My buddy found a fj60 front axle. It doesn't have calipers or hubs. What would I need to make this work for converting my 1975 55 axle to discs? I know calipers, hubs and gaskets and bearings. I can stil use my stock master right?
fj60 break conversion to 55
- Thread starter xtiaan2000
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you can if you remove the residual pressure valve from the front circuit. you need the knuckles as they support the calipers. also the backing plates and spindles. you will need the hubs and rotors, calipers....not sure, but the birfs? might swap over and you can source minitruck stuff for the hubs and rotors and lockouts..steering arms for the knuckles...just take the whole thing home
If you use the whole axle, then you have to modifiy the spring perches or the axle housing. The 60 axle is wider. I'm not sure about this, but isn't the driveshaft flange different. The 60 is stronger too, 30 spline vs. 27 spline.
Thought: If you use the whole axle, wouldn't it stick out alittle farther than the rear axle, so might as well look for a 60 rear axle , too.
Oh, the slippery slope!
Thought: If you use the whole axle, wouldn't it stick out alittle farther than the rear axle, so might as well look for a 60 rear axle , too.
Oh, the slippery slope!
- Thread starter
- #4
Don't really want to do the whole axle, but do want the disc conversion. What do you all think is a good price for the axle? It doesn't have the calipers or the hubs.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks for the advice! It is this kind of stuff that makes Ih8mud so cool!
Good advice Lil' John,
I didn't know, you could interchange 55 and 60 Birfields.
I didn't know, you could interchange 55 and 60 Birfields.
Hiya, there's a thread in the 40 section called front disk brake conversion for dummies that describes the conversion in detail. The rotors and the brake calipers are not too hard to source. IIRC, you can use any of the calipers up to the big 4runner ones. The hubs may be tougher to source. If you can find a early (1980's) mini truck axle, you can pull the hubs off of it. Also hit the parting out section in the classified and see if anyone has got 'em from a 60 series.
Also get the marlin inner hub seals that are nice and beefy.
Best regards, ty.
Also get the marlin inner hub seals that are nice and beefy.
Best regards, ty.
For the tre holes you will want a 79-84 fj40 knuckle arms to go along with your "big pattern" fj60 knuckles to fit your fj55 tre's. this avoids costly machine shop fees.
Or you can use "small pattern" 75-78 fj40/55 disc brake knuckles and arms with your fj60 spindles/hubs/locking hubs/birfs
Get it?
Or you can use "small pattern" 75-78 fj40/55 disc brake knuckles and arms with your fj60 spindles/hubs/locking hubs/birfs
Get it?
- Thread starter
- #10
I seem to recall people having to cut steering parts to do this conversion. Would using the 40 arms make it so I wouldn't have to do this?
- Thread starter
- #11
So is it possible to get the upgraded larger knuckles, spindles, and birfields of a fj60 to couple up to the disk conversion oo without cutting anything?
Sorry about not being more informed. I am looking at those other posts. "...for dummies" and such.
Sorry about not being more informed. I am looking at those other posts. "...for dummies" and such.
I wanna say: yes. possible with no cutting..... The knuckles, steering arms, bottom bearing caps, spindles, hubs, and as we have learned again, the birfs, the rotors, calipers and lock outs should all swap over. The only creative engineering is with the steering linkage>relay/drag link or however you work that out. That area is the only place where i see cutting/welding.
serenity
SILVER Star
This thread has some FAQ worthy info! I have a question that will hopefully add well to this thread.
I have a 77 pig and a set of front and rear 60 series axles. I am planning on swapping the front disks on but what about the 60 series rear drums? Are they a bolt on fit? The included handbrake would give provision for a 5 speed swap later on, and being from a 60 series spare parts would be a bit easier to source.
Edit: also, is the fj60 master cylinder an upgrade if you have a spare? Or not worth the effort?
I have a 77 pig and a set of front and rear 60 series axles. I am planning on swapping the front disks on but what about the 60 series rear drums? Are they a bolt on fit? The included handbrake would give provision for a 5 speed swap later on, and being from a 60 series spare parts would be a bit easier to source.
Edit: also, is the fj60 master cylinder an upgrade if you have a spare? Or not worth the effort?
you can if you remove the residual pressure valve from the front circuit. you need the knuckles as they support the calipers. also the backing plates and spindles. you will need the hubs and rotors, calipers....not sure, but the birfs? might swap over and you can source minitruck stuff for the hubs and rotors and lockouts..steering arms for the knuckles...just take the whole thing home
I could not perceive any difference in braking from before I removed the residual pressure valve from the front circuit vs. after I removed it. Everyone says to remove it, but it made no difference for me...
Oh, the slippery slope!
I know, right?
To convert the axle, it is VERY simple, pull everything off the housing. Throw the inner axle shafts away. Put the birfields on the FJ55 inner axle shafts. Grind the top and bottom of the knuckle balls on the FJ55 axle housing. Assemble FJ55 axle. Remove residual valve from the master cylinder. Bleed. Drive.
The one place that might be an issue is tie rod ends. I know the minitruck one is different than older FJs. Large tie rod stud but smaller threaded if I recall right. I think it was the FJ80 tie rod end that had the large tie rod end and larger threaded needed.
If you have done it more than once, you can do the whole thing in a long day.
I wouldn't waste the time swapping in the whole FJ60 axles. More time and effort than the gain.
Don't you want to do some semblance of aligning the knuckle on the housing? To give the inner axle seal the best chance of sealing? I know it probably would not work to keep the alignment shims from the 60 knuckles in the same orientation, as that would not guarantee alignment on the 55 housing.
I think you also want to check pre-load, and if necessary, adjust knuckle bearing pre-load to w/in spec.
I wouldn't say directly interchangable... if you go beyond 1978, the birfields are the same... also same as mini trucks. FJ80 are completely different.
76 to 78 are a funky setup.
68(I think) to 75 with drum brakes are course spline outside. The inner is still 27 spline at birfield. All above birfields will fit.
It wasn't a huge amount. But when I did it, I just ground some on top and bottom then test fit the birfield(ie flat spots should slide by) My "I haven't done it in 20 years" memory says total for top and bottom was about 1/16" if even that. And this is INSIDE the balls... and with that wrong sounding comment, I better shut up
Ha ha, nothing like grinding your balls...
'76-'78 had the long birfs that are unique.
FYI, the correct spelling is "brake", not break and "coarse", not course. I know very few folks care, but it always makes one look less intelligent when they use incorrect spelling, so I felt obligated to say something.
- Thread starter
- #18
Thanks. I am always impressing myself with how stupid I am. I grew up with an grammer nazi for a mother as well, so truely there is no excuse!
One of most used books in my home...the Dictionary!
to me it would depend on what you are doing. are you doing a soa on your 55 with 60 axles for a bush rig? or are you just looking for bigger brakes? short answer will they bolt on, no. early 40/55 series have a 6 bolt flange for rear drums. 42/60/70 series "bigger" brakes with parking brakes have 4 bolts if your looking for bigger better brakes for the rear, find a bj42 axle and it will bolt right in.
Dan