Rear axle beef up ideas?

[Jon]

My rear axle needs a lot of TLC. I got some used axle shafts to replace mine that are grinder scored and keep tearing through seals.

I'm gonna need new axle bearings again and want to know what bearings you've had the best success with. I will be beating on them with lots of wheeling and daily driving. I've got either Beck/Arnley or Master Pro right now.

I'm also going to do this ToyTec Superflex Rear Coils (96-02 4Runner) - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

And I'm looking for ideas of some sort of beef up plate

Any other suggestions, beside fixing the locker?

I've got an 4.10 axle minus shafts up for grabs if anyone's interested. It's got the coil perched chopped off but the gears are still good. $100, pickup and it's yours. No good to me, I'm 4.30

 

[JamesDean91]

Diamond axles ftw!
Go to trail gears site or other yota shops they make truss kits and pumpkin kits to strengthen a axle housing.

 

[audiness]

Does the rear axle really need "beefing up"? I'd say the front IFS components are much more likely to fail than the solid rear axle.

 

[Jon]

I just pulled my rear axle shafts and test fitted the doner shafts. We are a-go! The 4.10 axles work in the 4.30. Both are 30 spline. Only problem is my press is not gonna do the job. I'm taking all 4 axles to a shop tomorrow and hope it's not gonna dent the $ to much. I hate letting other people work on my rig. I might actually take them to the Hobby Shop on base.

I'm not worried about the shafts themselves breaking, Toyota did a great job. Diamonds are gonna be stronger but I'm just wanting to do a beef up plate/armor project.

I got National bearings and seals inner/outer from Oreilley's.

As for the IFS being a weak link, there's no question about it. It's weaker than solid axle. But you have to think about it this way: in pressure situations, the CV axles serve as a quick change fuse. I can swap a CV in 20 min on the trail :whipping2 The next thing in line to go is the diff itself. I'd much rather swap a cv on the trail than limp back down and repair a blown diff at home. I've even had a CV snap at the diff leaving the spline lodged inside requiring me to remove the diff anyway, but I made it home 10mi, not fun. (GSP Axles, which have horrible records, be it Toyota, Subaru, Honda... nothing but horror stories such as mine. It was a fast pace off-camber, and as soon as it caught traction, poof:toilet:

Basic rule of thumb: if you're attempting an obstacle to large with inadequate machinery, it is going to break.

I'm just a newb to rocks and want to protect my rig as I drive it hard. Go BIG or go home! :boxer:and Happy New Year:cheers:

 

[KSWAY]

PM'd about the 410's.

 

[Doc2012]

For bearings, look into the Inchworm or Marlin Crawler kit.

They're heavy duty seals and bearings.

You can go with their chromoly axle shafts too if you wanted 'em.

 

[Coastal616]

Does the rear axle really need "beefing up"? I'd say the front IFS components are much more likely to fail than the solid rear axle.

This is very true. You're not going to need to do anything to a toyota rear axle housing for basic rock crawling and street driving.


I've done this to a stock un gusseted toyota rear axle for 4 years and its still fine, it also uses stock toyota ball joints in the front end and plated stock arms. Toyota stuff is VERY strong for what it is.

and its lived through a few of these:

 

[techno]

Jon, just wondering, if you are not going to upgrade the front cv's for fear of busting the diff, why are you not afraid of breaking something else at the rear after beefing up the axle housing? Same theory right?