80 series birf replacement guidance

[ToyodaTocco]

I need some guidance from RS 80 folks. I bought my father-in-laws 80 from him and ol' Clifford needs some TLC. First on the agenda is to rebuild the clacking front axle. I plan on running 33's on it and doing the usual CO wheeling in it, nothing too crazy. It's a 94 with no lockers. What do you folks suggest I go with?
Toyota oem?
Nitro Standard duty from kurt at cruiser outfitters?
heavy duty nitro chromoly?

I think on some of them upgrades you have to convert part time 4wd and I'm not looking to convert it now. Should I get new inner axles also? There's 310k miles on the 80 and judging by the lack of maintenance by the first owner, I'm sure the axle has never been touched.

 

[rckhound]

No need for new inner axles. Oem axles are some of the strongest I have seen. Dont really trust aftermarket have seen those fail. Most of the 80 birfields break when locked going in reverse with the wheel turned. I wheeled the hell out of my 80 locked geared and in 35's all stock parts inside.

 

[BDGIII]

The inner axles can get a groove on them where the seal is and leak. If it they dont leak they are good. I think you can buy two nitros birfs for the cost of a factory.

 

[Corbet]

Personally I went with the heavy duty Nitro chromoly's.

http://www.justdifferentials.com/AXTBIRF-FJ80KIT-p/axtbirf-fj80kit.htm

Everyone criticizes chromo's for lifespan. But they cost about half of OEM, so who cares? I'll take the strength and if I every wear them out I'll buy a new set. No part time required.

If you don't feel you need the strength I'd just buy standard Nitro

http://www.justdifferentials.com/AXTBIRF-FJ80-p/axtbirf-fj80.htm

Again if you keep the truck long enough to wear those out buy new ones. The OEM are outstanding quality but they come at a cost. Will you drive the truck another 200K+? I'm sure there are plenty of other things that need $ thrown at it. Save the money on OEM birfs and fix other things.


Side note on the front axle rebuild, do the brakes at the same time while its torn down. I like the lifetime wiper seals over the OEM felts. Only use OEM inner axle seals for a full time truck. Buy a couple extra as you'll most likely "F" one up installing it the first time.

 

[RockOn]

2nd buying extra inner axle seals, cheap insurance.

 

[LARGEONE]

There's a thread on this forum recommending a shop in Denver that rebuilds them. A few of us in the club have had them rebuilt with good results. Mine were rebuilt and have been wheeled quite a bit with no issues.

 

[Inukshuk]

There's a thread on this forum recommending a shop in Denver that rebuilds them. A few of us in the club have had them rebuilt with good results. Mine were rebuilt and have been wheeled quite a bit with no issues.

I would not do the rebuilds again. They were very loose when I removed them last year after installing gears. So much so that I did not re-install one. That was after 40,00 miles.

Buy from Slee locally, or CruiserOutfitters.

I see no reason for Chromoly on your setup. I have put 170,000 miles on 33's and stok birfs with plenty of locker use.

Inner axles only if grooved at the seal. Do not use heavy duty seals. We have found they only groove faster - esp on the full time 80. Use Toyota OEM.

 

[nakman]

I would not do the rebuilds again. They were very loose when I removed them last year after installing gears. So much so that I did not re-install one. That was after 40,00 miles.

40,00? is that 4000? or 40,000?

 

[LARGEONE]

I would not do the rebuilds again. They were very loose when I removed them last year after installing gears. So much so that I did not re-install one. That was after 40,00 miles.

Buy from Slee locally, or CruiserOutfitters.

Daniel. This is good to know. I will make sure to check them on my next axle service. I probably have close to that mileage on mine (40k) with no issues detectable from the drivers seat.

I wonder if Dan K has done an axle service since install of his rebuilds?

 

[MountainGoat]

I wonder if Dan K has done an axle service since install of his rebuilds?

I have not been back in there. I installed the rebuilts at 266,246 miles and now I'm about 299,800. I only have about 33.5k on them. I did notice a little clicking last winter when I was spinning them hard in the snow in reverse to get unstuck. Unlocked of course. Other than that they have been fine. No clicking yet under normal conditions. Knock wood.

Here is the thread from 6 (!) years ago when I put them in.

http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=15169

 

[LARGEONE]

I have not been back in there. I installed the rebuilts at 266,246 miles and now I'm about 299,800. I only have about 33.5k on them. I did notice a little clicking last winter when I was spinning them hard in the snow in reverse to get unstuck. Unlocked of course. Other than that they have been fine. No clicking yet under normal conditions. Knock wood.

Here is the thread from 6 (!) years ago when I put them in.

http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=15169

Thanks for the update Dan. I'll look at my mileage when I put them in...I need to do a rear end repack first and then I'll check the birfs.

 

[Inukshuk]

Mine is my daily driver . They seemed fine but after installing gears it seems the tightening of the system by having new gears amplified vibration of the birfs and a slightly unbalanced rear driveshaft. The birfs felt quite loose and were examined by both Robbie and Bill (Van Beek).

Forty Thousand Miles (I see I wrote 30,000 in Dan's thread. Not sure why.

Dan - glad you cross-referenced the other thread. I looked briefly but did not find it. I see I posted there a year ago. All still running smooth since. One of the rebuilds and one that was lying around Robbie's shop.

 

[ToyodaTocco]

After looking into OEM vs. standard nitro vs. chromoly axles. I decided that the RCV axles were the best decision for me. OEM was way to expensive, standard nitro was only a couple hundred dollars less than the RCV, and I was afraid that my inner axles after 315k miles may have some grooves in them. My RCV axles came in yesterday and have all the parts (hopefully) except the ABS rings. They say that I need to use the existing ABS rings off the stock shafts but Are the ABS rings on the OEM axles able to be pressed off and reused? Or do I need to buy some from Mr T?

 

[Inukshuk]

.... except the ABS rings. They say that I need to use the existing ABS rings off the stock shafts but Are the ABS rings on the OEM axles able to be pressed off and reused? Or do I need to buy some from Mr T?

Tap them off with a brass drift like you would tap out a bearing race, work around a little at a time. They can be reinstalled the same way but a press works nicely too for reinstall.

 

[ToyodaTocco]

Tap them off with a brass drift like you would tap out a bearing race, work around a little at a time. They can be reinstalled the same way but a press works nicely too for reinstall.

Thanks!

 

[ToyodaTocco]

I installed the rcv axles over the weekend and rebuilt the front axle in the process. Everything went smoothly (other than being a messing job). The hardest part was putting the abs tone rings on the new birfs. I'm glad I went with new inner shafts also as my old ones had a big groove cut into them.