Topic: Fj80 vs mini axle

[81 toyota]

How much stronger are the fj80 axles than Toyota mini a axles, is is worth buying and building what are the pros and cons? I've done a litle reaserch and jest wanted to ask someone who hase run both axles and can give me the low down. Thanks!

[Nimyad]

I say yes it's worth it just for the width and stronger housing. Neither are incredibly strong in stock form.

[81 toyota [OP]]

How much stronger are cromo fj80 vers mini cromo? How much wider are the 80 axles will they bolt undera 81 with perch relocation?

[81 toyota [OP]]

I have bin reading and I've found that the 80 is an 8 inch front third is it the same as a mini third? I'm having a hard time finding consistent info! Thanks for the input 

[4runner]

the front is reverse rotation high pinion 8" 3rd...the rear is 9.5"

[Nimyad]

Fj80 are a high pinion 8 inch diff, they're 8 inches wider than a mini axle, and you have to cut off all the stock brackets and weld on new perches.

[81 toyota [OP]]

So dose the revers rotation prohibit you from puting a 8 inch diff out of a mini?

[81 toyota [OP]]

So the real question is can I take an fj 80 Put my low pinion mini third in it, cut all the brackets off and weld spring perches on and stick it under my 81 pickuP? or am I jest a tard?

[Stlstrs]

Yes you can, and no you're not.

[81 toyota [OP]]

Thanks now all I need to deside is is it worth it 8 inch wider would be amazing! But in your guys opinion is it worth hunting down an axle buying it and doing all the fab work. Oh and how much stronger are the birffs on the 80, how big of a tire can i go before i start blowing axles?Thanks again for the input!

[Nimyad]

I think it's with it, but don't put a low pinion diff in it because high pinion is stronger in the front. Do a lot of research on pirate4x4 before your name a final decision though.
Stock fj80 birfs use the same size cage and bearings as the mini but the bell of the birf is thicker. This makes them a little stronger but not a lot, the chromo fj80 birfs are very strong but I forget if they cut down on steering or not.

[81 toyota [OP]]

Ok il head over to pirate thanks for the help!

[jrock]

The biggest concern you should have is what rear axle to run that matches the 63" width of that front The FJ80 axle is a bad a$$ axle under a Yota. The real money they take is in the steering. But go with HellFire knuckles and be done with it

[81 toyota [OP]]

Ya the more I look the more money it is.  I spent hours reading on pirate about mods and realize how expensive it is to biuld theas axles.  When I have a yota mini that works jest fine. Oh well it was a cool idia.

[Nimyad]

Ya the more I look the more money it is.  I spent hours reading on pirate about mods and realize how expensive it is to biuld theas axles.  When I have a yota mini that works jest fine. Oh well it was a cool idia.

Figured that's the conclusion you'd come to after looking on pirate, I did the sand thing lol.

[81 toyota [OP]]

Well il go buy a lotto ticket maby if I win I can afford to biuld a sweet front axle!

[88_Pathy]

or just buy mine.. But a fj80 has much larger birfs than a mini truck. If you don't mind the lack of high steer support and all those brackets to chop off then for sure run the axle. They are sick for sure

[81 toyota [OP]]

You have an fj80 front for sale?  If so how much and were are you at thanks!

[88_Pathy]

Built mini truck axle. With all the goods. Its in the classifieds

[Backwood]

 :bull crap:really?

[88_Pathy]

I think so.. In Fresno. I might know the guy

[Slolyfe]

Steve_925 has been running this setup for 4 years now. Seen a lot of carnage on that axle. 3 longfield short sides. Hubstuds a couple times, and a few R&P's.

[John Doe]

I have been running an fj80 front with Hellfire fab knuckles for 2 years now. Great set up that I highly recommend. It is pricy but definitely worth it. Take a look through my build thread for some more info.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

[BadnewsBob]

I would prolly do it if I could afford it, I don't have a job right now, Mine stays the way it is.

[Burl]

I've always wondered if a hybrid 80/hilux-60-62 series axle could be done.  What I mean is a sort of modified cut and turn project.  Cut the knuckle balls out of the 80 axle and see if the hilux-60-62 series knuckle balls will fit into the axle tube of the 80.  This would really reduce the cost of high steering on the 80 axle.   

[John Doe]

Good idea but then you loose the other advantage of the 80 axle, the bigger birfs.

[yoshaleng]

I could be wrong but I think I heard some one say the stock 5" birf can support 40" tires. I'm currently building fj80 w/ elocker n hell fire knuckles.

[Travis H]

I own a 91 fj80 and im on ih8mud all the time. the guys on mud run bigger than 37s on stock birfs and thats with a 7000 pound vehicle.

I'm sure a light 1st gen truck would not need to upgrade the axles a whole lot to run 40s

[urbandork]

the front is reverse rotation high pinion 8" 3rd...the rear is 9.5"

I can verify this

[Burl]

I've always wondered if a hybrid 80/hilux-60-62 series axle could be done.  What I mean is a sort of modified cut and turn project.  Cut the knuckle balls out of the 80 axle and see if the hilux-60-62 series knuckle balls will fit into the axle tube of the 80.  This would really reduce the cost of high steering on the 80 axle.   

I picked up a set of 1994 FZJ80 axles in sacramento over the winter and have started the above cut and turn.  The rear is all cleaned up and ready for leaf soa.  The front I have cleaned up and cut the 80 knuckles out.  I also have cut the knuckles out of a spare mini truck axle for the donor knuckles to insert into the 80 housing.  This isn't going to be an easy build.

From what I can tell the inner 80 tubes are about 2mm larger in diameter than the mini truck tubes.  I talked to another member who did this swap some years ago and he stated that he just slipped the mini truck knuckle balls into the 80 housing and welded them up.  I'm thinking I'll need to sleeve the knuckle balls to soak up the slop before welding them in.  I really want to make sure they run true with the differential so I'll also need to source a long enough piece of solid stock to slide through the differential splines and out the ends of the tubes to get as close to true as possible.  I bought the SST for centering the knuckles a few years ago and I think I'll need to use a system like that for pucks on either side to make sure the knuckle balls are centered and have the proper angle to accommodate SOA.