Front Disks

I got one side of the front axle completely done with the front disk brakes. Progress is slow between removing and cleaning the Mini-truck brake stuff, installing new seals, and getting everything put back together. Here's the driver's side done.

Rather than use the mini truck calipers and rotors, I did the upgrade to the 81 FJ40 vented rotors and the '86 Truck IFS calipers. These pieces aren't any more expensive than the mini truck stuff, and they should work better with less fade.

For steering, I fabricated a double arm using the Mini Truck and land cruiser steering arms. For those that aren't familiar, with a spring over conversion, at least the drag link needs to be above the springs. Also, the closer to horizontal the drag link is, the less bumpsteer you'll have. The double arm helps with both of these. This means that my Tie rod will use the Mini Truck TREs, and the Drag link will use the Land Cruiser TREs, at least on the axle end. The pitman arm I am planning on using is reamed for Chevy 1-ton steering parts, so That'll probbably be what gets used at the pitman end. We'll see how I can get this all mated up. I used the cut off portion of the driver's side toyota arm to see how welding the forged steering arms was. I welded a piece of 1/4" plate to the piece of steering arm, and then "tested" it with a sledge hammer. I couldn't get the weld to budge or crack, so this should be plenty strong. The web between the two arms is also 1/4" steel. In the future I'd like to go to crossover steering, but this will keep the project rolling for less $$.

To finish up the conversion, I have one more stubborn Birfield to separate, then I'll get it all put back together and move on to the rear axle and the frame.

Update: I finally got the stubbor Birf off, using the "Bobby Long" method. Place Birf on ground, stand on shaft and hit the bell with a big hammer. A little violent, but it Worked for me!