TOY: Cruiser Rotor swap

["Kevin A. Michael" <blkvoodoo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Saturday we were rebuilding the front axle on Rob Ditusa's '80 long bed.

 The knuckle kingpin bearings were thrashed ( lots of slop before
disassembly ) and he had an severely leaking inner axle seal and some well
worn hub bearings.

 Before doing all this, Rob and I had discussed doing the LC rotor and IFS
caliper swap ( upgrade ) He bought the parts and we were ready to rock !

 The axle rebuild was pretty straight forward disassembly wise, the usual
cleaning of NC red clay and grease is always a good time!

 I had done this to my '85 Runner  last year so I was helping Rob, offering
immoral support and misguidance.

We found out something interesting in the  attempt to replace the rotors.

 The '80 model hubs seem to mount the rotors different than my '85 and the
FJ40s and a few other year models too for that matter.

 The wheel studs are pressed into the hub, but not the rotor, and the rotor
is bolted to the back of the hub with 6 bolts.

Unlike the hubs on my '85 and the FJs, where the wheel studs are pressed
thru the rotor AND the hub and there are 2 bolts holding the rotor to the
hub.

 The bosses on the '80 hub were recessed the thickness of the stud head onto
the hub body, thus not allowing us to use longer studs with out distorting
the rotor, and the holes in the LC rotors were to large to SAFELY use the
stock bolts to retain the rotor to the hub.

 I am guessing Rob is stuck using the stock style solid rotors unless
someone had a set of later hubs they want to let go of for a reasonable
price.

 I will be using the FJ rotors and calipers on my '85 Runner so those parts
are not going to waste. I know they will fit on it with no problems.

 One thing we did try while installing the inner axle seals, if you have the
hub nut socket, turn the socket around on a 6" or longer extension ( hex
side over the shaft of the extension ) using the flat end of the socket
makes an EXCELLENT seal driver  for the inner axle seal.
 Use a nice deadblow or heavy rubber mallet and you will not mess up the
extension .

 Lots of fun and the beginnings of a great Toyota truck support group.

Hi, my name is ( insert name here ) and I am a Toyotaholic

 ( gotcha Steve ! )

 Kevin Michael ( looking for his 10 year pin )
'85 Runner with to much junk to list, 240k on the clock
'87 4x short bed in the beginning stages of metamorphosis, 128k and just
getting broken in