Field-stripping a junk yard axle

[belaw]

Let me start out by saying that I have never torn down a Toyota front axle assembly, so this may be a stupid question, but here goes....

I getting ready to pull the parts off of a Mini truck for a FJ40 disc conversion. I've read all of the information I could find, including Guppy's excellent write-up, but I wonder if there's a quicker way to pull the knuckle and save the actual tear-down for my shop.

Specifically, could (1) put the hubs in "free;" 2) remove the calipers; (3) remove the steering arms (4) remove the bottom plate; (5) remove the rear wiper stuff and then just pull the whole knuckle/rotor/hub assembly off as a unit?

Brian

 

[lukebz]

one word, could sum it up in two also - SAWZ-ALL

 

[Toyrod]

Your plan will not work. The outer axle is held to the inner lockout hub by a c-clip. The steering arm and bottom plate will need to be pressed out from the inside with a SST or home-made equivelant. It would be easier to pull the whole axle and bring it home. My local salvage yard charges about the same either way.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Why not disassemble it all at the yard? It's so easy it's child's play.

FWIW, I didn't press out the steering arm and bottom plate. I tapped them out with a brass drift.

 

[Pin_Head]

Specifically, could (1) put the hubs in "free;" 2) remove the calipers; (3) remove the steering arms (4) remove the bottom plate; (5) remove the rear wiper stuff and then just pull the whole knuckle/rotor/hub assembly off as a unit?

Brian

Yes. The whole knuckle and axle shaft comes out in one piece.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Let me start out by saying that I have never torn down a Toyota front axle assembly, so this may be a stupid question, but here goes....

I getting ready to pull the parts off of a Mini truck for a FJ40 disc conversion. I've read all of the information I could find, including Guppy's excellent write-up, but I wonder if there's a quicker way to pull the knuckle and save the actual tear-down for my shop.

Specifically, could (1) put the hubs in "free;" 2) remove the calipers; (3) remove the steering arms (4) remove the bottom plate; (5) remove the rear wiper stuff and then just pull the whole knuckle/rotor/hub assembly off as a unit?

Brian

Screw it, just take the whole axle home

 

[Trollhole]

Yes. The whole knuckle and axle shaft comes out in one piece.

I wonder if you could take the knuckle off by just taking the rear seal off and just the upper steering arm leaving the bottom trunion bearing and 4 nuts in place.

 

[rsc71]

i just went through this a cpl mo ago at one of picknpulls 1/2 off sales.did get the knuckle off with only takeing the top arms off and loosening the bottom bolts.but otherwise pretty much had to take it apart.71$ was the damage

 

[vk7ybi]

I wonder if you could take the knuckle off by just taking the rear seal off and just the upper steering arm leaving the bottom trunion bearing and 4 nuts in place.

This works for me, although I have Martacked axles..

 

[vtcruiser60]

Take the axle home. I have done this twice. If you cut the u-bolts the axle will fall down. Two people can toss it in the back of a truck or the yard can hoist it for you with a forklift. I recommend bringing it home, plopping across two sawhorses, draining the oil and disassembly at waist level....very easy. Get some zip lock bags to hold your hardware. AND VERY IMPORTANT.....keep the knuckle shims in the proper order. Most likely you can just reuse the shims...set your preload and go...rather than the other SST technique for proper preload calibration.

I suppose it would not be terribly hard to do this in the field either...but all that gear oil and grease tossed on the ground is not good, and really no more expedient.

 

[captcory]

pull the wipers and the steering arm and this is what you end up with...very easy. remember to spin the disk or the birf will not come out.

 

[zuluzeugma]

pull the wipers and the steering arm and this is what you end up with...very easy. remember to spin the disk or the birf will not come out.

Correct. This is exactly what you have to do.

However, I'm with everyone else. Grab the whole axle. You can sell the housing and third on Pirate. Those guys are constantly needing them for IFS mini-trucks...

GL

 

[alex e]

Entire axle is way easier. Listen to Zulu, he knows the way.....

 

[belaw]

Entire axle is way easier. Listen to Zulu, he knows the way.....

Thanks for all the input, guys.

My original plan was to buy the entire axle, but they want $200 for it, as opposed to $80 for the parts I need. The numbers just didn't add up.

 

[yotawheeler]

well.....its probably just easier to take the whole axle home but if you have to just take the knuckles pull the caliper, hub, steering arm and bottom plate and wiper seals and you can pull the rest of the knuckle off as one piece...iv taken a few apart and i took apart my spare axle (one side) in about 15-20 min...thats just pulling apart fast to get to the spare axle shafts

 

[vk7ybi]

The caliper stays, the soft brakline is disconnected.. Scraper seals and top steering arm is all thats needed to get it all out..

 

[zuluzeugma]

Thanks for all the input, guys.

My original plan was to buy the entire axle, but they want $200 for it, as opposed to $80 for the parts I need. The numbers just didn't add up.

$200 for a mini axle is not a bad deal at all. I've seen them sell for $300-350. However, if you're patient, you can get them cheaper off CL. I paid $125 for a complete axle, hub to hub from some redneck who was parting his 85' out.

Take luck