Install of full float rear axel w/ disk brakes?

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oldgrey60

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I have reached a point with my stock 86' FJ 60 that I want to start some upgrades and have decided to try some of the non-usa stock features. Many came with full float rear axels and I am contemplating installing one with a rear disk brake conversion. I guess I'm just searching for opinions, I know the mechanical differences between semi and full float rear axels but is it worth the expense of such a conversion considering I have no mechanical problems with my current semi float axel and two, there are many rear disk brake conversion kits out there but I don't seem to see any that use Toyota cruiser calipers. (I like TLC's Monster calipers) but I would rather not mix GM or any other manufacturers caliper without good reason. What do you all think? :bounce:
 
There are full floaters out there that suffer from frequent loosening and sometimes breaking of the hub studs. I don't know the reason for why some do and some don't.

That said, depending on it's use, the semi-floating axle is a reliable, trouble-free setup.

All the RDB conversions I know of use the GM calipers too. But I don't see that as a problem.

.
 
Food for thought. I done my own RDB conversion on my Aussie 60. GQ patrol discs slide straight on once the backing plate etc is removed. Subaru 'L' series fornt calipers have a hand brake mechanism that pulls inwards from the wheel just as the stock h/brake does. You do need to make some minor mods to the caliper (nothing that reduces it's strength) and i manafactured my own brackets to mount it on out of 10mm plate. job took best part of a day includind design and manafacture of brackets.
 
i used 84 hilux (mini-truck) front brake calipers on my 55rear and 86 ifs 4runner fronts on my truck. custum brackets in the rear and hilux knuckles up front. kept the drum brake mastercylinder. much more power than my old drums, and stops very evenly.
hth, carl
 
jwest said:
There are full floaters out there that suffer from frequent loosening and sometimes breaking of the hub studs. I don't know the reason for why some do and some don't.

Loctite is your friend. ;)

I have a 60FF with the chevy stuff. It's not a bad setup, but it's also not factory. I've heard of others doing the FF setup with Factory toyota stuff mixed on a 60 axle; other than making some new brackets to hold the caliper I would think the rest of it would be off the shelf stuff:

http://www.employees.org/~dirttrak/rear-FF-disk-conversion.htm

You won't beable to bolt on your brackets like this since it is a later axle housing without the welded on spindles.
 
I put a FF rear in my 60 because I tow a trailer over some marginal roads. I have no problem with the stock drum brakes on the rear - so I see no reason to change them.

To date almost all my upgrades are mechanicals aimed at better durability/reliability. Almost all are drive train related - clutch, tranny, axles, suspension. I also did dual batteries, and am putting in a new starter tomorrow - guess you could call that a repair ;-)

If you go RDB, remember to consider the proporationing valve.

M
 
I stewed over this exact thing for a few years actually. There really isn't aything all Toyota that'll get you what you're wanting--if you want to retain the stock park brake. In my quest, I came accross tons and tons and tons of talk about using stock LC discs and subaru or nissan or trooper calipers. Only info that seriously turned up was from a guy from down under (bjonroids) that had done it and had some awesome documentation on what he did. If you run a search in the Land Cruiser section over at pirate4x4.com, you'll find his write-up. I believe he used stock LC front discs and stock front LC calipers--so NO park brake on the axle. I've seen a bunch of other Aussies that have done it, but the thing is, the Aussies got vehicles down there that we didn't. Point in case: the Nissan Patrol that's already been mentioned. So that one is out the window. And I could never get it figured out and never had the resources to figure it out, which subaru had some calipers that pulled correctly and could be used.

So here's the options that seemed to be out there:

1. Be the ginneau pig. Spend some time researching subaru, nissan, etc, etc calipers until you find some that pull correctly. Put on the discs (really not that hard once you read bjonroids write-up, you'll see how you can do it quite easily) and then figure out a bracket design and specification that will accomidate your disc and caliper. Then figure out how to mount it to the axle housing (welding it straight on would obviously be easiest, but not everybody wants to do that).

2. TSM. Look them up. They supposedly make a disc brake conversion for the 60 series FF rear. Uses GM calipers. (Again, the draw-back of non-toyota,)

3. 80 series full float rear end with discs. All stock toyota parts. The issues with the 80 series rear are that it is obviously setup for a coil/link suspension, it's almost 5 inches wider than the 60 series axle, and that the diff is more centered than on a 60 series rear. I looked into this quite a bit and actually ended up going with it (and so have others on this board). I couldn't have been happier with it. No worries on the suspension--all you have to do there is chop off the coil/link mounts and weld on some perches. Then you have to make a few extra accomidations to get the front axle to be as wide as the rear, but it's not that bad. All you need is the Sky's axle widening kit and some IFS mini truck front hubs. Cost me $250 extra. Then you'll want to get some wheels that have more back spacing than stock or you're tires will be sticking out a lot. I went with stock 80 series wheels. Do a search on here and you'll find my info on it (along with info on others who have done it).

Mine's long gone (parted out the entire rig), but if I were to do it over again, i'd save myself the agony of dealing with a 60 series full-float and go straight to the 80 series rear.

Honestly though, every single option for getting disc brakes with integrated park brake under a 60 series with full float rear is a huge pain in the ass. Good luck!

-Ferg-
 
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my rears lock to easy now
 
I too have been thinking about this for a while and just this weekend I picked up a rear FZJ FF without the e-locker (since it is the weak link and if you want lockers ARBs are better). They can be had from cruiserparts for ~$500 I think. This gives you a Toyota FF, disk brakes, and parking break. You would have to change your front R&P to 4.11s ( if that is what you have) but it should not be very difficult to find 4.11s from a FJ-62. And maybe change the MC to a FJ-80 MC.

I have also heard ( and now since I have the axle I will try to verify this ) that using XJ-70 series FF rear hubs will shorten the width of the rear axle. When I saw theferg's conversion I was set on doing it to my FJ-60. I like the FJ-60 FF, but since it was not offered here I thought the FZJ axle would be MY best bet. Good luck.
 
OK, GQ patrol or y60 patrol is from 88 to 98. Same stud pattern as toyota. Subaru 'L' series, Leone or liberty. Theres a few variences in calipers but most will suffice, as long as they had the hand brake on the front wheels.
I do have a pic some where i think
I'll try and dig it up for ya.
Cheers.
 
Ruffy said:
OK, GQ patrol or y60 patrol is from 88 to 98. Same stud pattern as toyota. Subaru 'L' series, Leone or liberty. Theres a few variences in calipers but most will suffice, as long as they had the hand brake on the front wheels.
I do have a pic some where i think
I'll try and dig it up for ya.
Cheers.

I'd really like to see this too. Since they're import parts this seems like it may be an easier way to go than having to adapt GM parts to a Japanese truck. Though, finding Patrol parts in the US might be a challenge :doh:
 
I still working in my HJ-60 semi floating axle rear disc brake setup .. I buy it on TSMMFG with no problems in the parts .. one issue is " I choose calipers with e-brake .. " and for this reazon I'm still in the proces dealing with the cable to proper funtion of the e-brake.
 
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