Factory Birfields or Longfield chromoly set? (1 Viewer)

[OpossumWrangler]

I'm looking for some advise from first hand experience. I am about to do a knuckle rebuild on my 1997 that I just bought. The birfields are also clicking on both sides at full steer so I'm sure they need replaced while I'm in there. My question is, should I just buy a factory set or go ahead and get the Longfield super set on trail gear? I do want to lift the truck eventually and Ill probably be running 35s (possibly 37). I just don't know if it justifies the cost, my little xj has been running 35x12.50s on factory axles for 7 years now. I don't have the experience with these trucks to know if that would be overkill or not. The set is on sale right now, so that is a factor. I'm also pretty sure I read somewhere that the chromoly shafts and birfields wear out the axel seal faster?

Here is the kit in question: Longfield FJ80 30 Spline Birfield/Axle Super Set, Gun Drilled - https://trail-gear.com/longfield-fj80-30-spline-birfield-axle-super-set-gun-drilled.html

 

[family80]

I have the same question stock or upgrade?

 

[REKCUT]

Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series RCV Axle Set - Toyota - Axle Sets

www.rcvperformance.com

From my poorly aging memory I believe RCV made the original Longfields for Bobby before the name was bought by Trailgear

 

[cybrstar]

I highly doubt that if you bought a brand new set of “factory Toyota” Birfield and axles that it is going to be made from the “exact” materials used back in the 90’s. Everything is rebranded and probably sourced from some factory in China.

 

[REKCUT]

If you are discussing actual new Toyota birfield then the list price is around $1400 per side. If you talking new aftermarket from say Cruiser Outfitters then you're looking at around Mid $300's per side. I am running RCV s for several years with no issues. Know many friends running with no issues.

Also the set from RCV gets you both complete axles not just the Birfields.

 

[OpossumWrangler]

Standard-Duty Replacement Birfield/Axle - Fits 1/1990 - 1994 8x Series w/o ABS (FAXT60120JP)

Toyota Land Cruiser Axle Shafts / Birfields

cruiserteq.com

Yeah i was debating between these and the trail gear set. The trail gear set also comes with axle shafts, and the fact that its half off is what has got me considering it

 

[REKCUT]

Do some research on trail gear... RCV is gold. Best price is not always the best choice

 

[OpossumWrangler]

Do some research on trail gear... RCV is gold. Best price is not always the best choice

Yeah I can agree with that, and I hate having to do something twice.

 

[80t0ylc]

I'm looking for some advise from first hand experience. I am about to do a knuckle rebuild on my 1997 that I just bought. The birfields are also clicking on both sides at full steer so I'm sure they need replaced while I'm in there. My question is, should I just buy a factory set or go ahead and get the Longfield super set on trail gear? I do want to lift the truck eventually and Ill probably be running 35s (possibly 37). I just don't know if it justifies the cost, my little xj has been running 35x12.50s on factory axles for 7 years now. I don't have the experience with these trucks to know if that would be overkill or not. The set is on sale right now, so that is a factor. I'm also pretty sure I read somewhere that the chromoly shafts and birfields wear out the axel seal faster?

Here is the kit in question: Longfield FJ80 30 Spline Birfield/Axle Super Set, Gun Drilled - https://trail-gear.com/longfield-fj80-30-spline-birfield-axle-super-set-gun-drilled.html

You can swap sides with the birfields if they haven’t been already. You can tell when you get them apart if they’re only worn on one side in the cups, unless you’re set on the Longfields. Long fields are not necessary unless you plan on doing extreme four wheeling. And it’s the opposite, the axle seals will wear out the chromemolly shafts faster than the stock axles. Part time four wheelers can avoid that when switched to 2 Wheel drive on paved roads or when four-wheel-drive is not necessary. The stock Toyota axles and birfs are pretty damn tough and usually last 300 K or more unless thrashed.

 

[OpossumWrangler]

You can swap sides with the birfields if they haven’t been already. You can tell when you get them apart if they’re only worn on one side in the cups, unless you’re set on the Longfields. Long fields are not necessary unless you plan on doing extreme four wheeling. And it’s the opposite, the axle seals will wear out the chromemolly shafts faster than the stock axles. Part time four wheelers can avoid that when switched to 2 Wheel drive on paved roads or when four-wheel-drive is not necessary. The stock Toyota axles and birfs are pretty damn tough and usually last 300 K or more unless thrashed.

I noticed on cruiser outfitters there are 2 that fit my 1997. What is the difference between the standard birfield and long birfield?

 

[80t0ylc]

It’s best to call and talk to someone at Cruiser outfitters. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and will set you straight.

 

[OpossumWrangler]

It’s best to call and talk to someone at Cruiser outfitters. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and will set you straight.

Alright, i'll give them a shout tomorrow. I haven't broke the truck down yet, I am hoping to have everything I need before taking it apart.

 

[OpossumWrangler]

You can swap sides with the birfields if they haven’t been already. You can tell when you get them apart if they’re only worn on one side in the cups, unless you’re set on the Longfields. Long fields are not necessary unless you plan on doing extreme four wheeling. And it’s the opposite, the axle seals will wear out the chromemolly shafts faster than the stock axles. Part time four wheelers can avoid that when switched to 2 Wheel drive on paved roads or when four-wheel-drive is not necessary. The stock Toyota axles and birfs are pretty damn tough and usually last 300 K or more unless thrashed.

Forgot to mention that since I bought the truck a couple weeks ago its been leaking moly grease pretty bad. IDK how that affects my chances of being able to rotate the birfields for more life. The diff also had a bunch of grease in it

 

[cybrstar]

Also for $600 for 30 spline chromoly’s you can’t go wrong. I just bought the same set yesterday. My reasons maybe different than your though, I do hard trail on 37’s and tired of grenadine the stock birfs. I do however know of other rigs that put over 100k on these sets without abnormal premature wear clicking issues. Are you going to get 300k, probably not, but are seriously going to have your rig 30 years from now? Probably not.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Cruiserteq page doesn't say who the manufacturer is, but there's several Japanese made replacements that are solid options.

Terrain Tamer also use Japanese made burfs from a couple of suppliers.

I had no issues with aftermarket Japanese birfs with 35s.
Snapped a Chinese one like it was a fresh carrot!

Actually, I did break a Japanese birf with 35s, but it was at full lock, tires at <10psi, doing a heavy throttle front diff locked to do a front dig, in reverse doing a 10 point turn to turn around on a Mountain side, front wheels over the bank! Travelling solo. Basically everything you shouldn't do, but it shifted the front end to where I needed it, and got me unstuck enough before it went PING!

 

[Marvelicious]

I avoid Trail Gear because I was around when they started up. They burned a lot of bridges and stabbed a lot of backs to get where they are and I doubt that anything has changed. Meanwhile, RCVs are almost too pretty to put inside an axle. Looking at a set, you kinda want to frame them and hang them on the wall.

@REKCUT is absolutely right about the Longfield /RCV /Trail Gear history. Bobby Long put a ton of work into developing those axles, but RCV made them to his design and they still do. Trail Gear bought a name.

 

[REKCUT]

Pretty much everything I have ever purchased from cruiser outfitters has been Japanese made.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Pretty much everything I have ever purchased from cruiser outfitters has been Japanese made.

All of our "JP" brifs are made in Japan. We've had fantastic longevity with them and sold thousand!

Our made in Japan variants for the 80 Series:

Standard-Duty Replacement Birfield/Axle - Fits 1/1990 - 1994 8x Series w/o ABS (FAXT60120JP)

Toyota Land Cruiser Axle Shafts / Birfields

cruiserteq.com

Standard-Duty Replacement Birfield/Axle - Fits 1992 - 1994 8X Series w/ ABS (FAXT60120ABS)

Toyota Land Cruiser Axle Shafts / Birfields

cruiserteq.com

Standard-Duty Replacement Birfield/Axle - Fits 4/1994 - 1/1998 - 8x Series w/o ABS & Long Birfield (FAXT60080JP)

Toyota Land Cruiser Axle Shafts / Birfields

cruiserteq.com

Standard-Duty Replacement Birfield/Axle - Fits 4/1994 - 1/1998 - 8x Series w/ ABS & Long Birfield (FAXT60070JP)

Toyota Land Cruiser Axle Shafts / Birfields

cruiserteq.com

We stock OEM, RCV, Nitro and Trail Gear birfs or birf/axle combos too. I can comfortably say we stock more birf options and know what they fit , than anyone in the US. Many of those manufacturers reach our to us for application info

 

[Mark W]

RVCs are the best if you are worried primarily about breaking them. RCV made all of Bobby's stuff. Trail gear bought the name, but their stuff is not made by RCV. Trail Gear's birfields are GREAT stuff. RVCs are better.

BUT!!!!! (yes I am gonna simplify some now) Part of what makes the super strong aftermarket birfields of any flavor stronger is that they are more elastic. Part of that equation is that they are less hard. In a full time rig like an '80, they are subjected to constant wear. Basically you are trading "unbreakableness" for longevity. Some of the first "upgraded" Birfs for the '80 series wore out in under 20K miles. One of the guys returning from one of the early Alaska Cruiser Treks wore his brand new ones out on the way home and was deadlined somewhere in Montana until he sourced a spare (Why he was making that trip without one I don't know, but...). It was one of Bobby's IIRC.

For a while there were "mid grade" birfs out there. RVCs. Not sure if anyone else is offering that. They were a compromise between super strong and still longer lasting.

The percentage off people who wheel their '80s hard enough to need upgraded birfs is pretty damn low if we are gonna be honest here. A good quality OEM replacement is a much better choice for most of our '80s.

A few years back, Nitros upgraded birfs (2 grades available) were actually quietly made by RVC. Not sure if this is still the case. The rep I was talking to was hesitent to admit it (marketing agreements maybe?) but I had a set in hand that had slipped though with the wrong labels so it was pretty clear.

Mark...

 

[OpossumWrangler]

So I ended up deciding that I have no need for the chromoly set. Today I started on the project, and I have noticed some wear on the factory axles. Here some pics, I don’t have a set of calipers with me but I can get some if anyone happens to know tolerances for wear at the axle seal.