What is the real difference?
Stupid question. Full float rear axle versus semi?
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The real difference is that on in a semi floating axle the axle itself has to support the load (weight) of the car/ truck. Whereas on a fully floating axle the weight/load is supported solely by the axle housing. So if an axle breaks you can pull the axle out and the car will still roll. On a semi float if the axle breaks you tend to loose the wheel. Load carrying capacity is always higher with a same sized full-floater. Not to mention with a 4wd vehicle if the rear axel breaks you can remove it and continue on in Front wheel drive mode.
Dynosoar
Dynosoar
Differences
SF rears
the axle shafts are held to the side gears via c clips.
also each axle shafts rides on one bearing at edge of the axle housings ( wheel bearing). the wheel is bolted to the axle shaft directly. So the axle shafts in the SF axles not only turn the wheel ,
they also carry the the load of the truck.
FF rears.
just like the front axles.
They use wheel hub with 2 bearings in each hub ( that carrie the load)
The axle shafts slide into the side gears, no need for clips they are bolted the wheel hubs in the same fashon as as the locking hubs or drive flanges in the front axle. so the axle shafts only turn the wheels , they don't carry any load.
If the argument is about axle shafts only. The SF axle shafts are thicker with bigger flanges therefore stronger, but for load bearing ,FF axles offer a stronger setup for stock rigs.
There are a lot of advantages to FF rear axles, but I don't think they are strong enough for trail rigs with tires bigger than 32".
But there are limits to the strength of all toyota axles and there are weeknesses to both when the trucks a lifted and modified for the trail and poeple look into other axle options to get the strecth they need.
I am sure others will contribute more to this and probably someone is writing his respose as I am writing mine so this info might become redundant.
SF rears
the axle shafts are held to the side gears via c clips.
also each axle shafts rides on one bearing at edge of the axle housings ( wheel bearing). the wheel is bolted to the axle shaft directly. So the axle shafts in the SF axles not only turn the wheel ,
they also carry the the load of the truck.
FF rears.
just like the front axles.
They use wheel hub with 2 bearings in each hub ( that carrie the load)
The axle shafts slide into the side gears, no need for clips they are bolted the wheel hubs in the same fashon as as the locking hubs or drive flanges in the front axle. so the axle shafts only turn the wheels , they don't carry any load.
If the argument is about axle shafts only. The SF axle shafts are thicker with bigger flanges therefore stronger, but for load bearing ,FF axles offer a stronger setup for stock rigs.
There are a lot of advantages to FF rear axles, but I don't think they are strong enough for trail rigs with tires bigger than 32".
But there are limits to the strength of all toyota axles and there are weeknesses to both when the trucks a lifted and modified for the trail and poeple look into other axle options to get the strecth they need.
I am sure others will contribute more to this and probably someone is writing his respose as I am writing mine so this info might become redundant.
i have been running a fj60 ff rear for 3years now and love it. have not broke any shafts yet but there is a first for everything. they are a stout setup. if you do plan on wheeling hard with 35' or larger tires i think its the way to go. you wont be stranded if you dont have a spare axle like on the semi float. there is aftermarket shafts for the semi float that are around 450 $ from poly performance. everybody has there own opinnions , but i do know if you look around at some of the all toyota trail runs you will see alot of full floaters out there.