4x4 Action Group

Per Manny's request, herewith a brief overview of options available to owners of J7 (79 and 76) series Cruisers who wish to equalise the front and rear track width.

For those who do not know, with the introduction of the wide nose Cruiser body style the front axle was widened to accommodate V6/8 engines, but the rear was not. The front track width is some 90mm (some argue 94mm) wider than the rear.

Option 1, by far the most common, is to do nothing to Toyota's design.

Option 2, by far the most economical of any modification, is to install 45mm wheel spacers on either end. Proper fastening and torquing of the spacers and rim is critical. The primary negative of this solution, in my view and aside from the spacer coming loose, is the greater load placed on the wheel bearings.

Option 3 is to use a kit which essentially extends the rear axle housing. In a nutshell, the spindles on either end are cut off at exact places and 'longer, spindles are bolted to the axlehousing. With this solution the axleshafts and brake lines are also replaced

Option 4 is to replace the entire rear axlehousing with a replacement wider fabricated housing and side shafts. This is a fairly simple bolt-out, bolt-in solution, albeit time consuming. The rear axleshafts can also be replaced with 300m/chromoly shafts.

Option 5, the biggest departure from stock, is to also exchange the rear leaf spring setup for a coil and link arm setup, together with fitting a wider axle. When doing this level of change, bypass reservoir adjustable OME BP51/King shocks are usually also added.

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Thanks Rudi looking forward to this thread.

The narrower rear track definitely influence handling on sandy and dirt roads. Most of our Noordkapenaars
are not political correct when it comes to gravel travel. No 4x4 high range, we keep it in 2wd and put foot. Most of our older guys did gravel travel before the 4x4 revolution in 2wd bakkies. We have adapted to Rally style driving and finding farmers wives doing between 120 and 140 on a gravel road is common.

The first time I took the 76 on a gravel road were on a hunting trip. Were very disappointed the way the Cruiser handled. In sections of the road that were sandy it tends to took the spoor of other 4x4`s. Coming back from the trip with a Kudu and some Springbuck in the back it were much better.
Fitted spacers on the back like 99% of the guys do owning Cruisers in my area. The handling on the 76 improved to a level that I can really put foot
When buying the 79 I ordered spacers even before I took delivery.

There are a few known cases of spacers coming loose so yes correcting the rear track by other more safer means is the way to go.
Another solution is to fit a rear diff from a 80 Series Cruiser as Toyota when going wide nose used the 80 Series front diff in the 70 Series.
The 80 series had a 1595mm front track width and 1600mm at the back. Fitting a 80 series rear involves lots of welding and modifying as the 80 Series had coils at the back vs the leafs of the 70 Series.

See that the Aussies have a Dana 60 special design to fit the 70 Series for axle width correction. But I know it is only me I have sort of lost my faith in Dana diffs. Would also rather keep everything Toyota just in case on venture into the darkest of Africa and need to sort out a rear diff problem.

Would in-set & off-set wheel hubs on respective axles be possible part solution ?

... but that would require specialised custom
rims ...
... from post 1 :
“ The front track width is some 90mm (some argue 94mm) wider than the rear.”
... so would need about 23mm in on fronts
23 out on backs ...

... many LCruises carry 2 spares ,
rims could be 1 inner and 1 outer ...

Also watching this thread

While 2 rim offsets are possible, you can't really go with a shallower offset up front else your tire will become one with body and steering components when flexing.

A rear rim with a 45mm offset over the front, aside from looking very tappit in my view and near impossible to find, could however work as spare up front too, but usually only if you have an aftermarket bullbar. The OEM one intrudes quite a bit.

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