Front Axle options

[Jsurdo326]

I recently purchased a 91 fj80, got it for a good price but only drives with cdl engaged. Im assuming its either drive flanges or birfields. Front shaft spins but wheels dont. Was thinking about either upgrading the internals with new longfield birfs and flanges or trying to find a whole front axle with a locker from a later model. If i did decide to go with a later front axle do they just bolt right up or would i have to do some modifications?

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

The axle housings are a direct bolt in, the diffs are not. You'd be wise to rebuild either way you go.

 

[Jsurdo326]

Turns out the gearset is toast, drained the diff and nothing came out but sludge and metal . Ill be looking for new gears and overhaul the front

 

[IoN6]

Pics of the carnage!

 

[Jsurdo326]

Will do as soon as i tear it down. In the mean time would i be doing any damage driving if i removed the front drive shaft and left the cdl engaged?

 

[IoN6]

Given that you have already been driving it that way, I would say no. But without knowing what exactly let loose it is hard to say if there is any potential to do more damage.

 

[bloc]

The axle housings are a direct bolt in, the diffs are not. You'd be wise to rebuild either way you go.

I know the rear diff is different due to semi-float but thought the front was the same...

 

[IoN6]

The housings ARE, but sometimes people just sell the 3rd members, which are NOT. Can see why here.

[edit]
That is to say, that you can bolt in complete housings / 3rd to your rig. But if you buy just the 3rds they will not bolt into your housings until you make the modifications outlined in that link.
[/edit]

 

[bloc]

Ah.. I missed the bit about locking diffs.

To clarify, 91-97 non-locking front diffs are all interchangeable.

Rear is not.

 

[Tools R Us]

Will do as soon as i tear it down. In the mean time would i be doing any damage driving if i removed the front drive shaft and left the cdl engaged?

If you also take the drive plates off, the front diff wont turn, so no more damage.

 

[Jsurdo326]

Ok so ive decided to just overhaul what i have for now, that is untill i can afford to buy an air locker . I called the Toyota dealer to find out what gear ratio was in there because there where no tags or markings that i could find on the axle housing. They told me it was a 41.10 that means its a 4.11 right or is it a 4.10? I guess ill find out for sure this weekend when i actually pull the diff out

 

[nukegoat]

41 by 10 is 4.10

 

[Jsurdo326]

Now if I wanted to upgrade my birfs and flanges (while im in there i might as well) to a later model 95-97 would i need complete axle shafts or could i just get the birf joint and flanges