toy rear axles

[N-Smooth]

tell me all there is to know about an 86 toy rear.
1.width
2.ring gear size, shaft spline count etc.
3.strength in comparison to dana axles... housing, gears, shafts
4.upgradeability (is that a word?)
5.cost effectiveness: cheap or expensive to build/rebuild
6.difficult to work on?

anything else you guys can think of could be helpful

thanks
-nate

 

[Herzog]

They're good axles. Probably slightly narrower than you'd expect. I think the number was around 58" or 59" WMS to WMS. I like the 3rd member design. Very similar to a Ford 9" and much easier to setup gears in compared to Dana axles.

You can get alloy shafts, very low gearsets, and a very good selection of lockers. You can find hi-pinion 3rd members, and factory electric locker 3rd members also!

From my experience, they are easy to work on. It took me a second to understand what was going on with the closed knuckle setup on the front axles, but besides that, they are good axles. I think the Birfields are their only downfall.

I'm trying to remember what the ring gear size on them was. I think it was 8.5", close to the same as a D44 (8.75")

Many people compare them to D44s. Some say they are stronger than D44s, some say they are weaker. I don't really know. From the kind of abuse I've seen them take, they are good axles though.

 

[Caleb]

good question...I ahve been considering a change in the rear to a toy axle as well so after doing a little searching I found an awesome thread on POR...here is the addy... http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173918 it ahs all the info you have...Herzog hit the main points, and the spline count on the rear is 30 front is 27 (I believe)...I have heard the rears are quite strong...I am thining about going either Toy 8" or a ford 9"...

 

[N-Smooth]

I am thinking about going either Toy 8" or a ford 9"...

is a 86 an 8" axle? what is the name based on? i thought the ring gear was bigger than that.

-nate

 

[muleskinner]

is a 86 an 8" axle? what is the name based on? i thought the ring gear was bigger than that.

-nate

Mini truck ring gears are 8". What name are you talking about?? I'm running 37's and Iv'e never had problems with my AXLE shafts, but I did clean a few teeth off of a ring gear last spring. It may have been set up wrong though, I bought it used.

 

[Caleb]

Mini truck ring gears are 8". What name are you talking about?? I'm running 37's and Iv'e never had problems with my AXLE shafts, but I did clean a few teeth off of a ring gear last spring. It may have been set up wrong though, I bought it used.

yep, from the info I have gathered the weak spot on Toy rears is the ring gear usually...

 

[muleskinner]

yep, from the info I have gathered the weak spot on Toy rears is the ring gear usually...

5:29's don't help either. Theyre quite a bit weaker than 4:11's. I had Rocklogic set up this one, so I feel better about it.

 

[N-Smooth]

yep, from the info I have gathered the weak spot on Toy rears is the ring gear usually...

any way to improve upon the ring gear?

 

[Caleb]

any way to improve upon the ring gear?

I dont htink so...just a high quality ring and pinion...I think a toy axle is a great strong axle but its not gonna be a bullet proof option no matter what like how you can build a D60 14T or a Ford 9"

 

[N-Smooth]

I dont htink so...just a high quality ring and pinion...I think a toy axle is a great strong axle but its not gonna be a bullet proof option no matter what like how you can build a D60 14T or a Ford 9"

so would you say it is comparable with a d44 basically? i am trying to find axles for my buddies sami, and i can't find any more cherokee chief d44s.

 

[Herzog]

so would you say it is comparable with a d44 basically? i am trying to find axles for my buddies sami, and i can't find any more cherokee chief d44s.

If they are going under a sami, then they would be perfect strength and weight wise. I don't know about the offset t-case routine though.

 

[Skyetone]

86 has bigger break drums. The lugs are 6 on 5.5 and there are several companies that convert to disk brakes. I lost R&P due to a pinion nut coming loose and walking into the ring. I spun a detroit at the ring gear mount, but that was warenteed. Many people beat the snot out them. few break. If you did break the parts are quick to replace on the trail. the axles are semi float, four bolts and the break line. Your in. The biggest PITA to me is the parking break. the bell crank where the actual line hooks to the drum likes to rust up and lock. And if you run thick leaf packs or a small block the parking brake line runs into the springs.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

any way to improve upon the ring gear?

Yeah, go with Landcruiser stuff....

Same shafts... 1.31"
Bigger Ring... 9.5"

 

[I Lean]

Yeah, go with Landcruiser stuff....

Same shafts... 1.31"
Bigger Ring... 9.5"

Bigger ring gear, but same pinion diameter. Since the pinion shaft breaks some of the time (rather than the gear teeth) you may as well go with the smaller gears and keep the ground clearance.

Particularly under a zuk, I'd go with mini-truck stuff.