Front axle shaft questions

[toyotated]

Blew up a birf so I ordered a set of the Trail Gear Dirty 30 chromolly front axle shafts and birfs which are essentially the same as the Longfields with respect to dimensions, length, etc.
My front axle is a '77 that I have installed an Aussie locker, minitruck knuckles, and 4.88 gears.
My problem is when I went to install the chromolly birfs, after grinding the knuckle to make the birfs fit properly, I installed the inner axle shaft and birf but the inner axle shaft did not spline into the differential. Then I compared the chromolly axle shaft length to the stock axle shaft and noticed the stockers were longer. I now know that 76-78 axles had longer shafts.

Am I correct in assuming that I have to find a 79 or newer front axle to swap over my center diff, and hi steer arms over to in order to use my new chromolly birfs and shafts??
I can get my hands on an 83 front axle but I just wanted to make sure before I start to tear everything down. I have SOA so there is gonna be a bit of work involved to change everything over.
Maybe I have another option in order to use my chromolly gear? I had hoped to use the stock inner axle shafts with my new birfs but or course the splines are different.

 

[Ralph]

I had a 75 front axle with the coarse spline axles and drums. I made the swap to disc brakes, manual hubs, and fine spline axles. I just bought a set of longfield birfs and installed them on my axles with no problems whatsoever.

 

[Poser]

Front inner axle shafts from 1969 to 1984 in the 40/55 series are all the same length.

Disc brake outer axle shafts from 08/75-12/78 are longer than 01/79 and later.



Short side inner- 17.25”
Long side inner- 29.125”


I am betting that you are having issues with the short side inner axle shaft as the mini truck inner axle is likely what you received in your kit, and it is 15.3125 in length.


Make sure that the long side inner axle is not too long, as the mini truck inner axle is 31.4375”

 

[toyotated]

I ordered the mini truck chromolly birfs from Trail Gear in BC thinking that they would fit my 77 axle. The problem is that the inner axle shafts that came with the kit are shorter than my stock axle shafts and will not spline into the center diff. The outer birf shafts are the same length though.
Trail Gear in BC only sells the mini truck kits and for me to pay the outrageous import/duty fees and shipping from the states for Longs was too big a pill to swallow. I thought the mini truck kit would work for me as long as I did some grinding.
Can I still use this kit with a 79-84 axle? I read on here somewhere that 76-78 front axles had different length axle shafts. I have no problem getting my hands on a newer axle and swapping everything over to that housing.

 

[Vicm]

What you heard is concerning the outer axles . They are shorter already stated by Poser . They will be same length as the outer axles in the MINI and later cruisers.
Why can't you use the inners from your 77, or any other 40 that matches the spline count in your side gears?

 

[Poser]

I ordered the mini truck chromolly birfs from Trail Gear in BC thinking that they would fit my 77 axle.

The outers will work fine; the inners are not going to work.

The problem is that the inner axle shafts that came with the kit are shorter than my stock axle shafts and will not spline into the center diff.

If that kit you ordered is really for a mini truck, the short side inner axle will be too short, and the long side will be too long.

The outer birf shafts are the same length though.

Unless you or someone previous to you have changed out the outer axle stubs with later model units, the chromo outers are shorter than the original factory outers used between 08/75-12/78 in the 40/55 series front axle.

Trail Gear in BC only sells the mini truck kits and for me to pay the outrageous import/duty fees and shipping from the states for Longs was too big a pill to swallow.

I thought the mini truck kit would work for me as long as I did some grinding.

Making the outer axle stub fit the housing is a completely separate issue versus the different inner axle lengths between the mini truck disc brake axle housing and the 40/55 series Land Cruiser front axle housing.

Can I still use this kit with a 79-84 axle?

Only if you get the correct length, dual 30 spline inner axle shafts for your 30 spline outer axle stubs.

I read on here somewhere that 76-78 front axles had different length axle shafts.

The outer axle stub on the 08/75-12/78 40/55 series Land Cruiser disc brake front axle is longer compared to the 01/79 and later outer axle stub.

I have no problem getting my hands on a newer axle and swapping everything over to that housing.

It will not make any difference; the inner axle shafts from 1969 to 1984 are all the same dimensions on the Land Cruiser 40/55 series front axle. Disc brake, drum brake does not make any difference in relation to the inner axle shafts.


You will need to source the correct length Land Cruiser 40/55 series dual 30 spline inner axle shafts in order to work with your custom chromo outer axle stubs from TG.

 

[Poser]

Why can't you use the inners from your 77, or any other 40 that matches the spline count in your side gears?

Stock inner axle shafts are 30 spline on the differential side gear end, and 27 spline where they attach to the factory outer axle stub.

The chromo dirty thirty kit that TG distributes are 30 spline inner axles on both ends, and use a different bearing race where the inner axle attaches to the outer axle stub.


He will need to get the correct dual 30 spline inner axles for his 30 spline chromo outers...

 

[Vicm]

Stock inner axle shafts are 30 spline on the differential side gear end, and 27 spline where they attach to the factory outer axle stub.

The chromo dirty thirty kit that TG distributes are 30 spline inner axles on both ends, and use a different bearing race where the inner axle attaches to the outer axle stub.


He will need to get the correct dual 30 spline inner axles for his 30 spline chromo outers...

I didn't know for sure what the count was at the birf side of the shaft.
Thanks for the info.

 

[toyotated]

Thanks very much for the info guys! Man, I love this site!

So I guess my only option is to either order the proper length inners or I could always order the 27 spline chromo birfs from EBI so at least I can box it all up and get back to wheelin. It won't be exactly what I wanted but it will be a whole lot better than stock. I guess I will keep the Trail Gear kit for my 86 4Runner SAS and build.
Where would be a good place to order 30 spline chromolly inner axle shafts in Canada of the right length for a Cruiser? I know I could order them from Bobby Long but I try to order as much from Canada as I can because like I said before the duty/import fees and shipping kill me when I order from the States.