Diff help? full floater swap specifics from the gurus.

[JSparks]

Hi there,
i have searched and not managed to find the specific info i am after.
i have a Japanese import 1984 BJ60 with a semi float rear end that i just got fully rebuilt after the spider gears ate themselves a few weeks ago,(that leaking pinion seal is a warning sign FYI) i also got a lock rite locker that i am about to put in (didn't turn up in time when it was all apart and on a hoist).

my mate just got his hands on a 1985 BJ60 that is basically a parts truck, but it has a full floating rear end that is mine as long as i do the swap of my axle for his to keep his drivable, it is completely unknown condition with heaps of backlash in the driveshaft and the diff seems to be leaking every fluid its ever drank but a very good upgrade for me for the price of some time and new ubolts seems like a good swap.

My questions are: will my freshly rebuilt semi float diff head be a direct bolt in to a full floater axle? obviously meaning gear ratios won't change, i won't have wasted all that money and I'm not putting in a rear end that leaks and needs a rebuild?
is there any reason the lock rite won't work also?
as i just spent a lot of money getting my diff rebuilt and my brakes are also freshly done it is only worth it to me if its a direct bolt in swap i can do in my driveway, can i remove the diff head without losing my crush washer preload or needing to adjust the diff to the new housing in any way? the brakes i can rebuild again, I've never been into a full floater before but the added security of breaking an axle and not having the wheel fall out is a bonus. if i need to have the diff setup again in the new housing then ill probably pass on it as my truck is daily driven and a necessity for work.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Yes, you can unbolt your fresh 3rd member and install it into the FF housing without rebuilding. All the other parts are
interchangeable, so you can easily do the axle swap without trouble.
Have you ever removed a semi float axle before? The semi has a rear cover that has to come off prior to pulling the axles
so you can remove the c clips.
You will need a special tool to remove and install the lock nut mechanism on the FF that tightens the wheel bearings.
Rear Hub Socket Tool - Universal OEM Replacement
make sure you go to the factory service manual to get proper procedure for torqueing the wheel bearings on. There is kind
of a back and forth procedure for tightening, then loosening, then tightening again. There are lots of guys in NZ that can explain
that to you.
Hope this helps, I was nervous when I swapped mine over, but in the end it was pretty straightforward.

PS, just looked at your avatar. Is that your rig? Got a better full size pic and what colour is that?

 

[FJ60Seth]

The diff head, meaning the thing that that all the gears are in and the axles slide into? Yes it's a direct swap. FF is very nice. No c-clips and the bearings are the same as the front. Make sure the axle studs are tight.

 

[JSparks]

Cheers that was exactly the info I was after, I have pulled a semi float axle before but I'll have to do some more research on the ins and outs of assembling a full float before I rip into it. Third member is correct I just know them ass diff heads. This is my rig as it stands at the moment, It's a factory color I think 464 beige If I recall correctly. Other one is my sisters boyfriends hj, I'm showing him the way of the cruiser