Glucosamine treatment for an old warrior

[bikersmurf]

Wow

That axle is a thing of beauty.

 

[Cdaniel]

That axle is a thing of beauty.

Surely it's in the eye of the beholder. The probably thinks it's only a stinky greasy lump of metal Too bad it will eventually be covered in paint and trail gook.


!Longfield installers note:!
Test fit the birfield for clearance after final torque down of the bearings. Seems to have closed enough to not allow insertion

 

[Cdaniel]

So a little whittling was required to get the longfields in. Both sides top and bottom.


Axle assembly waiting for a dusting of paint on the raw spots. No need for bling, it will have nice trail patina again soon enough.

 

[Cdaniel]

To get the freshened up front axle back in a more permanent location, it's time to address u-bolt plates. I dug out my original OEM plates that had the life beat out of them on the trail. The edge flanges were totally mangled so the recip saw took care of that. Next a little squaring and flattening in the mill to receive some new 1/4 x 1 weld on edges.

 

[Cdaniel]

From scrap metal to usable parts with a little bit of help. Turns out I can weld straighter lines without the bifocals on

 

[Cdaniel]

Started looking at getting the brakes back on the front and discovered that my rotors are right at min thickness. Crap! no more turns

So time to pull them apart. And I was surprised at how easily the hubs pressed out after reading some of the stories around here.

New rotors, calipers and outer hoses on order....

 

[Cdaniel]

Booooooo! Got to cleaning all the grease off of my new to me Ebay Aisin hubs and found that they have been quite literally hammered to death. I think the flat surface can be cleaned up, but the cone seats,.....I don't know. Some stress cracking of the plating too. These are probably spare parts now.

 

[Cdaniel]

Dents on flats everywhere.

 

[Cdaniel]

After consulting the mud collective on the hubs I was convinced they were salvageable. So I straightened the holes out by putting a cone washer in the holes and mashing it in the press. Cleaned up all the doinks by facing them off in the mill drill.

 

[Cdaniel]

A little time in the sand blaster made short work of the crappy paint (original and latex ) on the cap and dial. Blasted as an assembly to preserve the sealing surfaces. I've seen some hub restorations where the entire parts are blasted and painted. Bad idea IMHO, the dial seal surfaces could change too much and create a leak.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Cliff nice to see your still plugging away on this

 

[Cdaniel]

Cliff nice to see your still plugging away on this

Thanks, plugging away is a good description. I keep stealing garage time whenever I can. Short term goal is to get it on 4 tires again. I can see that happening real soon.

After that I have to switch attention back to broken sand toys for a little bit.

 

[Cdaniel]

One pair of refurbished (not restored) Asco/Aisin hubs.
Including:
New dial seals, detent balls and springs.
Longfield hub gear.
Battered body massage.
Stylish repaint

To be installed with ARP studs

 

[Cdaniel]

Axle awaits it's re acquaintance with the FJ40. New bearings, seals, calipers, pads, brake hoses and rotors made from the finest Chinese steel.

Note to brake pad manufacturers: Would it really be too much to ask to have the cotter pins included with the hardware kit?

 

[Cdaniel]

The high steer arms required a little re routing of the the hard line to the calipers.

 

[Cdaniel]

Milestone reached

After many months of separation the front axle has been reunited with the vehicle for hopefully the last time.

This is the 1st I've seen the attitude of the suspension under full weight and tires on the ground. With the exceptions that the full trans weight, seats and other assorted things are not present.

It's a little nose high. The use of the existing below frame rear shackle hanger is adding to this certainly. I don't think the missing weight will do much to even it out as it's in the middle. Probably it will get a longer shackle in the rear when it's all said and done.

So many more things to do, but the next major operation is pulling the engine again and re sealing it. Possibly rings and bearings while it's out. A lot of final welding, then putting the whole package in for good.

 

[pistonpete]

GREAT THREAD !!

GREAT WORK !!

GREAT PICS !!

 

[Cdaniel]

Thanks on all 3 counts Pete!
I try to photo as many steps as I can remember to do in the process. I know all the pics around here have helped me a bunch. 1000 words and all I guess.

Here's a little from the rest of my afternoon:
Putting a flat on the steering shaft....

 

[Cdaniel]

I gotta say, this 4x4 labs stuff looks even more impressive once it's all painted up and installed

 

[msahr]

Agreed. Nice work!