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clemensfield

Toyota Advanced Member
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Posts posted by clemensfield

  1. Linda, and all others thank you so much for your help. I'm just writing to clarify that I've replaced my axle shaft. I was in Thailand all winter and I picked one up there in Chiang Mai. Thailand is littered with mid 80's toyotas so it seemed the logical place to look. The shaft cost approximately $55 and I was not charged by any of the airlines to check it upon returning to Canada.

    The truck is daily driving again, thanks for your help.

    1zd173b.jpg

  2. There is always a chance, if you're interested in keeping the rv long-term and are willing, that just swapping the entire rear axle (housing, shafts etc) for something else is going to be the best option.

    But I don't know enough to know if you're to that point yet, or if you just haven't been looking in the right places.

    Thanks Zach. Yes we could swap for a Chev rear end, we've looked into this. Would also put us well over $1000 which is not ideal for sure, but a last resort. I'd like to keep the truck long term but I've been down this never-ending repair road with a Vintage RV once already (ford) and guess who won that one? Not me!! I'd like to keep this repair under $500 if at all possible.

  3. Thanks Derek.

    We've located a couple assembly's, one in Nova Scotia as well (We are in Ontario) but the whole assembly plus shipping will be almost $1000. We really just need the right rear axle shaft so we've been searching like mad before going that route. I found one in Thailand for $45 but some of the measurements are off just slightly and it's too hard to say from here if it would match.

    thank you very much for your help!

  4. Offering an update to anyone who might help:

    It's been nearly three months since my Toyhome has been on the disabled list and we still haven't found a replacement axle shaft. Not for a lack of trying however.

    I'm currently in Thailand and have found lots of axle shafts available but none that are an exact match to the 5 Lug One Ton 2WD rear axle shaft for a 4-speed '84 Toyota.

    The ones I found were off just slightly on a couple of the measurements and while buying them is inexpensive, shipping them to Toronto, Canada is not so I'm not up for taking chances.

    I'll attempt to describe the variables in a couple posts.

    I would love to (need to) get my Toy back on the road this spring and eventually paint and restore it.

    Cheers!

    1o3tr5.jpg

  5. Thank you all very much for your help and patience. I am determined to get my truck back on the road as it's been my daily driver for the last 12 months (don't ask). I would also guess that it may be one of the very last Gran Sport by Ranger Toyota Pop Tops left in existence. With only 127,000 miles on it and 20,000 of those being in the last 12 months this truck deserves to live, or at the very least die another day.

  6. By the way, if you get anywhere near central New York - I have a stack of those 5 lug axles in storage. All good and all getting scrapped this spring. You can have for free if you get them yourself.

    Hey JD,

    There actually aren't lots of those axles around in Canada. There is 1 that is showing in Canada and its on the other side of the country. If you are serious about your 5 lug axle collection, Ill PM you and set up a time to call you, thank you!

  7. According to this site (using your VIN):-

    http://www.toyotapartszone.com/Page_Product/PartDetail.aspx?vin=JT5RN55D5E5007419&model=4Runner&year=1984&SubModel=&catalogCode=671440&VAID=2173&selectConditions=%280=RN55L-KDA3W;1=22R;3=T1;4=DLX;5=MTM;6=4F;7=RCB;8=W;9=HVY;10=ST;12=CBR;13=IV;11=USA%29&originCountry=%2811=USA%29&productionDate=198312&paintCode=033&trimCode=VQ41&isMultiCode=&sectionID=2&componentsID=41-02

    you have/had axle PN 42311-35110 (replaced by 42311-35430).

    A bit expensive!

    http://www.toyotascionpartsdirect.com/oe-toyota/4231135430

    But his site says NLA.

    http://www.toyotapartszone.com/oem/toyota~shaft~rr~axle~42311-35430.html

    EDIT: A few years ago, I saved the VIN for a 1985 Toyota 1-Ton SRW pickup (JT4RN55E4F0117843) for sale on EBay. I just used this VIN on the above site and it lists exactly the same part numbers for the rear axles and bearings.

    Thanks Derek. Affirmative, this is the axle shaft I need. I am in Toronto and you are correct there is practically nothing left in any junkyards in this country. They've all long salted away. A few guys around with a backyard full of yodas but they aren't exactly advertising online.

  8. I don't think I ever saw a two wheel drive Toyota with 15 inch rims and tires all I know of had 14 inch on 5 hole rims. To my knowledge only the 4 wheel drive had 15 inch 6 hole rims. I own both a motor home and a Xtra cab 4wd. wonder what rear axle is in that camper maybe not toyota

    It's possible that the axle was replaced by a previous owner but I am under the impression that it is stock. It looks about 30 years old.

  9. Your axle is a standard 8 inch. Can be found on lots of toyota truck but you need a 2wd for it to be 5 lug. Try looking for SR5, long beds and single wheel 1 tons. Lots of other trucks were made with them too but you need to check the axle code on the plate on the inside fender wall or the firewall. Looks like this. Your looking for that G in the red circled area. means it's an 8 inch

    Linda S

    http://www.brian894x4.com/sitebuilder/images/vinplatearrow2-534x244.jpg

    Thank you very much Linda, I think this is information will get me on my way. I'll keep you posted. I've put pics below of my situation if you can confirm possibly from the pics?

  10. My Chinook came with super wide rear tires and wheels. I switched to stock Toyota size, and haven't had any problems.

    I don't see why you'd have any problem finding a new axle shaft...

    Or are you looking for the entire axle housing?

    Linda pin-pointed the problem. The only available axle shafts I can find anywhere are for 1/2 tons or if Im lucky maybe a 6 lug 1 ton full floating, but neither are the axle that I have. My axle appears to be a 5 Lug 1 ton floating which won't match either of those, in fact now that I type this Im guessing maybe we have something custom made if that's even possible.

  11. Regular Toyota truck axles fail sometimes. You have single rear wheels so the dually wheels is not an issue. I would take a look at the wheels on it and see if someone put a wheel on with a big offset. That could have put a similar strain on the bearings as a dual well set up. You need a wheel with no offset or very little. Look for a Toyota complete axle and diff from a v6 truck. A little wider and a little stronger than your old one. Also check your axle code and make sure it's a G axle. There is a very slim chance your truck had a 7.5 inch diff and 8 inch axle shafts won't fit. 27 splines instead of 30. If your shaft is out you can just count the splines

    Linda S

    Thank you Linda, I'll look at it with my mechanic tomorrow and get these answers. I'll take some pics as well, thanks for the great advice, I'll look into V6 trucks

  12. I doubt a Ranger would be an upgrade. They're pretty little trucks...

    I believe you that your oak didn't overload the axles. But I'm not sure I agree that any suspension upgrade somehow allows the axle to handle more weight. Weight is weight. Suspension doesn't add an extra bearing or anything to your axle shaft. The springs and leaves are still sitting on the axle.

    It doesn't look like you're heavier than my camper, so I'd just figure it was a fluke (I mean, kind of...we know these axles are way overloaded), or the bearings just weren't replaced when they should have been, or..? Who knows.

    So the axle actually snapped? Not just a bearing failure?

    I think that unless you're swapping a one ton axle in, what's the point? Why swap a weak axle for another weak axle?

    Thanks for the reply Chinook, You're correct on the weight/suspension issue for sure. If you're in a chinook then yes it's about the same size as mine which is around 17'.

    After a lot of research, I agree it was a fluke. It's a 30 year old camper and I've put over 20,000 miles on it in the 10 months I've owned it.

    The bearings were fine and lots of oil everywhere. Axle snapped clean.

    Perhaps you would be a great person to ask where I might even begin to look for a replacement axle? I see nothing on Kijiji, Craigslist or eBay. I'm in Toronto, Canada, my mechanic has called the yards and appears to be non in Canada.

    Thanks a bunch

  13. If I was looking for an axle to swap, I'd start by looking at axles with a BCD to match what there now. Being able to recycle the rims would be good. I don't know what BCD the Ranger used. Plus I've no idea if a Ranger axle would be an upgrade.

    Why not just buy a couple of new axles and bearings? Unless there's something wrong with the axle housing, you should be good for another 30 years.

    Hey thanks for the reply. The bearings seem fine, it's just the axle that snapped clean off.

    The problem I'm having is that my truck is so unusually set up, compared to the other Toyhomes. I don't have a dually rear but rather two fat tires (believe 16" but will measure tomorrow, they're considerably bigger than the ones in the front) on what we can only conclude is maybe a 5 lug 1 ton floating, not "full floating" axle, or perhaps its a 3/4 ton axle...

    Finding a matching axle for this truck will be like searching for a leprechaun.

    I've not seen another Toyhome like it, except two I found in a Google search. It measures around 17 feet in length made by some outfit called "Gran Sport" spelled exactly like that.

  14. I've spent an hour searching this thread but couldn't find if there is information or discussion about swapping one of these infamous rear axles for say, a Ford ranger axle, or some other conversion?

    My axle just snapped, (16 foot 16' single rears 5 lug 1984 GRAN SPORT pop-up) and the right side tire flew off. It was pretty nasty. At first look you might conclude I overweighed the chassis with the addition built on top but that addition only weighs 150lbs. I removed the fridge and much of the interior and was travelling alone with no cargo, so I doubt 150lbs of oak wood caused my axle to break, considering the helper springs and heavy duty shocks I have on it.

    --20,000 relatively trouble free miles this year prior to this though, so not bad for an '84.

    My truck has two approx 16" tires on the rear (non dually) and it's a 5 lug axle.

    Im in Canada and options are bleak for replacing it with a Toyota axle of any kind. One mechanic told me to swap out the rear with a Ford Ranger and I'm wandering if anyone has attempted anything similar to this with a Toyhome?

    Thank you.

    post-7485-0-81485300-1416158707_thumb.jp

  15. A bit of delay in getting pictures up but we finished the reno's last week and I've never enjoyed the 84' Gran Sport as much. I'm now fully able to walk around the RV without having to bend my neck or arch my back. I am also still able to pop the top for free sunlight and air conditioning. I really hated the gross canvas that was on it before and I like the openness of using it without.

    We did indeed slope the front a little bit and so far I have not noticed a major difference in driving. Although, I haven't done a serious highway trip yet. I do expect to lose a couple MPGs with increased wind drag from the 14" extension build. For me, this trade is worth it, as I was previously getting as much as 22MPG at 55miles/hour.

    I would like to attempt to replace the exterior cargo doors and latches with a similar wood finish to make it more of an actual "woody".

    I've attached just a couple before & after photos to the post but you can see the entire job in a photo gallery in this link:

    http://iryancook.imgur.com/all/

    2zs8960.jpg

    210ehhj.jpg

    2cnehxc.jpg

    33lnk02.jpg

  16. Thanks for the reply. We did discuss this option but it has two major drawbacks:

    When I am pulled over on the side of the road and need to get into the coach to make coffee etc, I have to pop up the roof each time. Again I should stress that I live in Canada half the year so the weather is miserable aside from the 6 weeks we call summer.

    The second drawback is that I will lose the considerable amount of extra storage space, cabinetry, etc I gain by building a permanent wall.

    The full plan now is to build the wall and then place the pop top back on top and still have it fully functional as a pop-top. Why would we do this if I can now stand up straight you are probably asking yourself?

    When the top is popped in the summer without the canvas, it creates a really cool super-sunroof effect that is beautiful on nice days. Or a moonlight gaze at the stars while falling asleep, again in times when it is weather permitting and insect permitting. I spend the winters in Florda so it's a nice energy free way of getting a little A/C.

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