Local shop for an axle rebuild info? (1 Viewer)

[Rudical]

Well I don't know where to start or stop with my 40 fix up. This damn money (time and labor!) pit is getting to me. I am reading a lot of mud posts on what to do, but I keep getting more into it. I am wondering if you guys know a shop around town can that get this axle done for me. I have the rebuild kit here from Cool Cruisers but I do not have the time and resources to get it done. Just want to get her back on the ground and keep her moving to keep the motivation up. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rudy

 

[Pyro-boy]

Are you rebuilding just to rebuild or is there a problem with the axle? I am currently rebuiding one of my 78 axles for future installation on my 40. I doing alittle each day I am about to repack the wheel bearings and install the hub. It is not that hard if you have all the right tools. When I am done I would be more than willing to give you a hand rebuilding your axle.

PS When I had a shop rebuild my front 80 axle it cost about $900 .

Vince

 

[pappy]

Are you rebuilding the knuckles or the diff?

 

[Mackeath]

In Santa Fe, there are a couple of really good, reasonable places.

The first is one called All Custom, ask for Stu the owner, and he does fantastic work on many different things and does not charge that much for it. He seems to be into repeat business rather than scoring a fast buck. If he does not do the work himself, he has many different quality guys working with him that will do it, do it right, and do it for not that much. Plus, you can always negotiate a labor cost before it is done. One of his guys did a great job rebuilding and charging my old freon AC system for 200 dollars. I was looking at that cost just for the freon from other guys and this one actually fixed the problems I was having with it.

I had, before I met Stu, Meineke in Santa Fe rebuild my steering knuckles. It was one fo there mechanics who works at night and on the weekend, sort of off books. He did a great job on it and it cost me only 500 plus parts that I bought myself. If I had it to do over though, I'd have gone to All Custom and had Stu do it and probably saved even more money.

Jim

 

[SteveLCetc]

Talk to Ryan Eklund, he's a Toyota Mechanic at Malone and does other work after hours. He's on this list sometimes.

 

[Rudical]

Vince,

Ouch! on the price to rebuild an axle. I guess that sounds like a cutoff point for me of when to stop. Of course me constantly buying tools to get the 40 going has put me back some. I have some tools and my neighbor (a mechanic for many years) has a but load more, but since he and his wife were hit by a truck while they were on a motorcycle he is of limited help. If you have any time that would be greatly appreciated. Let me know what your schedule is and I would more that gladly compensate you for your help!

Jon,

My neighbor with his limited abilities said the knuckles and diff look fine but I would not mind a second opinion. He said to just replace all the seals, but if I have it out why not make sure all of it works. When I look into the knuckles (since I have the parts) I will decide.

Steve & Jim,

Thanks for the info about the shops. At the price Vince said for the axle rebuild I might wait to get the front done and then look at the rear axle. Work at this time of year is a PITA! Getting around 90 employees started every morning and making sure about 140 apartment complexes (oh yeah, all the housing at Kirtland) are happy takes some time. They could probably help out.

Rudy

 

[OGBeno]

Rudy--

Do you have shop access or a garage?

I can help you with what you need done....and, hell, I'm free....

I've done a few of these....

Give me a call.
-o-

 

[cruiserdan]

I have the rebuild kit here from Cool Cruisers

:whoops:

 

[Rudical]

Rudy--

Do you have shop access or a garage?

I can help you with what you need done....and, hell, I'm free....

I've done a few of these....

Onur,

I have a garage, but it is small. I can haul it down to our shop (probably be better) I can get in any evening or weekend depending on what the mechanics are doing. There we have air, a lift and many tools. Last time I was down there to pull this axle out, I spent more time looking for stuff, so better for me to have my own.

Give me a call.
-o-

:whoops:

Dan,

I did think about calling you before I ordered that kit, but I read that you were on vacation, so I did not bother. According to the "whoops" what did I do wrong(Is that a bad kit?). I still have the rear axle to fix up and not to mention new rotors for my 4Runner. Oh yeah, thanks for the HDC shirt at the June meeting.

Rudy

 

[pappy]

Dan,

I did think about calling you before I ordered that kit, but I read that you were on vacation, so I did not bother. According to the "whoops" what did I do wrong(Is that a bad kit?). I still have the rear axle to fix up and not to mention new rotors for my 4Runner. Oh yeah, thanks for the HDC shirt at the June meeting.

Rudy

Dan has people. You can buy parts any time and get the discount. Always use factory seals. I've gotten away with the knuckle rebuild kits from places like Trail Gear and Marlin, but I substitute the inner axle seal with OEM and toss their junk in the box for trail spares. The only exception I can think of is the new seal from Marlin. When mine goes I'll be giving him a call.

 

[Rudical]

Dan has people. You can buy parts any time and get the discount. Always use factory seals. I've gotten away with the knuckle rebuild kits from places like Trail Gear and Marlin, but I substitute the inner axle seal with OEM and toss their junk in the box for trail spares. The only exception I can think of is the new seal from Marlin. When mine goes I'll be giving him a call.

Jon,

Thanks for the info. I know Dan has people at American Toyota, but I make most of my decisions for personal things at night. Other than that work takes most of time from sunlight to sun down (and then some). Do the other seals other than the inner axle work (hub, dust cover, etc.)?

Rudy

 

[pappy]

I can't remember when I did my knuckles last, and they are not leaking. So, yes, I think the wipers and gaskets are fine in those kits.

 

[Pyro-boy]

I just finished installing the new Marlin inner axle seals these seals are very nice. It will be awhile before I know how well they work.

Vince

 

[Rudical]

Ok,

Looked at the Marlin website. I found the knuckle service kit at $155. I paid $105 for a kit that looks like the same. Cool Cruisers shipped me this kit from Terrain Tamer ( but they called it a alxe rebuild kit):

 

[pappy]

Ok,

Looked at the Marlin website. I found the knuckle service kit at $155. I paid $105 for a kit that looks like the same.

The $155 Marlin kit includes wheel bearings. His kit w/o wheel bearings is $75.

 

[Rudical]

Let me rephase the question.

The $155 Marlin kit includes wheel bearings. His kit w/o wheel bearings is $75.

The Marlin kit posted looks the same, but I am not sure if they make their own, or do they buy from others like CCOT. You and Vince are using Marlin, so I am wondering how well this kit works by Terrain Tamer if it is the same.

 

[Pyro-boy]

The Marlin kit posted looks the same, but I am not sure if they make their own, or do they buy from others like CCOT. You and Vince are using Marlin, so I am wondering how well this kit works by Terrain Tamer if it is the same.

I am using the kit from Cruiser Outfitters ($87) and inner axle seals from Marlin Crawler ($14). The inner axle seals give more wiggle room if you dont shim exactly right. I did not do the wheel bearings at this time.

Vince

 

[cruiserdan]

As a cross-reference OEM parts, with trunion bearings, wholesale for ~225 bucks.

 

[pappy]

Ok,

Looked at the Marlin website. I found the knuckle service kit at $155. I paid $105 for a kit that looks like the same. Cool Cruisers shipped me this kit from Terrain Tamer ( but they called it a alxe rebuild kit):

Rudy,

The one good thing I see in that kit are the KOYO bearings. I think the Marlin and Trail Gear kits also use them.

The Marlin kit posted looks the same, but I am not sure if they make their own, or do they buy from others like CCOT. You and Vince are using Marlin, so I am wondering how well this kit works by Terrain Tamer if it is the same.

I don't think any of them put their own kits together.

One other thought. Putting all that stuff back on the knuckle can be a pain. I used the Spindle Stud Kit from Trail Gear and it made life easier. I bought one kit and used half on the 4Runner and the other half on Da'40. Get a kit and split with a buddy.