SteveO

Anybody know of replacement half shafts, especially the outboard shafts, that are stronger than stock?

While I was attending the Yotafari in Moab, I busted the right front outboard half-shaft.



I am checking with:
Off-Road Solutinos
CVunlimited
to see if they make a better than stock outboard shaft for the Tacos and 4Runners.

Anybody know of any other providers that make better than stock parts for the 3rd front IFS half-shafts.

Flygtenstein

Wow, I have never seen it like that before.

Marmot has Newfields, not sure if anything exists specifically to replace the outer shafts and not simply the CV's.

Good work on busting that though, first one I have seen on the web.

SteveO

you know what was surprising....I didn't hit it that hard.

loosehead

Bump for Steve...

So, what happened?

FattyCBR

Damn that's some nice carnage.

SteveO

well....... I don't know. I had used Tacoma axles on, and maybe the axles were just stressed. I dunno.
However, I'm looking at making my own axles for the CO4RJ

'99 4Runner Inboard stubs from a junkyard
because the tripod joints are larger on the 4Runners as
opposed to the tacomas inboard tripod joints.
ORS axle shaft
ORS Outboard stubs
Wheelers Off-Road Mecatech CV boot kit


I think with this setup, I may survive a bit longer.

I was :pat: thinking about CvUnlimited, like Jeff Bathke's setup, Outboard stubs, however they want way too much.
I called today and I was told $250 for just the Outboard stub joint. That $250 does not include the axle shaft nor the Inboard stub joint, nor the boots, nor clamps. Man that is way to much for me. After you purchase the Outboard stub joint, you still have to get boots, clamps, shafts and the Inboard stub joint.

So, I think I might put together my own axle setup.

Flygtenstein

What were the circumstances of the break?

Locked at the time?

Open and spinning?

Didn't find out until later?

Schaefer, or post it at ODW for the Marmot????

SteveO

I was on Double Whammy in Moab. And we all know Double Whammy is a junk maker. I was trying to be careful and not bounce the 4Runner, so as to prevent broken parts. However, when I started up the ledge, the rear bumper kept hitting the ground. So I gave it a little more gas the next time around, and of course the front wheels came off the ground. When the wheels came back down, snap.:pat:
My setup:
Toy 3.4V6
4spd Auto
Yukon 4.88 gears frt and bk
and weighing in at 5000lbs

I was locked in the front with an ARB RD90 on Yukon 4.88 gears.
I have manual hubs (as the picture indicates).

I think I need larger tires. Maybe I can blame my small 33" tires on this break and talk the wife into 35" tires.

loosehead

This has certainly been a learning experience for you, huh?
Sound like you have plans for a good path forward, though. THis is just a thought from way out of left feild, but are there any parts on a Tundra front end that would work, or are they too different? The axle shafts would be too long, but I was just thinking *maybe* ...

SteveO

Ya' know, thats not a bad idea. If I were to go the Tundra route, I would definitely have to replace the upper and lower A arms. However, I don't know if the distance between each A arm bushing is the same as the 4Runner. I would think not, being that the Tundra is considered a full size.

I just got off the phone with Mike at ORS and here is what I scored.

He is going to put together the 4Runner inboard joint, the ORS 4Runner heavy duty axle shaft, and the ORS heavy duty Outboard joint for me. Since most people have a heck of a time getting the joints seperated from each other, he will do it for me and ship me the entire unit. I'm gonig to order the Mecatech higangle CV boots from Wheelers off-road, and I will be set. With this setup.

I'll have the larger tripod joints (4Runner) on the inboard,
the larger heavy duty ORS center shaft
the ORS HD outboard joint
and High angle lifetime boots from Mecatech.

ORS is going to assemble the axle for me, so I won't have to worry about betting these two/three pieces together.

Can't wait......

RTdawgs

good news

loosehead

The ORS gear and Mecatech Boots sound like an ideal solution.
Good Luck!

smr4runner

Has anyone used the Mecatech CV boots?

Steve. Whats you input on them?

SteveO

I have not, in fact if you seek out their website:
http://www.mecatech.com/
the page can't be found. However I did find info at:
http://www.mecatech.co.uk/fitting_cv_en.htm
at the above address is the fitting process. If you are considering these, you should check out.

I have not heard of anybody trying these out, however I have ordered a set from Wheelers Off-Road. I will post what I find out with pictures on my website by the end of May.

sschaefer3

That is the same set up ORS sold me, ORS Outboard, ORS Center Shaft and 4Runner inner tripods.

The front half shafts are without a doubt the weakest part. I think you guys need to slow down to Schaefer speed.

I just got back from Milkaukee.

sschaefer3

You broke that thing at the hub splines, the rest of these guys have the ADD axles that would be virtually impossible to break therem different design. They break the bearing race.

You might want to ask around to 1st and 2nd gen guys and see if they broke it there, the design would be the same. In fact the outter clip is exaclty the same.

SteveO

yeah, the outer clip is the same, but the only people that beef up the outer stub joint is ORS and CvUnlimited. CvUnlimited wants $250 for their outboard joint and ORS wants $95 for theirs. Hmmmmm, which way do I go. Being a previous customer of ORS, they are fixing me up with 4Runner inboard joints, ORS shaft and an ORS outboard joint, all put together.

sschaefer3

Same stuff I have then. Should work better I hope.