Can a semi floater be switched to a FF with a kit or salvage parts. Those rear ends give me a half stock. I know the FF housing is different. Has this been done?
Can a semi floater be converted to a FF axle?
- Thread starter platypusREX
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Yes. Warn had a kit back in the day. I have heard it sucked.
Ruff stuff has a current version...
Axle Flange, Rear, Toyota, Full Float - RuffStuff Specialties
FF and disc conversion in one... $195 for the key piece.
Axle Flange, Rear, Toyota, Full Float - RuffStuff Specialties
FF and disc conversion in one... $195 for the key piece.
- Thread starter
- #5
I thought the FF axle was a drum brake.
- Thread starter
- #8
So my best bet is to wait until MAF or SOR gets a FF axle back in stock?
SOR $900 ($772.50 club) + shipping
versus
$195 + front spindles + front hubs + front Calipers + custom axles + rotors + ?? + less for shipping
Hard to say what would be best. Something to say for bolt on spindles, disc brakes, and chromoly axles.
I might just do the conversion if I needed to do it over... shipping on a complete axle would be killer, and I don't think I could go back to drums after having 4 wheel disc brakes.
You could likely find a 60 donor axle locally and save a bit.
versus
$195 + front spindles + front hubs + front Calipers + custom axles + rotors + ?? + less for shipping
Hard to say what would be best. Something to say for bolt on spindles, disc brakes, and chromoly axles.
I might just do the conversion if I needed to do it over... shipping on a complete axle would be killer, and I don't think I could go back to drums after having 4 wheel disc brakes.
You could likely find a 60 donor axle locally and save a bit.
FWIW
Brackets - 195
Spindles (new cro-mo) 208 (from trail-gear.. I know... I know...)
Calipers -154 for 4Runner V6 calipers from AutoZone
Rotors: 90 from Marlin
Axles: At LEAST 475 (price for FF cromo axles from Poly)
Seals, Wheel Bearings, etc: 185
Then consider 'While you're at it upgrades' like ARP hub studs: 102
So, ~1413 before shipping, taxes etc.
Then figure in the cost of buying the hub shells to bold the rotors to and install the bearings into.
Anybody know if Toyota makes a rear disk brake with built in e-brake that has the same bolt pattern as the front disc brakes on the 'Cruiser? (Supra?)
I am considering something similar.
I'd like to have the FJ60 parking brake but I also don't want to loose the RDB's (i've already done Monte Carlo's).
I have a set of FJ60 front hubs, 4Runner calipers. IE plenty of parts where I could do either a stock SF FJ60 rear, stock FF FJ60 rear, or the custom RDB rear going either FJ60 or FJ40 rear housing.......
I recently saw a thread where they used 2002 or so Subaru front Calipers... Might be worth looking into.
- Thread starter
- #12
I agree, the SOR axle wins.
It may be different shipping to Victoria, BC (Beautiful place, BTW), but some of the alternative shipping methods (such as U-ship.com or freightquote.com) offer some fantastic prices.
For example, I shipped a complete Dana 60 front axle assembly from Milwaukee, WI to Salt Lake City, UT for $138.00 or so. The Dana 60 is dimensionally larger and heavier than a FF Toyota rear axle.
Personally I'd rather have the Toyota factory welded rear spindles than bolt-on spindles.
On the Dana side of things a Dana 60 front axle has a GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) of about 3,500 lbs, but a Dana 60 rear can be had with GAWRs up to 6,500 lbs. The fronts use bolt on spindles whereas the rears are welded.
Unless I'm missing something, by running the backing plates/spindles/drums from a drum brake front axle (either early 40/55 or later 45), you could have that if you really wanted
. Backing plate may or may not clear the caliper ears on that kit without some work.
Well, shipping to Canada generally sucks. Many companies won't ship here, or charge you a hefty surcharge on top of the USPS rates. Sometimes a $50 part becomes a $100 part even though shipping only cost them $10.
bikersmurf said:
I can hear you... and 110% with you.
USPS at least somehow a good option, UPS can stop your project because of their fees. You can expect to pay $100 + all taxes on some parts, at the end the one can pay double to original part shipped UPS to Canada.
I think I paid over $1'000 just for fees to get parts for my Cruiser not counting the shipping and I mostly shipped USPS. Now think what could of you done if those $$ were still available in re-build budget...
Wikipedia discusses it pretty well (see below).
After reading that, I would ask why would you (or anyone else) want a semi floating axle?
[edit] Full-floating
The full-floating design is typically used in most 3/4 and 1-ton light trucks, medium duty trucks and heavy-duty trucks, as well as most agricultural applications, such as large tractors and combines. There are a few exceptions, such as many Land-Rover vehicles. A full-floating axle can be identified by a protruding hub to which the axle shaft flange is bolted. These axles can carry more weight than a semi-floating or non-floating axle assembly because the hubs have two bearings riding on a fixed spindle. The axle shafts themselves do not carry any weight; they serve only to transmit torque from the differential to the wheels. Full-floating axle shafts are retained by the aforementioned flange bolted to the hub, while the hub and bearings are retained on the spindle by a large nut.
[edit] Semi-floating
The semi-floating design carry the weight of the vehicle on the axle shaft itself; there is a single bearing at the end of the axle housing that carries the load from the axle and that the axle rotates through. With a semi-floating axle, the axles themselves serve as the inner bearing race and are retained by c-clips that are in the differential carrier. This design is found under most 1/2 ton and lighter trucks and SUV's.
Unless I'm missing something, by running the backing plates/spindles/drums from a drum brake front axle (either early 40/55 or later 45), you could have that if you really wanted
Interesting thought.
I'll have to look into that if I happen to end up with a drum brake front axle. 
We also make some parts
First remove backing plate mount
slide splindle mount, index caliper ears, on and weld
inslall Marlin's super birfield seal into seal retainer
drive seal retainer into rear bearing cup
assemble with Toyota front end parts, spindle, hubs, rotors and calipers
As a plus...or minus, depending how you look at it, the track widens almost 5 inches . A little wider than 60 front....59"
First remove backing plate mount
slide splindle mount, index caliper ears, on and weld
inslall Marlin's super birfield seal into seal retainer
drive seal retainer into rear bearing cup
assemble with Toyota front end parts, spindle, hubs, rotors and calipers
As a plus...or minus, depending how you look at it, the track widens almost 5 inches . A little wider than 60 front....59"