Correct. I couldn't remember what it was called but that's the one I got. Looks like an American company but I can assure you that I paid duty when it actually originated from India!
Sale on Rear Axle Tool
- Thread starter mtbtim
- Start date
Correct. I couldn't remember what it was called but that's the one I got. Looks like an American company but I can assure you that I paid duty when it actually originated from India!
mtbtim
Elite Member
The way I became acquainted with Duane and the tool he makes for Toyota axles was because a problem developed with the Durasolid tool. Several people had contacted me letting me know that the tool wouldn't slide over the widest section of the axle (the section the retainer, tone ring, and bearing are pressed onto). These people tried to contact the company but they got no reply. So, I decided to give it a try getting in touch with them. Their website didn't advertise a phone number, mailing address or email address. They just had one of those internal messaging systems on their website where you would fill out a form and send it off hoping somebody reads it. Well, my first attempt failed and around 2 weeks later I tried again. This time I basically told them they would have to be complete idiots not to respond back. All I wanted them to do is acknowledge they knew about the manufacturing problem and they intend on fixing it. I told them if they don't give me assurances that the problem will be fixed, I cannot in good conscientious continue to recommend their product. Well, they never got back to me so I went searching for another option.
I can't remember who it was on this forum that suggested Duane's tool on this forum but it looked pretty good so I messaged him on Ebay and told him I wanted to talk to him about his tool. The conversation I had with Duane went well and he sent me out his tool to test out. What Sean (aka [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION]) and I found out is his tool was only going to work to pull the parts off the axle but wouldn't work to press everything back on. With the original Durasolid tool, Sean and i used a press sleeve from our kit to press the parts back onto the axle. I told Duane that without the ability to use his tool to press the parts back onto the axle, I couldn't support his tool. What good is it to be able to pull the parts off but then you can't get them back on using the tool. So, Sean and I came up with a suggestion for Duane to make an adapter that would work with his tool to press the parts back on. The installer sleeve with the cut-out section was what Sean and I suggested Duane make to go along with the main tool and the tone ring remover. With the installer sleeve, it was now a complete tool that could do everything.
The beauty of Duane's tool is it's all you need. With the original Durasolid tool, we needed to use a bearing splitter and our press sleeve kit which adds expense for people wanting to do this repair.
I'm pretty proud that Sean and I were instrumental in making Duane's tool more functional and I also like supporting someone we respect and like. I've had many conversations with Duane and he's a good dude. Duane had a career in manufacturing and he's retired now. He's keeping busy in retirement making these tools right at his home in Omaha Nebraska.
The funny thing is Durasolid finally got back to me after 6 months and let me know they fixed their tool design and wanted to send me one of their tools to test out again. I told them that train has already left the station and they blew it by not getting back to me sooner. Who knows, we could still be supporting their tool, but I'm damn glad we aren't. These freaking people never even thanked us for supporting their tool. Who knows how many sales we made for them from our videos.
I'm stoked we're supporting an American made tool and not something made overseas. The U.S. use to be a Manufacturing Powerhouse. Now, most things we buy are made in other countries. I'd like to see more manufacturing jobs return to the U.S.
I always am bummed when I finally make a purchase and then see the price drop later. I don't feel THAT bad in this case, especially if the tool is getting ripped off from some dweeb in a basement somewhere. The tool worked wonderfully and was worth the money I spent. If you plan to be a 4runner owner for the foreseeable future, I'd just get this thing purchased at this price since the rear seals will probably go at some point or one of your buddies will, lol.
TonyB66
New member
Tim, thanks much. Ordered.
Having spent much of my career combatting CF, finding schemes that fraud my employer, working with the law enforcement, typically the FBI, but also INTERPOL, I get the wrongness of such blatant copying. It all stemmed from the PRC or the People's Republic of China...
Having spent much of my career combatting CF, finding schemes that fraud my employer, working with the law enforcement, typically the FBI, but also INTERPOL, I get the wrongness of such blatant copying. It all stemmed from the PRC or the People's Republic of China...
Last edited:
Wedgy
New member
There's an easy fix to this situation; have a bunch of us Ebay users like me buy the fake tool and return it for a refund saying that it is junk. Ebay/Paypal always sides with the buyer.... always. Give it a bad review and say you bought the "original" and it is so much better it added 27.3 horsepower !
Winning !
Winning !
mtbtim
Elite Member
That's a great idea if we could get enough people to do it.
tvpierce
New member
[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION]
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I presume it's OK to post this information on a Tundra forum I freqent? Your video and this tool are well known over there.
I bought Duane's tool for $170 and feel it was a great value at that price. The design and craftsmanship that went into it are brilliantly simple -- it just works.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I presume it's OK to post this information on a Tundra forum I freqent? Your video and this tool are well known over there.
I bought Duane's tool for $170 and feel it was a great value at that price. The design and craftsmanship that went into it are brilliantly simple -- it just works.
mtbtim
Elite Member
Yes, by all means post it on the Tundra forum and anywhere where else you feel appropriate. I posted this also on Tacoma World and many Toyota Enthusiast Facebook pages. The more people who know about the Chinese knock-offs the better.
Tool for a LC
I am helping Duane to develop another tool for 80 series and 100 series Land Cruiser rear axle bearing job. The adapter plate which is sold separately for FJ's etc., won't work for the LC. Hope he gets to patent it. Tim, please let him know the importance of a patent.
I am helping Duane to develop another tool for 80 series and 100 series Land Cruiser rear axle bearing job. The adapter plate which is sold separately for FJ's etc., won't work for the LC. Hope he gets to patent it. Tim, please let him know the importance of a patent.
tvpierce
New member
Done
mtbtim
Elite Member
I talked to him about it but he said something like the patent process is involved for something like his product and he decided not to get one. I know nothing about getting patents. I guess if he had a patent he would have to get lawyers involved, which obviously costs money, and maybe that was also part of Duane't decision to not get a patent.
I think these people that ripoff people's designs and have the products manufactured over in China know that most people wont have a patent for something like this and they take advantage of it.
TonyB66
New member
Indeed. I've known quite a few who pondered patents on such items, even myself on an intercooler for a first gen new MINI Cooper S (2002-06), and the time and money to do so were prohibitive. If it were a Honda with millions on the road, an item for the masses, not just for performance enthusiasts, I would have entertained a patent more so. There's a cost/benefit analysis for sure...
If Duane uses US steel as well, note such, if not already doing so. A good part of the reason I went with Savage and Stubbs (bumpers and sliders), was their commitment to use US steel...
Last edited:
mtbtim
Elite Member
Duane does use U.S. Steel.
TonyB66
New member
That doesn't surprise me one bit from what you shared about Duane. If it were me, I'd proudly state such too!
I'm getting mine tomorrow. Darn fast shipping!
nevada
Senior Member
when did you order?
I ordered on the 21st, and mine isn't supposed to get here until the 29th. seems like a long time..
TonyB66
New member
That's strange. Did you check the actual tracking number though? If not, do so...
I ordered mine on the 22nd.
nevada
Senior Member
the email says the 29th, but I went straight to the shipper and plugged the tracking number in. its showing for tomorrow. this is a business address, nobody will be here tomorrow. so hopefully i'll get it by Monday.
Desert runner 99
Member
Will this tool work on a rear axle for a 2004 Sequoia? Very similar to the 1st gen Tundra. Disc rear brakes instead of drums, but the axles are similar and it has ABS.
TheDurk
Elite Member
I ordered on the 21st, and I got it the 24th.
