BDS and rear axle

[85fj60]

Hello all,

I've run into an interesting problem. I took out my sad sagging rear springs and replaced them with new BDS springs. The new springs are considerably more arched, thus making them slightly shorter from "eye to eye", or from hole to hole than the old sagged springs, which makes sense. I put in the new springs and noticed that the center pin on the new springs sits more forward than the old center pin. I reckon this could be attributed to the added arch of the springs, which would suggest that with the springs compressed upward, the spring center pin would move back. makes sense.

Here's the problem: with the new springs in, I tried setting the rear axle down to center the perches on the spring center pins. When I attempted to do this, the axle wouldn't move far enough forward to settle down into the spring center pins, suggesting that the center pin was too far forward, the driveshaft actually would not allow the axle to be moved any farther forward. ???

I need a little help on this one.

Do I need to compress the springs with a jack to allow the center pins to move back and then set the axle down? Or do I need to have my driveshaft shortened? Has anyone experienced this problem?? Seems a few have installed BDS on fj60s.

Thanks for all your help

 

[cruiser_guy]

First and obvious question, are they the right way around? I think I made a similar mistake and that there are different lengths from the front of the spring to the pin and from the rear of the spring to the pin. The BDS instructions aren't the best out there.
What I ended up doing, after verifying that I had them in the correct way, was use a "come-along" to pull the rear axle forward to allow it to sit on the pin while I tightened up the "U" bolts. I did one side of one axle at a time while the whole truck was up on jack stands. That way I had an untouched side I could check with.
Be careful when you put the truck down as the springs might want to invert themselves. You might need a crowbar to help them along when you set the truck down the first time (if you're not using anti-inversion shackles).

 

[fsusteve]

Pull the zerk fitting out of the driveshaft. This will allow enough grease to squeeze out to make the fit.

 

[85fj60]

I'm pretty sure the springs are the right way, that was my initial fear, but I installed them the same way the stock springs were installed, with the curled spring on the spring pin side. pulling the zerk screw on the driveshaft is a good idea, I didn't think about that one, I'll give that a try, makes sense that grease would get compressed in there and not allow any movement forward. I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You just need to move the axle forward a bit and it will drop right in. I used a ratchet strap to pull each side of the axle to the proper location. It's difficult to just manhandle though, unless you have some very big friends. Congrats on a big dirty job. When I did my 60 I put the rear springs on the wrong sides and had major cruiser lean. So I had to take it all back apart and swap the springs. Major PITA.

 

[85fj60]

That's the issue, I can't move the axle forward to drop it in, the driveshaft won't move far enough forward. I'll try removing the zerk fitting first, if that doesn't work, I'll sell the cruiser for a good price

 

[85fj60]

Ok, to put this to bed, I called BDS and this how the conversation went:

Bds "Hi, this is Glenn, what can i do for you?"

me " I'm installing a BDS lift on my fj60 and I've come accross an interesting phenom. when I tried to set the axle down on the spring center pin, it's like the..."

BDS "driveshaft is too short?"

me "why, yes"

BDS "I've done several 60's and all you have to do is unscrew the zerk fitting on the driveshaft to push out the goo. Toyota packed those things really tight with grease and they wont move unless you open them up. be prepared, you'll get a handful."

So, there you go. I'm doing this right after work, I'll let you all know whether or not it works.

 

[fsusteve]

Damn, I was gonna buy the 60 cheap

 

[85fj60]

I didn't say it was going to be cheap , I said I'd sell it for a good price! I've got a lotta work in that thing, more than my wife would readily admit! I don't think I could sell that beast anyway. I've had it for far too long, my dad picked it up in '87 with 26,000 miles on it for $11,500, when I was 16. I told him that someday I would own that cruiser. he said "fat chance!" and laughed. we took it on all sorts of cool trips. Gave it to me in '93 with 116,000 miles, almost at 200k now. He always asks me how the cruiser is doing and is an excellent mechanical resource. I'm keeping a camera in my car so I can photo the 200,000 mark. Hopefully I won't be sailing down the freeway at the time.

 

[fsusteve]

Did you get it done?

 

[85fj60]

I did get it done, I think I put in a new post on the results. Pulled the zerk and was able to push the axle forward to set in onto the center pins. Got roughly a handful of grease, jumped up and down on the back bumper to flex the suspension and push out any extra grease. Good as gold. I just put in the new brake lines last night and will be bleeding the system and putting in the new rear shocks tonite. And then it will be done. I've been driving my wife's S2000, and frankly, I miss the 60, I can't wait till it's done! the extra 3 or so inches of lift really makes a big difference as far as looks go, definite better than the sagging back end. I'm really curious to see how it rides, I'll keep you all posted, and will get some pics up soon.

 

[lowtideride]

sounds like ya just gave your 60 a ass inplant

congrats....