Birfs and axles

[TOY4X4HOPEFULL]

HI

Just a quick question. Would 83 4x4 pickup birfs and axels be the same as my 77 FJ40 or do I have stuff for sale?

Thanks

 

[Poser]

The Fing bifs will work in your 77, but the inner long side is not the same, and will need to be replaced with a long side inner from a 40, which can usually be found pretty cheap..the short side will work just as it is, as they are the same lenght as the 40, 55 and 60 series short sides. The only thing you may find is that the opening for the knuckle may need to be opened up just a bit with a grinder, as the mini truck Fing birfs are a bit larger in diameter, and they are .50" shorter where the lockout would engage the axle shaft...


Good luck!

-Steve

 

[Mace]

Actually I think both of the axle shafts are the wrong length for your application.
FJ60 long side is the same as a Mini long side, but the short side is is shorter than the 40, 55, 60 etc...

And if you do not switch to ASIN hubs or the shorter Warn's you are looking at using a Fender washer on the end of the birf to hold it in..

 

[Poser]

I have used short sides from all, in all... For what ever that is worth...

 

[TOY4X4HOPEFULL]

If I have to start modifing and getting new hubs etc it is not worth it. I will just sell them. However if they will work then I now have a spare set.

 

[nuclearlemon]

on the axles, the shorts on the 40-60 are the same, but mini truck is a couple inches shorter. long side mini truck is the same as 60 series, while 40-55 series is a couple inches shorter. this applies to front axle only.

 

[Mace]

[quote author=Poser link=board=1;threadid=14682;start=msg137906#msg137906 date=1081819888]
I have used short sides from all, in all... For what ever that is worth...
[/quote]

Cool, didn't know that they would work..

Thanks!!!

 

[beanz2]

Agree with Poser. The first time I did a DB swap I forgot to label which short inner axle was minitruck and which was FJ40, I couldn't tell them apart. So I just grabbed one and installed it.

Dave

 

[cruiserbrett]

Fj40/55 and mini-truck inner short sides are nearly two inches different in length. I have had them both laying on the floor, and they are not even close. that is not alot of spline engagement.

Long side inners are also different length.

 

[woody]

From the Cruiser Facts section, measurements I personally took:

--Front Inner Axle Shafts
FJ60/2 short side same as FJ40 short side ~ 17-1/4"
FJ60/2 long side same as minitruck long side (79-85) ~ 31-7/16"
Minitruck short side fine spline ~ 15-5/16"
FJ40/55 long side fine spline (68-83) ~ 29-1/8"

minitruck inners are useless with a FJ40....the birfields are good tho, assuming you have a current disc brake front axle.

 

[TOY4X4HOPEFULL]

Woody

Are the birfs exactly the same? Do they fit right in?

 

[Poser]

The birf is just a little bit larger on the mini than the ones in your 40, but you should not have a problem using them.

Good luck!

-Steve

 

[woody]

mini birfs in a 78-older FJ40/55 front housing = 15 seconds per side with an angle grinder to open the axle up a tad...

PLEASE do that at home....don't think yer gonna find an angle grinder to use on the trail...I heard a story on that, guy running a 76 housing with stock birfs, carried mini's for spares, busted in the middle of nowhere....and was screwed when the mini's didn't just slip right in.

 

[TOY4X4HOPEFULL]

Where do you need to grind? Do you have a pic of the area and how much to take off. Would it interfere with a gasket or seal? Would their be any issues or sloppiness going back to a Cruiser birf? Thanks Alot

 

[woody]

[quote author=TOY4X4HOPEFULL link=board=1;threadid=14682;start=msg138971#msg138971 date=1081957666]
Where do you need to grind? Do you have a pic of the area and how much to take off. Would it interfere with a gasket or seal? Would their be any issues or sloppiness going back to a Cruiser birf? Thanks Alot
[/quote]

purchase knuckle rebuild kit (may as well...)
remove entire knuckle
grab birf and try and fit in fishmouth opening (stock squeezes in, mini is too tight)
stuff rag in inner seal, grab angle grinder, spend 5-10 seconds on top/bottom of opening
re-test mini birf...when it squeezes in, yer done
reassemble with new kit


no sloppiness issues...once the opening is ground, easy to swap between birfs...no gasket or seal interference...

DOES require a different approach to lockout installation tho....with the 76-78 FJ birfs, you run a clip behind the outer face of the lockout...with the minitruck-sized birfs, you'll now run a small bolt and fender washer, since the mini birfs are 3/8" or so shorter. Again, no effect whatsoever on performance or anything else, just a part to remember...

 

[beanz2]

[quote author=woody link=board=1;threadid=14682;start=msg138661#msg138661 date=1081905657]
mini birfs in a 78-older FJ40/55 front housing = 15 seconds per side with an angle grinder to open the axle up a tad...

PLEASE do that at home....don't think yer gonna find an angle grinder to use on the trail...I heard a story on that, guy running a 76 housing with stock birfs, carried mini's for spares, busted in the middle of nowhere....and was screwed when the mini's didn't just slip right in.
[/quote]

Was that Morgan F. at Hollister?


Dave

 

[woody]

[quote author=beanz2 link=board=1;threadid=14682;start=msg138982#msg138982 date=1081958835]
Was that Morgan F. at Hollister?


Dave
[/quote]

hmmmm...I believe that's who related the story to me! lol

 

[Diesel Wannabe]

More detail on using Mini birfs directly in LC knuckles

I just joined this list (though not a newbie to FJs or lists). In
reviewing the past posts before asking a question here I saw this post
from you last April 14th. Here's my situation:

1976 FJ40, sprung over, ARBs, SM420, TBI, ... I am about
to get the front knuckles turned and while they are in
there, I thought I would grind out the knuckle openings
to allow mini birfs. I don't want to change any other
parts (brakes/steering) as they are all solid and disk anyway. I see
from your post that I need to add a bolt and a fender washer to hold
the birf from sliding too far out of the diff. Any more detail here?
Do I stack fender washers to get the 3/8" - or is a single washer and
the bolt head sufficient? Lock tite?

TIA

[quote author=TOY4X4HOPEFULL link=board=1;threadid=14682;start=msg138971#msg138971 date=1081957666]
Where do you need to grind? Do you have a pic of the area and how much to take off. Would it interfere with a gasket or seal? Would their be any issues or sloppiness going back to a Cruiser birf? Thanks Alot

purchase knuckle rebuild kit (may as well...)
remove entire knuckle
grab birf and try and fit in fishmouth opening (stock squeezes in, mini is too tight)
stuff rag in inner seal, grab angle grinder, spend 5-10 seconds on top/bottom of opening
re-test mini birf...when it squeezes in, yer done
reassemble with new kit


no sloppiness issues...once the opening is ground, easy to swap between birfs...no gasket or seal interference...

DOES require a different approach to lockout installation tho....with the 76-78 FJ birfs, you run a clip behind the outer face of the lockout...with the minitruck-sized birfs, you'll now run a small bolt and fender washer, since the mini birfs are 3/8" or so shorter. Again, no effect whatsoever on performance or anything else, just a part to remember...[/QUOTE]