ABS rings & Birfields, Newfields, Longfields... etc.

[Grench]

I'm putting together my parts list for the axle rebuild. I went through the history and I think I have a grasp on what is involved. The only real PITA seems to be getting the preload right. The rest seems to be more time than art.

I did the searches, but most of the information I've found seems to be dated, in some cases 2+ years. You can skip the replies telling me to search. Been there done that. I'm after current information including street prices.

I noticed on Ebay that there is a store "CAR PARTS WHSE" that is selling FZJ80 birfields for $150 each. Has anyone bought from them? The same guy is selling chromoly 40 sets. Half the price of Longfields... Something about too good to be true probably is. What are the experiences out there? I'm 90% sure I want to upgrade the birfields. I wasn't able to find a reference to this dealer anywhere in the ih8mud forrums, so I'm a bit cautious. Especially after finding several posts about Ebay vendors of birfields vanishing. There were several claims of $50 birfields as well. I think I missed that dream. So, what about the guys that are out there selling them for $150 a throw?

Front Axles... If I upgrade the birfields, should I do axels too while I'm there? Should I just get the Longfield Chromoly 80 kit and be done with it?

I'm in a delima on wheel bearings. I will be replacing them, but with aftermarket or OEM? Man-a-fre offers a nifty kit for under $50 a side. Has anyone used these? Good stories? Bad? Are they OEM spec?

Well, so far no luck with getting a set of ABS rings anywhere. Does anyone have a line on these? There was a guy that told me a month ago he'd sell me his ABS rings for $50 each, but so far no show. His PM is clogged and I don't want to call him out by name here.

The offer still stands. I'll give anyone $50 per clean/straight/unmangled ring until I have 2 of them. It means I'll be able to have them pre-pressed onto the new birfields and ready to go when I do the axel. Otherwise the axel is going to be spread over 2 weekends. Thats worth it to me, but I can't seem to get them.

Rotors. I'm replacing the rotors while I'm there. I'm leaning towards the regular unslotted undrilled rotors from Man-A-Fre or even possibly getting a set from Oreiley. The plan is to use these with 100 series pads. Am I missing anything?

Seals? The Man-a-fre kit comes with the paper seal for the axle end, but not the wiper seals or any of the knuckle bearings, etc... It is advertised as a bearing kit not a rebuild kit, so I'm not too surprised. Does anyone have a line on what the rest of the needed parts are? Should I just skip trying to do anything else aftermarket and ask Dan to get me everything else I'll need to do an axle rebuild using Longfield birfields & axles?

I'd like to do the whole axel rebuild with the chromoly birf/axle replacements for under $1300 in parts. Am I being realistic on my budget?

Thank you all for your advice & experience!

(Edited for spelling errors noted.)

 

[Beowulf]

Should I just skip trying to do anything else aftermarket and ask Dan to get me everything else I'll need to do an axel rebuild using Longfield birfields & axels?

That would be my vote unless it's a dedicated trail rig with big tyres. The factory birfields hold up very well when properly maintained up to tyre sizes of 35" or so. When you move to 37's and more trail than street you might get better service from specialty birfields and axles. There was a recent pointer to a thread in the archives that documents all the part numbers (w/prices at the time) plus drawings that show every component you will need.

-B-

 

[-Spike-]

Man a Fre offers a complete axle rebuild kit including bearings. http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessories/knucklebearing.htm SBKL5/WBK is the seal kit with wheel bearings (WBK)
I believe their bearing kit is under $50 for BOTH sides, not each. http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessories/wheelbearings.htm

-Spike

 

[Hayes]

Not sure what the "paper seal for the axel end" is, but you will need at least the inner & outer hub seals and the inner axle seal. Really, for the overhaul you're doing, maybe you should replace all the wipers and gaskets and stuff, as well as the knuckle bearings.
I know you said you searched, but if you go at it again there's a list out there somewhere of all the crap (with part numbers) you'll need for the deeelux front end service, posted by Beowulf.

Have you also excised your Evil Little Flapper?

Hayes

Oh yeah.
"Axel" = Lead singer from Guns 'n' Roses
"Axle" = What you're working on.

 

[Beowulf]

I believe their bearing kit is under $50 for BOTH sides, not each.

"One kit does one hub"

$40/kit plus the rape job you will get with their exhorbitant shipping charges which you won't find out about until after you get the bill.

-B-

 

[Hayes]

That's the guy.

 

[-Spike-]

My bad, you are correct. Buy the knuckle rebuild kit w/ bearings, that has everything for the front axle, less third member.

-Spike

 

[psfpilot]

After doing my first rebuild with a hodge-podge of parts from CDan, a local dealership, and a discount auto parts house, I think I will order all the parts from CDan on the next one. Dan can help ensure that you order everything you need in one order, the first time. I think he has an ad hoc kit that he has come up with that includes all the parts necessary for the knuckle rebuild/repack.

The wheel bearings can often be reused if you are feeling frugal. The trunnion (aka kingpin) bearings were the only bearings I replaced. An extra inner axle seal is helpful in case you damage one during the installation.

I found it helpful to freeze the trunnion bearing races before installing them. That and a rubber mallet made that task slightly easier.

Have you considered swapping the birfields from one side to the other? Some folks have reported this made their click disappear.

- BeoWulf's parts list here.

 

[Tools R Us]

Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters sells a nice axle service kit with trunnion brarings for $111.

http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/lockers.html

 

[Grench]

That would be my vote unless it's a dedicated trail rig with big tyres. The factory birfields hold up very well when properly maintained up to tyre sizes of 35" or so. When you move to 37's and more trail than street you might get better service from specialty birfields and axles. There was a recent pointer to a thread in the archives that documents all the part numbers (w/prices at the time) plus drawings that show every component you will need.

-B-

Found it. It took some searching. You authored too many posts. Here's one to you for doing the list.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=1982&highlight=axle+list+bearing+seal

 

[Tapage]

here also other options ..

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/axles.htm

 

[Grench]

Some decisions made... A few remaining questions.

I'm going to order the Longfield birfields today. Should I do axle shafts as well while I'm there?

I have a '96 FZJ80 US spec. Do I need to get new drive flanges for the Longfields to fit?

I'm ordering all new bearings, seals, bits n pieces from Cruiser Dan.

Which fluids/grease are -right- for the dif & bearings?

I'm debating on doing all 4 rotors as well. I don't think I want slotted or drilled and am considering using off the shelf auto parts stores rotors and 100 series pads. Am I flawed in doing this?

Is there anything I'm overlooking?

I bought my wife a patio set, so I'm good for a little budget slack.

 

[Beowulf]

I don't think I want slotted or drilled and am considering using off the shelf auto parts stores rotors and 100 series pads. Am I flawed in doing this?

The Toyota rotors work very well.

-B-

 

[Tapage]

Which fluids/grease are -right- for the dif & bearings?

I Love ( ok ok ok I'm a believer ) Castrol for my axles, and marine for bearings, if is posible .. coz I use much my rig in mud and water.

 

[psfpilot]

...I have a '96 FZJ80 US spec. Do I need to get new drive flanges for the Longfields to fit?...

Longfields fit the post mid-94 flanges with the longer splines. If yours are not worn, you should be able to reuse them.

 

[kennyv0826]

Be weary of the EBay birfs. I haven't used them but my older brother broke one (EBay birf) on his first outing and he only has 33"s and wasen't doing anything hardcore when it broke. He said he believes the factory birfs are much stronger.

My younger brother is running 38.5" TSL SX's on his 4Runner with a 80 front axle and stock birfs. He does quite hardcore crawling and hasent had a problem yet. His rig is lighter than an 80 but the stock birfs seem to be holding thier own for the time being. I am going to test the strength of my stock birfs when I put 37's on my 80.

 

[Grench]

Parts & more parts...

Good thing I bought my wife a set of deck chairs...

In the last two weeks I've ordered...

• A bottle opener from Cruiser Crap.
• Holders, 300 amp fuses for my batteries and my next electrical project (rear circuit) from Defender Marine.
• Aux 24 gallon gas tank kit from Man-A-Fre.
• 28 lug nuts from toyotapartsdealer.com (Dan was on vacation last week and its for this week's project)
• Chromoly axles & birfields from Longfields.
• ABS rings from another person in the forrums here.
• Axle service kits (front & back) & a field repair kit & bearings (all 4 corners) and front rotors and 100 series pads and misc bits from Cruiser Dan.

Good thing I got her that red '96 too...

Thank you all for your help in figuring out what I needed to get this done! Now to find time to install all the parts. A special thanks to Dan for getting my order in so I can get the parts next week!