While FJ80 rear axles aren't known to be weak, I've heard that when they do break it's a horrible event that usually requires cutting the housing to get the third member out. Has anybody else heard this? It seems like a pretty questionable claim yet it still worries me.
Is it really any worse than breaking any other rear axle?
(If it makes any difference, I have an e-locked FJ80 rear)
4.5 years of reading threads in this forum....I vaguely recall one instance of that situation occuring. If you're worrying about it you're wasting your time.
If you are so concerned about it, why dont you buy the poly performance axles, pricey but good insurance..Anyways, why the question? Are you running tires over 35 inches?
If you are not running over sized tires (over 35's maybe even 37's), your losing sleep over nothing.. Remember you are driving a land cruiser, not a jeep product...
I run 37" sticky tires (pic in sig). I'll probably upgrade to cromo shafts before too long but I was just trying to get a feel for whether or not I was on some kind of time bomb or not. Ideally, if they did break before my upgrade than it wouldn't be that big of a deal to pull them and replace them with cromo shafts.
I run 37" sticky tires (pic in sig). I'll probably upgrade to cromo shafts before too long but I was just trying to get a feel for whether or not I was on some kind of time bomb or not. Ideally, if they did break before my upgrade than it wouldn't be that big of a deal to pull them and replace them with cromo shafts.
While FJ80 rear axles aren't known to be weak, I've heard that when they do break it's a horrible event that usually requires cutting the housing to get the third member out. Has anybody else heard this? It seems like a pretty questionable claim yet it still worries me.
Is it really any worse than breaking any other rear axle?
(If it makes any difference, I have an e-locked FJ80 rear)
For many years Venezuelan assembly plant replaced the rear end by one made by Dana as to comply for local provided parts and was one of the worst nightmares for the 60, 70 and 80 series owners.
The Japan OEM semi floating rear end is very good and rarely give problems unless it was bad serviced. Of course bigger tires increase the risk a bit.
USA 80's spec rear disc brake series use a full floating rear end which is very, very, very dependable.
You could break the axle but by no way you will loose a tire and never hear a story of cutting the housing to save the third member unless involved on a severe crash were the rear end was deeply bend. I saw some rear axles broked and I know is not a picnic to remove the remaining axle peace from the third member but is not the end of the world.
It is not so much as breaking the axle, but twisting the splines on the passenger side of the truck. this twisitng usually occurs when the axle is locked. This twisting does not allow the axle to be removed. Thus the dog clutch can not be freed and the axle can not come out. You then must cut into the housing to cut the axle to remove the diff to fix it all. This can happen with big tires and a heavy foot(most times with a modified engine).
So if you are just overlanding or a weekend get away vechicle, I would not worry too much. As some one else stated go with the Poly Perfromance one and not worry(seems currently to be the ticket for a heavy duty part for this area). Good luck, Robbie
