Prado Knuckles

[montezuma]

So I'm determined to make hgihsteer for the FJ80/FZJ80 front end a reality. Here in the states the axles are fairly cheap ($400 U.S.), and come with a load of benefits. The problem is they have the 2 bolt main cap on top, and it makes highsteer weak. I'm hoping knuckles with four bolts on top from another vehicle will fit onto an FJ80/FZJ80 front end. Has anyone ever tried swapping the knuckles from a Bondura, or from a Prado on to an 80 front end? We didn't get the different models here state side. For the most part, we jumped from the FJ60 family of trucks, straight to the 80's. I see pictures of Bundy's with diesels and drool .

Let me know what you've got.

[a1 mech]

Im pretty sure all the toyo ballends are the same so the steering knuckles from a hilux (tacoma) shud work as the trunion bearings will be the same. Obvioulsy your steering arms and steering box location will factor wether you can use them.

60 series knuckles will work to I think.,

[Mr DJ]

The early Prado's and Bundera's have the same front end, so I doubt they will fit the larger 80 series knuckle ball, and 80 series trunion bearing is bigger than hilux/Bundera and 60 series.

As suggested in the other thread, try 78/79 series cruiser knuckles.

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_1993_T ... _4802.html

[a1 mech]

r ther u go, stand corrected.

[montezuma]

The early Prado's and Bundera's have the same front end, so I doubt they will fit the larger 80 series knuckle ball, and 80 trunion bearing is bigger than hilux/Bundera.

As suggested in the other thread, try 78/79 series cruiser knuckles.

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_1993_T ... _4802.html

I would love to give it a try if I could get my hands on a set of 78/79 knuckles. How hard are they to get ahold of out of wrecking yards and such over there?

[montezuma]

Also in the link you posted, are those brand new prices? Are the prices in U.S. or Auz. dollars?

[Mr DJ]

Shouldn't be too hard to get from wreckers here, if you can't find a wrecker that will send them to you, let me know will sort it for you.

The prices on the EPC are for new and is not a current price, but will give you an idea what Toyota will charge.
Quote the part no's to your local dealer and see what he says.

[montezuma]

I'll ask my local parts guy if he can look those numbers up for me, but I sort of doubt it since they are over sea's items.

If you find a set of these knuckles in the yards, I would definently be interested in working something out. I'm also looking for the steering arms from the FJ80/FZJ80 front ends. I have several people here looking for those arms, and the inventory of them has dried up. I really only need the passenger arm (with the draglink off the front of it), but I'm willing to buy as many of them as you can find if the price is right. Let me know if you run across anything.

[Mr DJ]

Looks like 78/79 series is the same as the 80

this one is LHD ..
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_1999_T ... _4802.html

Just had a thought ... would it work if you flipped them over so the arms were on top but on the other side of the rig ??
i.e. LH side knuckle put on RHS upside down.

It appears that the 75 series knuckle is the same as the bundera/70 series cruisers, which is strange to me as I thought the 75 series had a larger CV
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_1999_T ... _4802.html

I may be wrong about the 60 series knuckle, if you happen to have one try it out. Can always work ways around the trunion bearing size issue so long as the knuckle itself fits over the ball with enough clearance for CV bell & shaft length.

[montezuma]

Flipping the knuckle upside down will not work because the steering axis isn't verticle. The line through the middle of the trunnion bearings runs out at an angle like: //--axle--\\ . If you swap knuckles side to side and upside down, you get the caliper ears on the front of the axle (not a huge deal), and knuckles on an opposite axis like: X--axle--X . I've even looked at rotating the inner knuckle but then your steering gets all messed up like: \\--axle--// , and your ackerman angle gets thrown out of whack.

I looked at the part numbers on the website you posted, and even though the knuckles have the same part number, the caps for the knuckles do not (gives me a little hope). I've been looking into making steering for the 80 front ends happen for around 10 years (off and on). I don't know why, but I have this feeling that toyota made it possible with existing parts.

[Mr DJ]

Thought the angle in the steering axis is created by the offset trunion bearing not the knuckle (both sides are the same part no.), so swapping sides will not change this.
By swapping sides and upside down the brake caliper sits in the same place and the arm is at the top.

The 2 bolt cap is the only thing i would upgrade, maybe with bigger studs ?

EDIT: Just did some more searching, the 75 series cruiser uses the same knuckle (part no.) as the 60 series cruiser.

There ya go, use 60 series knuckles + hubs and 60 series cruiser steering links. Use your existing steering link tho as it will be longer.
If outer of trunion bearing is the same size all good (inside is definately bigger on an 80 on the one I looked at).

[montezuma]

Thought the angle in the steering axis is created by the offset trunion bearing not the knuckle (both sides are the same part no.), so swapping sides will not change this.
By swapping sides and upside down the brake caliper sits in the same place and the arm is at the top.

The 2 bolt cap is the only thing i would upgrade, maybe with bigger studs ?

EDIT: Just did some more searching, the 75 series cruiser uses the same knuckle (part no.) as the 60 series cruiser.

There ya go, use 60 series knuckles + hubs and 60 series cruiser steering links. Use your existing steering link tho as it will be longer.
If outer of trunion bearing is the same size all good (inside is definately bigger on an 80 on the one I looked at).

Yeah, the 75 was early enough that it matches the size of the 60's. I am hoping that the 78/79 are late enough that they match the size of the FJ80 cv's, but still have the four bolt top cap like the 60's, mini's, etc. The 60 outer knuckles won't fit over the inner knuckles on the 80, or I'd just use them.

[Mr DJ]

One of the 2 links above shows the 78/79 knuckle is same as the 80 tho, so no luck.