New to the FJ60 world, come share my pain

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Please don't get me wrong and assume that I'm bashing FF axles. They are a better design than the SF counterparts. However, when comparing a stock cruiser Sf axle to a FF, the SF has proven itself to be very reliable and the axle shafts are definetley stronger.

Georg
 
I hope to have flange-to-flange FF axle housings minus 3rd members from Australia in mid-July available for sale.

:)

I like my SF very much. Its a pretty nice design, but the OEM FF from Oz would be the bees knees. Same components as the 80 series rear FF so parts are readily available. These would be drum rears with direct bolt-in 3rd members from your own rig. These are non-lock housings (cable or electric).

I've always thought the FF design for rigs is optimum especially for ease of R & Ring it on the trail. They do require a bit more consistent PM but that to me is a no brainer anyway. :)

Regards.
Onur
 
:D

What we all really want:

Super8-LG.jpg


RE: A/C compressors. I found one, but there's another somewhere you can have, also. I can leave on the side of the house, if you want to pick up during the week. Home today cleaning up sh!t.

:cool:
 
ntsqd said:
. The only FF failures that I've seen thus far have been related to the drive studs.
.
Click to expand...


Well, then you have not looked far. Believe me, I love the FF design. It's super badass and cool, however in the microworld of Norcal wheeling, I have seen far more problems with the FF design especially on FJ40s.

One individual alone, I have seen him break both shafts at once, then break one of the replacements, then shear all of the studs several times. He runs with the FF and a detroit in the back, and I personally think the detroit is at the root of the problems. The shock loading when it unlocks just destroys the hub studs and pins, and shears the axles at the side gears, even when everything is tight and well cared for.

Anyway, when it's time to upgrade, in general, it's worthwhile really upgrading. American junk yard parts like 14 bolts are better in basically every way, and that's the route to go.

Given the choice between Toyota FF and Semi-float, I'd of course take the FF, but I wouldn't bother to upgrade and existing semifloat. I've broken 1 semifloat axle in 10+ years of Rubicon Trail use, and it broke in the splines where a FF would have broken as well. The one advantage is that a trail repair is somewhat easier in a FF, but then why not run an axle like a D70 or 14B where a trail repair will never be needed?
 
I ran rockwells in my chevy 20 years ago. And I did break the FF rear axle shafts in them just the same! :flipoff2:

My biggest "issue" with the fjxx FF axles is the bare face that a couple of key parts ( wheel hubs and axle shafts; they both fail ) are difficult to find when you need one in a pinch. SF parts are common and dime-a-dozen.


Georg
 
Actually I have paid a fair amount of attention. I guess since my use and need doesn't include 37's to 40's and doesn't have me climbing over rocks the size of houses that when ever I've seen a failure of relatively new parts in a Toyota FF that I've chalked it up to abuse rather than fatigue. Rock crawlers abuse their parts, it's such a microcosm of use that failures there may or may not relate to the rest of us.

I've owned two 14bff's and I have no desire to own another. Not because they're not a great piece, they're just not applicable to how I'll use the FJ60. The center casting is such a hangy-down part that unless you do run 37's+ you're gonna drag it a lot. I did. A friend has one under the rear of his 406SBC powered FJ40 along with a D60 under the front. They've been there about 20 years and they haven't needed anything more than normal maintenance. For those of you who've been there, he DROVE the FJ down Surprise Cyn, no winching down involved, so it's not like his is a trailer queen. He's often commented that those axles were simultaneously the best and the worst mod that he's made. Best because he was going thru Birfields like they were candy. Worst because it changed the light and fun nature of the truck to acting more like a full size, ponderous and heavy. Not what I want from an FJ60.

Cruiserdrew said:
Well, then you have not looked far. Believe me, I love the FF design. It's super badass and cool, however in the microworld of Norcal wheeling, I have seen far more problems with the FF design especially on FJ40s.

One individual alone, I have seen him break both shafts at once, then break one of the replacements, then shear all of the studs several times. He runs with the FF and a detroit in the back, and I personally think the detroit is at the root of the problems. The shock loading when it unlocks just destroys the hub studs and pins, and shears the axles at the side gears, even when everything is tight and well cared for.

Anyway, when it's time to upgrade, in general, it's worthwhile really upgrading. American junk yard parts like 14 bolts are better in basically every way, and that's the route to go.

Given the choice between Toyota FF and Semi-float, I'd of course take the FF, but I wouldn't bother to upgrade and existing semifloat. I've broken 1 semifloat axle in 10+ years of Rubicon Trail use, and it broke in the splines where a FF would have broken as well. The one advantage is that a trail repair is somewhat easier in a FF, but then why not run an axle like a D70 or 14B where a trail repair will never be needed?
Click to expand...
 
So just quick update before I leave the country again...

First off, sorry DYNO, I wanted to get moving on the projects we talked about but work had me going all over the place. I will be in France for three weeks then Turkey, Ireland, Amsterdam and Munich and coming home around the end of Sep.

The motor developed an exhaust leak between the head and the manifold. Took it over to Richard at K&H and he took care if it the same day and no charge. I love that man. Honest as all hell!!

I now drive it everyday and its an absolute dream to drive. Leaks a little from the trans but Richard said he would be taking care of that when I get back.
 
NLXTACY said:
like the ability to still being able to roll even if on that of chance that I break the axle shaft I can still roll out without having the axle start taking the wheel down the road without the truck. I've never experienced it but I have read about it.
Click to expand...

if you put disk brakes on a SF axle and weld the brackets on good enough then this is a non-issue. i have driven mine all the way out of Pritchetts canyon (reversing the trail) after breaking a rear and two weekends ago i made a 4.5 mile lap during a race with a broken SF rear axle shaft and it did not fall out either time.
 
mookie said:
NLXTACY said:
like the ability to still being able to roll even if on that of chance that I break the axle shaft I can still roll out without having the axle start taking the wheel down the road without the truck. I've never experienced it but I have read about it.
Click to expand...
if you put disk brakes on a SF axle and weld the brackets on good enough then this is a non-issue. i have driven mine all the way out of Pritchetts canyon (reversing the trail) after breaking a rear and two weekends ago i made a 4.5 mile lap during a race with a broken SF rear axle shaft and it did not fall out either time.
Click to expand...
MISF was stranded where the axle flange broke off the axle shaft (at the Gate-Keeper of Lockwood Re-Route/Miller Toyota Trail for you So-KA folks). Granted, it was a D44 axle, but the resulting carnage spread open the rear caliper like it was butter and then the rotor escaped.
 
No Problem here! I have been so busy it would have been tough to fit it in. Whenever you are ready just call and I will make some time.

Dyno
 
Dynosoar said:
No Problem here! I have been so busy it would have been tough to fit it in. Whenever you are ready just call and I will make some time.

Dyno
Click to expand...

I was hoping you had work to keep you busy.

I'm now off to France for three weeks. Istanbul, Turkey for a week. Dublin, Ireland for a week. Amsterdam for a week and then Munich, Germany for a week before finally heading home. All my updates will be pics of hopefully local cruisers :P
 
Update: coming home from work just now and I could hear a screaming noise coming from under the truck. I was coming off the 118 down Topanga when it started. It was loud and then all of a sudden smoke. I thought for sure it might be the transfer again but I couldn't feel it through the shifter. I moved onto a side street and popped the hood but kept the truck running. I gave quick glance and could see smoke wrapping around the fan shroud. Looked at the belts, all there and all moving. Then I saw the smog pump. It's not moving but the belt is. I sure don't remember there ever being a clutch on the smog pump so...

Sure enough the smog pump had locked and the belt was just running around the pulley heating up. Sucks that it runs the water pump too or else I'd just cut it and move on.

So tow truck is coming and it's off to take it to Richard at K&H which is just a mile down the road. Lucky I guess. Smog pumps are dime a dozen right? :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom