Toyota Semi Floating Axle Trail Fix

[solidfrontaxle]

I'm in the process of outfitting my truck for offroad preparedness. I need to know what I can do if my diff grenades or one of my semi-floating shafts break. What spares and tools do I need for a trail fix? I don't want my wheel falling off while I'm trying to drive back out...

 

[Chevycrew]

Carry a replacement shaft?


Should just be basic tools.

 

[chadschoon]

you could use a high lift jack handle and strap it against the tire, then drag the tire to untell you get to the trailer... Ive seen this done, but it was just out at the snakes so it was just dirt roads.

 

[notajeep]

Toyotas are not c clip axles. They will not fall out like a J$$p. That plus in is VERY hard to bread a toy rear shaft.

 

[Mope]

You'll need a 14mm socket to take off the 4 nuts on the backside of the axle, and then undo the brake line, Then the whole thing comes out. If you have to pull the 3rd, I think it is 12mm for those.

 

[DToy]

Toyotas are not c clip axles. They will not fall out like a J$$p. That plus it is VERY hard to bread a toy rear shaft.

X2. I wheeled my 4Runner on 40" tires on stock semi-floating shafts and never broke one. In fact, I've never seen one broken. I'm sure a few people have, but alot of my friends are Toyota guys and we've run alot of trails in the past 17+ years and never had a problem. I'm all for being prepared, but you're better off carrying other spare parts for things that will actually break i.e. hubs, knuckles, birfields, front axle shafts, drivelines, etc.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

So if I break an axle I can drive on it?
If I do have a spare axle, how hard is it to swap the brake drum assmbly over? Isn't the drum pressed on?



I got all the front axle stuff covered, and I know the rears never break. Thats why I know it will happen to me if I'm not prepared. :busted:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Slow the horses. This is how mis-information gets its roots.

Lets start with the most important part. What is the axle? Land Cruiser no?

Toyota made/makes all sorts of configurations including full-float and semi float. The semi-float can be in c-clip and pressed bearing configurations. Any if you think your driving out on a broken c-clip axle without some sort of trail fix, your in for a long ride.

The rear axle on any US spec LandCruiser from the 50's to ~93' is going to be Semi-Float with a c-clip (easy to spot as it has a rear diff cover). From 94-current the Full-Float axle has been the standard on the 80 and 100 Series

The rear axle on a standard 8", 8.2"/8.4" ie pickup, hilux, Tacoma is a semi-float pressed bearing design, so it will partially remain driveable after breaking a shaft. Again easy to identify because it doesn't have a diff cover nor does it have FF wheel hubs.

So, which axle do you have?

 

[solidfrontaxle]

I have both a pickup and early landcruiser (and soon a late landcruiser :greg, and sorry, I should have specified that. Thank you for that clarification, Kurt.
Since I have both, and for the sake of tech, lets talk about both.

So I gather:
If I break a pickup shaft, I can just turn around and slowly and carefully drive out. To much work to put in a replacement axle in the field.
If I break an early landcruiser axle, do not drive on it. I can pull the shaft since the bearing isn't pressed on, and slide in a replacement and c-clip it (i.e., no pressing involved).
If I break a FF axle, just pull it out and cap it or put in a replacement.
Correct?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

If I break a pickup shaft, I can just turn around and slowly and carefully drive out. To much work to put in a replacement axle in the field.

For the most part. I'm not a fan of driving it very far as it can cause damage to the axle housing and carrier (the broken shaft is spinning still). Worst case scenario, sure.

If I break an early landcruiser axle, do not drive on it. I can pull the shaft since the bearing isn't pressed on, and slide in a replacement and c-clip it (i.e., no pressing involved).
If I break a FF axle, just pull it out and cap it or put in a replacement.
Correct?

You can try to drive on a broken SF, but you won't get too far. Even with binding the axle your going to cause carrier or housing damage, weigh your option. You are correct on the replacement, pull the diff cover, drop out the diff center pin, and get the broken parts out of there. I carry a magnet and a long driver for this job as the offending axle stub can be sized in the carrier.

With the FF, pull out the broken shaft and replace, and or pull out the broken parts so you can drive it to where you can fix it. With the offending shaft or parts removed, no reason you can't drive it 1000 miles.

I'm not a fan of limping it off the trail if it can be avoided again because in many situations it can cause some expensive damage. The FF would be the easiest to field fix, followed by the c-clip SF imo. The press SF does offer some ability to drive short distances, but without an assembled shaft assembly its going to be hard to fix in the field.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

For any FJ40/55/60/62 owners reading, I have a local customer (Lehi) that just went down to an import outfit in Cali to pickup 8 FF axle assemblies, 5 of them are already sold but he has 3 of them left. They are bolt in replacements for an FJ60 or 62 and would make and easy upgrade for an FJ40/55 and for all installs they offer the pluses of an FF setup. If interested read here: http://www.wasatchcruisers.org/vbulletinfrm/showthread.php?t=5416

 

[TimB]

Toyotas are not c clip axles. They will not fall out like a J$$p. That plus in is VERY hard to bread a toy rear shaft.

I've encountered two FJ40's with c-clip axles - so it's something to be aware of. After you bread the shaft do you fry it?

 

[Brian P]

From 94-current the Full-Float axle has been the standard on the 80 and 100 Series

Sigh....

 

[solidfrontaxle]

Thank you for the info.


Re those FFs: Saweeeeeeeet!!!!

I don't know what it is about FF Toyota axles but I definitely have a hard on for them.
I just called him and scored one. I love this forum. My wallet hates it though.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Sigh....

LOL unless you have the anomaly such as Brian. I've only run into a couple of post 93' FZJ's with a SF, yours being one of them.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thank you for the info.


Re those FFs: Saweeeeeeeet!!!!

I don't know what it is about FF Toyota axles but I definitely have a hard on for them.
I just called him and scored one. I love this forum. My wallet hates it though.

Good on ya!

One more major bonus, if you ever want to run an OE locker ie an e-locker from the rear of an FZJ80 or a import cable locker assembly, you HAVE to have a FF, there are no provisions for c-clips in the OE locker applications.

Another bonus, with any deeper gear installs into the 9.5" 3rd (LC) you have to notch the ring for the center pin on SF applications, not a major deal but one more thing to worry about. In the FF you don't have to do a thing