Topic: Full Floater

[toolman]

Who runs a full float rear? And is it worth the trouble and where can I find a kit?

Thanks

[8D3TOY]

There is a post on here about it and I think a guy on Pirate built one, I have thought about it but every factory FF I find is big $$.

[E-9]

Front Range sells a kit for this. I run theirs and am pleased.

[toolman [OP]]

WOW! those kits are high! May just do without for a while.

Thanks

[FIREBALL]

They're cool, but if you're not breaking rear axles then it's probably not worth the money. If you know a machinest then you could build your own fairly easy and with factory toyota parts except for the custom axles.

[toolman [OP]]

Yeah I may just convert to disc brakes and go with some stronger axles.

Thanks

[FIREBALL]

What are you planning for your truck? With your current setup axles and discs for the rear are way overkill. I've run 38's and never broke a rear axle and disc's work well, but i've still been able to lock up the rears with late model drums.
Your dollars might be better spent on upgrading the front axles that tend to be a weaer link than the rear.

[toolman [OP]]

Well Ive already thought of that. I rebuilt the front axles last summer, I didnt have the money for xover steering at the time so I am planning to get that as well. As for overkill on the disc brakes and axles for the rear, I kinda thought that was the point? Any way thats kinda what I had in mind. Most of what I will be doing with the truck won't be that hardcore wheeling like some of you guys do. Just not any good places around here for that kinda stuff.

[AaronB]

I think the rear axle on fj60's is a full floater

[FIREBALL]

Overkill is, I guess, is what we are looking for. My point is that there are many other things, IMO, that you would benefit more from before you got to the point where you would need rear discs or a FF.
As far as stopping power, you could benefit more from upgrading your front brakes to vented rotors like the IFS trucks came with. You'd have better stopping power and better cooling with less likelyhood of warping rotors. There are several ways of getting the vented rotors, like using Landcruiser discs or using ifs hubs and rotors witch will also gain you 3" of front end width. Then you could upgrade to an '86 or newer rear that is also 3" wider and has larger drums than the earlier trucks.
Birfields are also always a worry so upgrading to Longfields would also be a very good investment.
Just some suggestions as alternatives to high dollar FF, disc kits.

[E-9]

I agree with the previous post. The full floater would be the last thing i would do. I did it last with my truck. I had all the exrtra parts on hand, so no expense about the cost of the coversion. I ran my stock rear brakes until they litterally seized up from mud and grit.( about 3 years) I live in NC, so their is plenty of wet weather. The only advantages to the floater is the ability to run locking hubs on the rear, if you choose to do so, (I broke hub splines in twice on the rear) and now run flanges, and you can also pull a broken axle and keep moving along.

[toolman [OP]]

Alot of good points. Thanks. Yeah I think it would be one of the last things I would do. I really would rather put the vented rotors up front first. I have alot of things I want to do to this truck just gonna take some time. Thats the good part, I can leave it sit if I don't have the money, doesnt cost a dime to leave in the driveway.

Thanks