So I purchased my '77 back in November and the knuckles were in fairly rough shape. So I found myself with an obsolete Warn Birfield Eliminator Kit installed and no way to source parts expeditiously. So the plan was to return it to a little better than stock.
I had used hubs from a friend and got some used axles from the Stockton swapmeet. Bought the rest of the items from Cruiserteq including their repop OEM style, and I'll just emphasize Style spindles.
Got the knuckles preloaded properly, clearanced the balls to fit the used birfs and painstakingly installed the new spindle (one hole would always seem to barely line up and they were incredibly tight seating in the knuckle). I then went to install the hubs, new bearings and seals. Set the bearings at 43lbft and go to spin the hub back and forth and it was not having it. Longer story short bought new hubs thinking maybe these used ones were junk, same issue. So then I had to look at the spindle, surely a brand new part wouldn't be defective, let alone two (started on the passenger side, moved to the driver side with the new hub). After a week on the road for work to think about it I settled on it definitely being two defective spindles.
Bought some Trail Gear chromoly spindles for 79-85 pickups Thursday morning, had the hubs installed and ready to proceed Thursday night.
Cruiserteq spindles: FA60060AFT was the part number for those of you curious. The AFT stands for absolute fckin turd.
Parts List:
Trail gear Chromoly Wheel Hubs
Trail Gear chromoly spindles
Aisin Heavy Duty Locking Hubs
Longfield 30-Spline Super Set
Replacement calipers and discs from rockauto for a '77 FJ40
60 series front inner brake line
Trail Gear brake line mount
Backing plate eliminator
Happy with the results, could have done better on the price.
I had used hubs from a friend and got some used axles from the Stockton swapmeet. Bought the rest of the items from Cruiserteq including their repop OEM style, and I'll just emphasize Style spindles.
Got the knuckles preloaded properly, clearanced the balls to fit the used birfs and painstakingly installed the new spindle (one hole would always seem to barely line up and they were incredibly tight seating in the knuckle). I then went to install the hubs, new bearings and seals. Set the bearings at 43lbft and go to spin the hub back and forth and it was not having it. Longer story short bought new hubs thinking maybe these used ones were junk, same issue. So then I had to look at the spindle, surely a brand new part wouldn't be defective, let alone two (started on the passenger side, moved to the driver side with the new hub). After a week on the road for work to think about it I settled on it definitely being two defective spindles.
Bought some Trail Gear chromoly spindles for 79-85 pickups Thursday morning, had the hubs installed and ready to proceed Thursday night.
Cruiserteq spindles: FA60060AFT was the part number for those of you curious. The AFT stands for absolute fckin turd.
Parts List:
Trail gear Chromoly Wheel Hubs
Trail Gear chromoly spindles
Aisin Heavy Duty Locking Hubs
Longfield 30-Spline Super Set
Replacement calipers and discs from rockauto for a '77 FJ40
60 series front inner brake line
Trail Gear brake line mount
Backing plate eliminator
Happy with the results, could have done better on the price.