Axle swap in 40. From stock to an94 80series rear (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter wickywick
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Fast Eddie did the same swap and he may have started a thread on it, not sure. I believe he did shorten the housing and may have had a custom axle made for it.
I swapped in the complete front and rear diffs from 80 series...
I put a 80 axle in the back. I think the 63" width is great. The brakes are incredible. For the Elocker I sold the electronic actuator for a pretty nice sum and installed a pneumatic actuator in place of it and it cost only like 100bucks to convert it. For the front I did a widened fj60 housing with a arb as I wanted the strength of the 9.5" diff and I didn't want to mess with figuring out the steering on a front 80 axle as I was strapped for cash. Suspension and axle mods add up fast when it comes to the wallet.
If you can swap in the 80 series suspension at the same time: Do it!
I swapped one into my LJ71 along with the suspension, had to move the springs & top arms inboard which you'd need to do on a 40 also, but otherwise followed the 80 series geometry as much as possible. Only downside is the handbrake really sucks, if your 40 has a driveshaft handbrake definitely keep that.
Cheers
Clint
I swapped one into my LJ71 along with the suspension, had to move the springs & top arms inboard which you'd need to do on a 40 also, but otherwise followed the 80 series geometry as much as possible. Only downside is the handbrake really sucks, if your 40 has a driveshaft handbrake definitely keep that.
Cheers
Clint
LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
I narrowed one for my fj55- If I had a wider front axle, I would have kept the extra width; the discs don't take to 15" rims so you'll want the OEM 16" wheels to go with your axle and they have more backspace than the 15"ers. you only grow a couple inches wider when using factory 16" rims. if you keep full width, you'll need to make your front match, which is not going to be easy. Maybe a 60 series front axle and some 1.75" spacers, or a 40 series axle with extensions on both sides and custom shafts...when I chopped my fzj80 rear down, I had to use a 250 dollar cut to length axle shaft...don't get the tubes too hot while cutting off the barackets and welding new ones on..
LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
I have good luck with the fzj80 ebrake- for me, it works way better than the drive shaft brake ever did...
What year is your axle? Drum in disc setup? There was an early drum brake variant, plus they changed in 93 to the bigger rear disc brakes which I have. The earlier, smaller drum in disc ones may have been a lot better - I don't remember the handbrake on my Mum's old 1991 80 series ever being a PITA.
Also a good point above wheel sizing - pre-1993 should fit a 15" rim but with a 1994 you will need 16" or over.
Cheers
Clint
LAMBCRUSHER
SILVER Star
MINE IS 94
I have a 95 rear axle in my 55 with a 80 series third in the 55 front housing. 70 series short side shaft for a little while, but I replaced with with a Longfield 30 spline. That's the easiest and best way to put a 80 third in an earlier front.
Last edited:
91-2 was drum. the 93-97 had the 16" rims. I don't recall any 15" rim rotors on the rear.
at least not in the US.
Wickywick,
I put front and rear end out of a 97 fzj80 with elockers under my 40. I love it. Wider stance and toyota elockers!! ! ! I call it a fzj40 (BTW search for that as well as there is a thread on that)
I moved my front end up approximately 9 inches ( I have a thread somewhere on here but currently working off the phone and there are others that have done the same. Search is your friend. There are quite a few threads, some incomplete and there is one from a guy from Canada that did one hell of a job setting it up and I believe it's in the hardcore section.)
Left the 2f in there. Put on military 37's and an orion transfer case. Point it and go!
I've had compliments regarding ability to climb trails we are winching guys up. I tell everyone it sure as hell isn't talent with elocker and an orion anyone could do it !
I used the coil springs in the front and kept leafs in the rear. Presently I like the set up. Kept the leafs in the rear to avoid torsion bars. I may eventually go all coils but not right yet.
Oh one thing to remember is your definitely going to need a traction bar on the rear end as your gonna develop some axle motion. There are tons of good threads on this.
Sorry for the long response but definitely go for it you won't regret it!
I put front and rear end out of a 97 fzj80 with elockers under my 40. I love it. Wider stance and toyota elockers!! ! ! I call it a fzj40 (BTW search for that as well as there is a thread on that)
I moved my front end up approximately 9 inches ( I have a thread somewhere on here but currently working off the phone and there are others that have done the same. Search is your friend. There are quite a few threads, some incomplete and there is one from a guy from Canada that did one hell of a job setting it up and I believe it's in the hardcore section.)
Left the 2f in there. Put on military 37's and an orion transfer case. Point it and go!
I've had compliments regarding ability to climb trails we are winching guys up. I tell everyone it sure as hell isn't talent with elocker and an orion anyone could do it !
I used the coil springs in the front and kept leafs in the rear. Presently I like the set up. Kept the leafs in the rear to avoid torsion bars. I may eventually go all coils but not right yet.
Oh one thing to remember is your definitely going to need a traction bar on the rear end as your gonna develop some axle motion. There are tons of good threads on this.
Sorry for the long response but definitely go for it you won't regret it!
Didn't catch he was just talking rear......I get my exercise by jumping to conclusions.
Any chance you can get the front as well?
Any chance you can get the front as well?
Can you expand on this? Would a couple of inches make any significant difference?
I am planning and 80 series rear and a 62 front. I haven't decided on narrowing the rear yet.
Narrow it, yes a couple inches will make a difference.
On most trucks the rear axle is narrower by a couple inches. This is done to allow the rear end to track evenly with the front end.
I had a horrible time getting the rear end to keep the line I wanted on my 40 with a Tacoma rear and FJ40 front.
On most trucks the rear axle is narrower by a couple inches. This is done to allow the rear end to track evenly with the front end.
I had a horrible time getting the rear end to keep the line I wanted on my 40 with a Tacoma rear and FJ40 front.
I'm 2" narrower up front and my tracks fine.
Mace,
Now that I think of it. I put my 80 axle in the back of my 40 first, and I drove it that way for a couple of months or so before doing the front. I never noticed anything peculiar.
I know that I was getting excited because I was going to have lockers in the front.
Now that I think of it. I put my 80 axle in the back of my 40 first, and I drove it that way for a couple of months or so before doing the front. I never noticed anything peculiar.
I know that I was getting excited because I was going to have lockers in the front.
Personally the way the fj40 body is, with my rear axle 2" wider, it looks really good. I have heard others mention to me that my setup will cause problems. But I am happy with how my setup looks and handles.
