Advice for newbie with hilux

[88lux]

I have recently bought a 1988 double cab ln65 hilux. Been out to Woodhill once with it so far. I'm currently swapping the gearbox for another that it came with, as the main bearing sounds to have gone, and since that requires the box out, new clutch and rear seal as well. Once that's done I have to tackle the huge oil leak from the front axle. I'm fairly sure this is the axle seal squirting my diff oil through the knuckle grease.

I'm told that if you do this seal, you're supposed to replace the bearings etc at the same time. Is this the case? If so, how long should the whole job take a mechanic. I'm happy tackling most things, but looking through the service manual it looks like the sort of job that's gonna be a pain without the right tools, and I don't really have much space to work on it at the mo.

Anyways, it seems like the guy who had it before me did a couple of things; the diffs are 4.85 ratios (thinking I might go a bit bigger on the tyres - currently 30" - if only to get the revs down on the road), and i think there is an extra leaf all round.

I enjoyed myself playing offroad, and I want to slowly shape the truck into being a little more suitable offroad. She'll still be my daily driver, so I need to keep it warrantable, but I'd be keen to get some advice. Was thinking something with the suspension would be a good starter - maybe removing the extra spring would give a little more flex, but also interested to find out more about the RUF mod. I take it that is rear leafs up front? What is involved? How much do leaf springs cost? Do you need to get stuff like that certed?

Thanks in advance for any help

[mudlva]

where abouts in AK are you

[88lux]

Onehunga/Penrose

[mudlva]

hi there if you have enough roomn to do a gearbox exchange then at a guess there is enough room to work on the front axle. when you are exchanged your gearbox let me know as i can assist as you pull the hub apart, its a job that you will need to do as axle maintance can become real expensive if you head it to a miknik each time a seal or bearing wears, as well as knowing how to change a cv as well, the only extra tool you will need thats not in your tool box will be a hubnut socket (ive got 1)
if its just the axle seal then it will be done in a couple of hours and thats a slow time

cheers

[88lux]

Afraid I ended up paying the shop to swap my gearbox for me. Was going to do it myself, but not too much space where I am currently. Renting a crappy little townhouse until we find a place to buy, so I only have a narrow space in a shared carpark. That said, I can do quick jobs round at a mates, but not really if there's potential for the job to drag out.

So you reckon I can just do the seal, and not worry about anything else? A mate was telling me there's a bit of black magic in shiming the bearings and got me a bit worried, but sounds like it's not so bad.

[mudlva]

Afraid I ended up paying the shop to swap my gearbox for me. Was going to do it myself, but not too much space where I am currently. Renting a crappy little townhouse until we find a place to buy, so I only have a narrow space in a shared carpark. That said, I can do quick jobs round at a mates, but not really if there's potential for the job to drag out.

Bugga

So you reckon I can just do the seal, and not worry about anything else? A mate was telling me there's a bit of black magic in shiming the bearings and got me a bit worried, but sounds like it's not so bad.

dunno whats thats all about the only shims that are on the axle are for the king pins and if the seal is the only thing leaking then why are we readjusting the king pins for.

hilux front ends are the same as landcruisers and thats what i play with so i dont see why there should be an issue

[gimmemud]

hi there if you have enough roomn to do a gearbox exchange then at a guess there is enough room to work on the front axle. when you are exchanged your gearbox let me know as i can assist as you pull the hub apart, its a job that you will need to do as axle maintance can become real expensive if you head it to a miknik each time a seal or bearing wears, as well as knowing how to change a cv as well, the only extra tool you will need thats not in your tool box will be a hubnut socket (ive got 1)
if its just the axle seal then it will be done in a couple of hours and thats a slow time

cheers

You got some sort of secret for taking out cone washers? That seems to take up about 90% of my time whenever i play witht the front end

[mudlva]

You got some sort of secret for taking out cone washers? That seems to take up about 90% of my time whenever i play witht the front end [/quote]

yip a drift and hammer got 2 know what you are doing as you dont want to damage the threads.

when are you looking at doing the seal

[88lux]

Hoping to do my cambelt etc and a valve adjustment this weekend, so probably the next weekend. Then with a bit of luck I can go play in the mud the next weekend

[NJV6]

You got some sort of secret for taking out cone washers? That seems to take up about 90% of my time whenever i play witht the front end

Yep, loosen the bolts until there is only a little bit of thread left on (to stop the cone washers going into orbit) then a good blow with a hammer to each side of the thingie that they are in and they pop out.

[88lux]

Another question; does anyone know what the deal is with sticking different seats in legally? My drivers seat squeaks like a tortured cat when I'm offroading and since it's not the most comfortable seat I've ever sat in I'm thinking I'll try to find a couple of seats out of something else to replace it. One of the spot welds holding the mounting rail has let go, so I'm gonna have to borrow my mates welder to sort that, so I can weld the original slide rails onto the new seats if I can't find a bolt in replacement, but just wondering if I'll need to get it certed?

[J_Dub]

nothing will bolt in, its a prick cause the rails are a fixed unit, part of the seat, you cant just unbolt the rails and weld em to new seats, gota do some cutting and hacking