FJ60 Third member clarification issues..

[Doc]

Ok, I've recently began seriously thinking about putting a 62's third member in my 60 for the 4.11 gears.

Is there anything else I need to buy if I buy a complete third member assembly from cruiserparts? Do I have to buy a front gear set in 4.11 to match the rear?

$250 seems like a steal for lower gearing... What am I missing here?

 

[JasonH]

Yes, you'll need two complete third members, unless you never plan to use 4WD. $250 is about the going rate for a fine spline pinion 4.11. Get two and swap 'em out.

 

[Landpimp]

I think the trick is to get 2 front diffs, in theory the front diffs will have less wear

 

[Doc]

cruiser parts has the rear third member for $250 and the front axle for $400. I'd need both?

Hmmm... that's more than I wanted to spend on it right now. I need sliders worse.

 

[theferg]

No you don't need the complete front axle. He was stating that you should try to get both your 4.11 diffs--one for your front and one for your rear--from the fronts of 62s. That way, they will, in theory, have less mileage and less wear on them. So $250 per third for a total of $500. To me, that price is getting near to not worth it... You can get brand new gears installed for about $150-200 more...depending where you are.

But, FWIW, I once contacted a guy in like Alabama that was selling used FJ62 thirds and he was asking $400 EACH!!!! I said screw that, and found e-lock diffs for that price.

-Ferg-

 

[Doc]

Ok, I'm new to this so bear with me. If I buy 2 of the 'third members' ( I thought that term was reserved for the unit in the rear of the truck) It's pretty much a bolt in affair, right?

I really don't want to be doing a bunch of pinion shimming and what not.

 

[60wag]

The difference in buying an assembled third member, (front or rear) and buying a set of gears is the installation of the gears. While its not rocket science, most DIY mechanics tend to shy away from installing a ring and pinion. I think the going rate to have a shop do it is about $100 per diff. I've still got the 3.70s in my 60 an am rolling on 33" tires. I would love to have lower gears for offroad, but the current gearing on the highway is pretty nice. I'm putting off a ring & pinion swap in the hopes that there is a Toybox in my future.

Swapping a pair of used diffs is a bolt on job as long as pulling the drive axles out, front and rear doesn't bother you. You might consider replacing the pinion seals on the used diffs. I'm not sure if its easier to do on the bench or under the truck - the torque needed to unseat and reset the pinion nut makes holding the diff a challenge. When its bolted to the axle housing, it stays put. Make sure you stake the pinion nuts after the seal replacement.

 

[timbercruiser]

Do you have to use 62 third members? I thought you could use any third up to 1990. (yes, you would have to change some simple parts)

 

[TwoThirtyDirty]

Beware of cheap R&P's. From what I've seen and heard there are few that will hold up as well as the OEM Toyotas. Go for the used front end 3rds...you'll have extra sides/spiders/carrier (SPOOL! ) as well. Just my humble opinion.

 

[theferg]

Do you have to use 62 third members? I thought you could use any third up to 1990. (yes, you would have to change some simple parts)

Hmmm. Kind of a funny question.... So I'll say this: we are talking about getting 4.11s into a 60 and it is widely known that 62 thirds came stock with 4.11s and will bolt right in and aren't too hard to get a hold of. And 62s model years were '88-'90. But actually all Cruisers '78 and later had fine spline pinion, but most had 3.70s. Though it's a little secret that '78 FJ40s came stock with fine spline pinion and stock 4.11s so you could use them as well (if you can find 'em). So, you could swap any diff, front or rear, from any LC from '78 to '90, so if you find some that have had 4.11s installed, ya you could use 'em. And technically, you can use the non-locking rears out of any year 80 series (which had 4.10s or 4.11s--whichever it really is) as well. Mind you I am only talking about US Cruisers.

-Ferg-

 

[Wildabeast60]

Ferg,

Why only non-locking rears out of an 80? Are the locking rears a different size gear?

 

[theferg]

No, the e-lock ones fit, but they take a special shaft and the axle assembly must be full-float. That's a whole 'nother subject.

BTW, I've got 80 series rear e-lock diffs front and rear in my FJ60...

-Ferg-