HELP!! Nasty Birf Carnage BEWARE

[FloridaFJ80]

Well my dads friend was driving the FJ80 around town and it started a bad vibration. He said it felt like the wheel was going to fall off. So he pulled into a small mechanic who just happens to have worked on cruisers in colombia his whole life. And when he took it apart this is what he found on the DS. My question know is I am sure the PS is just as bad.

So what parts do I need to order to rebuild both sides????


Notice the Axle and the Caliper and brake pads.

 

[elmariachi]

And when he took it apart this is what he found on the DS. My question know is I am sure the PS is just as bad. So what parts do I need to order to rebuild both sides????

Whoa there big fella, you ain't done. Tear it all the way down...you have more trouble waiting inside. I see damage to the spindle and if the splines are messed up too bad, then you'll need a birfield joint/shaft.

 

[Doc]

You might as well resign yourself to the expense of this right now. Just the seals/bearings for a regular birf re-pack are a couple hundred $$. Throw in damaged birfs or spindles..... ouch.

Tear it down completely before you decide what you need.

 

[FloridaFJ80]

So i am looking at 1000 atleast....???
Longfields are 695 for the pair. Dont know what other parts I need to get. My mechanic is waiting on me to get the parts, and i dont know what i need, so i am here asking you guys for a shopping list... can you help me????

 

[anderaa13]

It looks like wheel bearing failure, so your birfield could be ok. It will still be expensive- new wheel bearings and races- and probably a new spindle and maybe a hub. How do the splines look?

 

[elmariachi]

We can't tell you without seeing it torn apart. I can see damage to the end of both the spindle and the birfield shaft. Is the drive flange damaged as well? You need to tear both side all the way down before making a shopping list. Its going to be expensive if someone else is doing the work. Post more pics of the internals if you want specific parts advice.

 

[Hltoppr]

I think you're looking at tearing it all down this week, taking some pics and then having a long conversation with CDan when he gets back from moab.

No sense in doing a half job here....do it right the first time.

-H-

 

[Hltoppr]

BTW, there are many posts here about doing this job yourself...it's time consuming, but not rocket science...it'll save you about $1000....

-H-

 

[elmariachi]

I don't know how much you know about what you are looking at. In the pic below I have painted some spots on issues I see:

- The red appears to be the outer race, which is way out against the edge of the hub. This is inconceivable to me, but if this is actually the race, it has been forced out by the bearing breaking down. Its at least 1/2" out of place.

- The blue appears to be the outer bearing cage that has completely deteriorated. This means the bearing is gone and the spindle is destroyed.

- The green is the outer threaded edge of the spindle, which appears trashed to the point that the spindle is destroyed.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Considering the price of new Birfs and all the other parts to rebuild the front, why not look into a used axle.

Maybe that sounds extreme but i recall seeing a few front axles floating around on ebay for less then the price to buy all new parts.

Just a thought.

 

[Doc]

Cruiserparts will sell you a locked front axle, hub to hub for $1200. That might, indeed, be the way to go here.

 

[elmariachi]

Cruiserparts will sell you a locked front axle, hub to hub for $1200. That might, indeed, be the way to go here.

Then he's got a used axle with used hubs and spindles that still needs bearings, seals, gaskets and labor to install it all. And it will cost $300 to ship it. For $1200-1500 he should be able to get 2 outers (maybe not OEM birfs), 2 spindles, 2 hubs and all the goodies. Then he still pays to have the work done and he has an assembly full of new parts.

 

[FloridaFJ80]

I will take lots of pics of it torn apart hopefully by friday.

El Mariachi - thanks so much for taking the time illustrate for me what is wrong with that pic.

The good thing is that I have found a good mechanic that is willing to do the job for $200 and I supply the parts. The truck has 265k miles on her and we are the only owners. its a 92 FJ80.

 

[elmariachi]

I will take lots of pics of it torn apart hopefully by friday.
El Mariachi - thanks so much for taking the time illustrate for me what is wrong with that pic.
The good thing is that I have found a good mechanic that is willing to do the job for $200 and I supply the parts. The truck has 265k miles on her and we are the only owners. its a 92 FJ80.

Can you wait for CDan to return from Moab so you can get a discount on parts? If you can, that will save you a bundle. In the meantime if you can tear into it and look at the axles, spindles and hubs we can help you decide what you need.

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Yeah I can wait for CDAN to come back... no problem.. I will have the mechanic tear it all apart so we can take some good pics and get a shopping list going. Thanks AMIGO!!!

 

[TX_TLC]

I will take lots of pics of it torn apart hopefully by friday.

El Mariachi - thanks so much for taking the time illustrate for me what is wrong with that pic.

The good thing is that I have found a good mechanic that is willing to do the job for $200 and I supply the parts. The truck has 265k miles on her and we are the only owners. its a 92 FJ80.

Not to be skeptical...(ok I really am) just be sure that for that $200 that he is going to completely tear down the axle. Good deals are sweet if they are really a good deal...and not just a trap.

Not saying in any way that it is...just you have had enough hard luck getting to where you are now, you don't need any more.

 

[landtank]

I have to beleive that CDan id dreaming $$$$$ while in Moab.

 

[elmariachi]

I have to beleive that CDan id dreaming $$$$$ while in Moab.

With all these guys tearing s&^t up, he's making money even while he's playing.

 

[rgsiii]

So i am looking at 1000 atleast....???
Longfields are 695 for the pair. Dont know what other parts I need to get. My mechanic is waiting on me to get the parts, and i dont know what i need, so i am here asking you guys for a shopping list... can you help me????

I think !K+ is a very real figure for parts. Spindles are about $250 each. It might be a good idea to get Jim's( AKA elmariachi) DVD on knuckles. Get an idea of what is damaged and get ready to order on May 8. It is worth waiting for Cruiser Dan. He has seen everything and is well schooled on what you need.

 

[IdahoDoug]

You can call American Toyota even with Dan gone and order parts at the discount by letting them know you're from Mud. They know who to have you speak with there in the Parts Dept. So no need to wait. Get new drive plates as well as they are known to wear on FJ (not FZJ)