Semi-float or full float?

[Mike S]

It has been my observation that Toyota engineering is always improving the relaibility of their vehicles. When I pop the caps off the rear huns on my 80, there are FF axles there. My assumption is that they thought that the FF rear was 'better'.

Not true?

M

 

[ChuckB]

I'm going to play devil's advocate... didn't the 100 go back to SF.

 

[baldredhead]

It has been my observation that Toyota engineering is always improving the relaibility of their vehicles. When I pop the caps off the rear huns on my 80, there are FF axles there. My assumption is that they thought that the FF rear was 'better'.

Not true?

M

might that not have something to do with available factory lockers?

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

Funny, I have seen full floaters break when someone starts hopping too.


Almost ALL axles have the drive axles carying the weight. It is only in 3/4 or greater trucks that it is more common to have a FF design.

The axle shafts themselves are not inherently stronger. like I said, if you are snapping shafts out at the anle end I might believe you, but these shafts fail at the diff end ofthe axle. Where there is no stress form the tire.. unless you housing is bent and you have to bea thtem in with a hammer.

SF is fine..

Listen to what you're saying. There is a reason 3/4 and 1 ton trucks have full floater rear ends. BECAUSE THEY ARE STRONGER! If all the axle has to do is handle the torque of driving the vehicle is has infinately LESS stress on it than it does when it has to carry the weight of the vehicle! If you add into that equasion a 4140, or 4340 chromolly axle your rear end (with those two big bearings) is so much stronger than a semi they arent even in the same league! Will an axle in a FF break sure, but no where near as easy as a FF. AND when it does break your wheel ISNT going to FALL OFF like it does with a semi floater. Infact, if you have a rear locker you can simply remove the broken axle and STILL drive the vehicle home... Other than cost there is NOTHING bad about a FF rear end.

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

I guess that's impacted by the type of wheeling you do. I spent many years doing expedition-style wheeling with *grossly* overloaded Land Cruiser wagons and NEVER saw a broken rear axle (all SF).

Toyota spec'd SF rear axles in many Third World markets, so I don't buy the argument of "cheap and inferior". A FF might be a better design for very heavy trucks, but that doesn't mean a SF won't stand up to serious abuse.

Ex, I never said a SF would stand up to abuse. The question was which is stronger, which is superior. Again, other than cost there is nothing inferior about a FF design. Everything about it is superior. Why did most of the NON US Land Cruisers semingly come with FF? The 80 seriers here in the US came with them. The FF in my HJ60 came from a non US cruiser. I say that if you're interested in adding yet more strength and toughness to your vehicle a FF is one way to go. Just my .02 cents.

 

[Mike S]

OK. No pissing matches. Everyone has ecpressed their opinions. Let's leave it there.

M

 

[Exiled]

Ex, I never said a SF would stand up to abuse. The question was which is stronger, which is superior. Again, other than cost there is nothing inferior about a FF design. Everything about it is superior. Why did most of the NON US Land Cruisers semingly come with FF? The 80 seriers here in the US came with them. The FF in my HJ60 came from a non US cruiser. I say that if you're interested in adding yet more strength and toughness to your vehicle a FF is one way to go. Just my .02 cents.

Actually, you called it "cheap and inferior" (see above). I wasn't attacking a FF or even disputing that it's a stronger design. My point was simply that a SF isn't a "cheap and inferior" design. That was it.

Most non-US Land Cruisers didn't come with FF, although a good number did. Most of it has to do with the WEIGHT carried, but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the FF being stronger. Again, my point wasn't disputing this. But Toyota put SF (still does) axles in heavy-duty Land Cruisers all over the world.