the latter run a shank style. Not sure if it would matter for having similar spares in your travels.
 
Michel,

You are not going to find an OEM Toyota rim built for that sort of punishment.
The 80 came with Aluminum rims designed by Toyota for ~1.2 tons(including vehicle weight) give or take a little depending on FJ or FZJ model.
Land Cruiser(and most Toyota vehicles) do not have forged wheels. They are all Low Pressure castings.
Even if you found steel wheels for the 80, they would be designed to the same limit.

I'm surprised your axle housing is still in 1 piece.

If you want high strength wheels, you might look into trying to find some off a 70 Series flat bed.
Or look for something a little more custom. Check around the google-web for aftermarket wheels from AUS. They use Toyota as utility vehicles and have some serious loads in them. Or maybe consider a dually conversion of some sort. You can also get a 6x6 conversion from AUS.

All wheels crack if they are loaded past their design spec. OE Wheels for LC are designed to be run at Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR). This is printed on the label along with your VIN on the Driver door.

If anyone knows a P/N for a 70 series flatbed or troopie wheel, I can get an educated guess if they'll work or not. I'd stick with a steel wheel just because they are cheaper to replace.

jfz80 is correct about the hub nut type. Around '93 or '95 Toyota made a switch from Lug-centric to Hub-centric Alloy wheel designs. Make sure you have the correct hub-nuts for whichever wheel you choose.
 
Golgo,
IIRC, like Jason just mentioned, the OEM FZJ80 AL rims are forged. They may be only 1.2 tons capacity, but my impression was they are pretty darn strong.

On the other hand, this whole Fe vs AL issue is exactly why I went with the steel rims. But not sure even they are rated for a vehicle topping out at close to 5 tons.

Maybe Michel's unfortunate truck needs dualies?:hillbilly:
 
greentruck,
I can guarantee the wheels are not forged. All Toyota wheels with very few exceptions are cast. I'm a chassis engineer at toyota.
1 exception is the Lexus LFA supercar. For any other vehicle the cost/benefit ratio favors castings.
There is no problem with a cast wheel, as long as it is designed properly.
Any wheel, whether it is steel, aluminum, forged, or cast, if it is damaged, should be replaced and not repaired. Repair shops are only equipped to make something LOOK new. They can't repair the internal damage in the material.
 
thanx for the inputs... are you guys talking about 1.2tons PER wheel?

As said, 90% of the 7series that travel like we do are at 3.7-4tons or even more, no matter if pickup (like ours) or regular cab. All I know have the stock 16" steel 7series wheel. This wheel is 8mm thick, VERY strong and I NEVER heard of a failure! My Nissan Patrol rim is 5mm thick, I guess it's not made for this weight.
My Toyota got a max. weight loading (from Toyota!) of 3'450kg, that means 3.5tons. I got 100-300kg overload, depending on the tanks. I try to be on the lighter side when doing bad roads.

The 8series steel wheels I can't find anywhere here, but as said, I saw the 8series aluminum wheels a few times and was asking myself if they would also be as strong as the steel wheels. The 8series OEM steel wheels are supposed to be very strong and also 8mm thick! But I can't get them here...

The stock 7series wheels here are made in Venezuela/Colombia, 16x7" I think, I heard they are pretty bad quality, so I don't wanna use them...

At home I had 16x8 Mangels, although didn't travel with them with that load. I exchanged them for the M/T rims that where SUPPOSED to hold 3100lbs per wheel but didn't... (so M/T did lie about the max. weight or I just had bad luck to break 2 of them...)
 
Blade said:
SNIP...
The 8series steel wheels I can't find anywhere here, but as said, I saw the 8series aluminum wheels a few times and was asking myself if they would also be as strong as the steel wheels. The 8series OEM steel wheels are supposed to be very strong and also 8mm thick! But I can't get them here...SNIP
Click to expand...

I would have thought there'd be some plain old take-off steel wheels floating around a place like Panama. I wouldn't think all the Land Cruisers there would come in with the fancy bling on rims like here in the US. But maybe they're good enough and fit other LCs so they really are that scarce.

Course, I haven't been to Panama since 1960, so what do I know?:p I think that may have been the pre-LandCruiser era in Panama then. Things are kind hazy when you're a kid anyway.:meh:

Have you tried an ad in the local papers, especially any auto enthusiast or car trader publications?
 
I am in Colombia now... in Panama I spend about 2 days searching on junkyards but found nothing good... here in Colombia 98% of the 70 and 80series got aluminum wheels (Aftermarket!) and a very few the 80series japanese Toyota 5 spoke aluminum rim. I was told that people trash the steel rims and get fancy alloy wheels. That's why I asked if this Toyota 80series wheel would be strong enough for my about 1200kg per wheel requirement on the rear. It's the only rim I think I might find somewhere...

ALL the 70series here were built in Venezuela or Colombia and are 4.5 gas engines, NO Diesel here! Bad place to get Diesel engine problems! I asked for parts for a 1HZ and 1HD-T engine, they can get NO parts at all!
I also read that the Toyota OEM steel rims from the 70series are of low quality, that's why I wanna stick with Japanese stuff!
 
The 80 alloys are indeed forged,, easy to assume otherwise considering the cost. I'm wondering if the aftermarket wheels he is putting on are not properly hub centric, meaning a slip fit on the hubs. If not, he is using only the lug face contact area. I'd get factory steeliness or factory 80 alloys.
 
it's only centering with the conical nuts on my wheels... I will go tomorrow to a big city (Barranquilla) and look out for those alloy wheels! Wish me luck!
 
Are you talking tons in pounds or kilograms?

I would assume CDan would be happy to drop ship new wheels to you with a simple phone call and a wad of cash. Alloy or steel.

I have bent an OEM 80 series alloy but never cracked one. My truck is 7000lbs generally with passengers and simple trail gear. (no overnight stuff)
 
I did not work for Toyota in the late 80's, but I do have access to the part drawings. I also have access to the design manuals.
Since I checked the drawings today, I can guarantee there are no forged wheels OE for 80 Series Land Cruiser. Not an assumption, but a definite fact.
Also, since the hub design didn't change in respect to wheel fitting, either hub-centric or lug-centric are OK as long as the proper nuts are used.

That being said, the stock 16x8 is designed right on the edge of what Michel is trying to do with a 2.2ton rear axle weight. Unless he isn't including the vehicle weight, then he is over capacity by quite a bit.
 
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