3 Hardbody 1.9's at once

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by pantablo

slightly wider than the narrowed TLT's or standard TLT's? I was hoping to do Bruiser axles under my jeep crew cab too. I think they're the most scale looking axle you can get. Too late for me as I already narrowed my TLT's but very interested in how you accomlish your bruiser narrowing.

They are wider than the narrowed tlt's. I will have to compare them to standard tlt axles and let ya know.

Originally Posted by Mad4Rnr

Cool man, that FJ body looks nice

Are you going to piant it the stock blue?

Not sure about color yet... I might do a tan or olive green. Maybe black? Who knows

[Brandon]

Bruiser axles narrowed: HOW TO: Narrow TLT & Bruiser Axles

Originally Posted by Nluvwithxlr8ing

Bruiser axles:

Started with an old set of bruiser axles and cleaned them up. Remove the hubs and knuckles from the front axle. Now remove the stub shafts.




To get a narrower track width I am using tlt stub shafts that I will modify. They have identical cups compared to the bruiser stubshafts. Doesn’t hurt to install bearings either.




Here is a comparison pic of the stub shafts in the bruiser knuckles. The shorter of the two is the TLT stub shaft.



Next the TLT stub shaft needs to be modified to fit and narrow the track width. I drilled another hole in the shaft with a .075” drillbit. You will need to grind down the outer shaft support on the knuckle to accomplish a narrower track width and allow for the crosspin and 12mm hex.







Here is a 1.9 hpi wheel installed on the bruiser axle. I used a spacer from my tlt CVD’s to keep the nut off the end of the threads on the tlt shaft.






A few pics of the finished width for the front axle.








And a pic under the old mountaineer I took the axles from.




Rear axle next…

First you need to narrow the housing. Comparison of the cut and uncut halfs.



With the housing cut you can reinstall the axle shaft, but first cut the aluminum bearing/carrier so that you can drill a hole in the shaft for the cross pin.



Next I drill the .075” hole for the TLT cross pin and 12mm hex. Since I didn’t have the correct 4mm die I found another temporary solution to mount the wheels. Simply cut a groove for a 4mm e-clip and used a tlt bushing as a spacer to mount the wheels.

[Brandon]

I will get some pics up of them under the FJ body today. Cant wait to see what its going to look like

[ALTERED IMAGE]

Everything is looking good so far I myself am working on 3 rigs at once, the blue oval trio build in the 2.2 section. In a way it is fun but it can get frustrating at some points. Keep up the great work and I will stay tuned into this build.

[pantablo]

Originally Posted by Nluvwithxlr8ing

They are wider than the narrowed tlt's. I will have to compare them to standard tlt axles and let ya know.

7" hex to hex is pretty much stock TLT territory. I needed to get 6" hex to hex in order to tuck my tires on the jeep crew cab. Doing the TLT's the way you did them here removed about 1/2" but they look alright...

the width of this body is 6-1/2" to outside of fender flares:


Thanks for the write-up and for passing along this info a while back. Its what I based my TLT narrowing on. I appreciate it.

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by pantablo

Thanks for the write-up and for passing along this info a while back. Its what I based my TLT narrowing on. I appreciate it.

No problem. Glad I could help. Have you looked into Robbe (sp) axles?

[pantablo]

haha, no. Should I?
I think they came out alright, athough I havent tested them yet...




they narrowed up real nice on this body.

[Brandon]

Finished the body work on the FJ. Also got some work done on the frame, bent the front so its narrower and mounted the bruiser leaf springs for the rear suspension.

I am going to stick with a leaf sprung rear (similar to the factory FJ) and go with a 3 link up front for the SAS.

Since the rear axle is narrower I had to make new leaf spring perches for the rear springs so they wouldn't hit the tires or interfere with the frame. So that required some new U-Bolts, a plate that sets on the old perch and acts as the new perch, and a plate for clamp the leaf spring. I still need to make something to mount the rear shocks...

[Brandon]

And some mock up shots This is with an 11" wheelbase... Perfect!

[Stormin2u]

Build looks awesome Brandon nice work on the axles what's hapening with the "Bigballer Build" off I haven't seen anything posted about the results.

[O.C.D.]

Now this is a great build! I am kind of numb after reading it all, but where did you get the axles? I was hopin that someone out there had a more scale looking axle set.

[pantablo]

thats looking really good! Nice work.

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by Stormin2u

Build looks awesome Brandon nice work on the axles what's hapening with the "Bigballer Build" off I haven't seen anything posted about the results.

Thanks Norm! Not sure about the buildoff. I heard rumors about the performance part but I just wish I was there to see it in person and make sure the FJ was ready for it We will see what happens with it soon I hope!

Originally Posted by Doc J33P

Now this is a great build! I am kind of numb after reading it all, but where did you get the axles? I was hopin that someone out there had a more scale looking axle set.

Thanks, axles are from a tamiya bruiser. You can still find them on ebay occasionally.

Originally Posted by pantablo

thats looking really good! Nice work.

Thank you, time to start working on the front suspension now

[chino63]

Brandon, that thing is looking sick! I wanna see it in person please!

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by chino63

Brandon, that thing is looking sick! I wanna see it in person please!

Thanks Dean! I just want to see it done I am trying to figure out what I want to do for the front 3 link. Need to make some link mounts on the axle, I have a few ideas but its going to be some work.

[KRAWLR4life]

FJ's looking good brother... Thanks for keeping her alive!
I cant wait to see it finished! Maybe I will buy it back
Other rigs are looking sweet too!
John

[chino63]

Originally Posted by Nluvwithxlr8ing

Thanks Dean! I just want to see it done I am trying to figure out what I want to do for the front 3 link. Need to make some link mounts on the axle, I have a few ideas but its going to be some work.

Here are the only pics I have left of my old 3-linker. Maybe it will help.








Edit: WTF? Not sure why they are so small.

[BigBaller]

Originally Posted by chino63

Edit: WTF? Not sure why they are so small.

Cause you used your little China man camera?

Seriously, Brandon you are really on a roll here. Keep up the good work.

Ryan

[chino63]

Originally Posted by BigBaller

Cause you used your little China man camera?

Seriously, Brandon you are really on a roll here. Keep up the good work.

Ryan

Couldn't resist could you?

[rocresq]

How bout an update I want to see the JK finished!