Diamond rear axle install

On August 25th, I ordered a Diamond rear axle with all measurements to OEM specs. I picked it up at the shipping company last Monday.

I must say, in its raw form, it's a piece of art. I detailed it prior to install on Saturday and on Sunday, proceeded to complete the install.

Pretty straight forward but I did some things out of sequence as I did not have any instructions for the install.

All went well with the exception of the DS inside U-bolt. The welded DS brake line tab is 3/4" further outward than the PS. A simple twist on it with a crescent wrench was the remedy for that issue. I do have a small brake fluid leak at the top of the 'T' where the extended brake line attaches. This issue will be cured with the new that I ordered from Marlin Crawler which I'll install Saturday morning.

The brakes have never been better thanks to the Wilwood adjustable proportioning vale. Once the rear disc pads work in, they will be better.

As this piece is a completely assembled unit, you will need e-brake cables from a 2010 FJ Cruiser, plus the bracket where the cables terminate. The bracket is back-ordered so currently my e-brake is non-functional.

Anyway, here are some pics of where I'm at to this point:

 

Holy shit man badass!

 

Fucking beautifully badass! Looks great man!

 

Thanks guys.
I am so stoked with the outcome. The best part are the rear disc brakes... it stops on a dime and gives change. The Wilwood unit definitely adds to this. No more nose diving when hitting the brakes. It truly hunkers down and gets with it.

 

I was just wanting to go to disc, not necesarily the whole axle because money haha how hard would his swapping to disc be?

 

BEAUTIFUL !

 

I suggest calling Brian @ Front Range Off Road (FROR). Their parts are on point and easy to figure out to install.

The best part is, I didn't need to replace any of my OEM master cylinder components, which involves cash. I do have the 231mm Tundra discs up front and no changes in pedal feel.

Do these mods and you'll be good to go.

 

Its not super easy. I inquired about it when I ordered my chromo shafts from low range.
They hadnt had a kit in quite a while even though the website had them.

I think the run a gm caliper and you need a larger master cylender from a seqoia or fj.

That being said....if you are handy with tools and have some knowledge of brakes, it shouldnt be that bad.

 

Lookin sweet OP.

 

Odd. i had always read that the master had to be replace. Possibly because you already have the tundy brakes there was no need?

 

Nm. the trail gear kit requires no change in master cylender.

 

Well that's good. I wouldn't touch my master cyclinder by any means, I'm so cautious with brakes don't wanna take a chance.

 

Im going to guess that the kit from fror (which I cant seem to locate on there webpage) is probably the trail gear disc brake kit.

Can be had for $399.

 

OP. did you go with chromolly rear axles?
Or do you have abs?

 

... you think like I did.

These parts are all Toyota with the exception of the welded (FROR) flange onto the axle tube.
There are no fail gear parts on this axle.
After I did the front Tundra brake upgrade, there was no difference in the pedal feel.

After this upgrade, again, no change but the brakes are much better.

I completely/ entirely eliminated the ABS system, and yes, the axles are chromo.

 

Low range is a different story... my parts are from Front Range Off Road. These guys are on point, not to say Low Range isn't, its just that I haven't dealt with them like I have Front Range.

 

That is the same setup I want to go to!
.
I have a Diamond that the PO converted to D44 based FF, it works well but I lost the E-brake. I've dealt with it for a few years and even tried a tcase parking brake, it worked but not very good.

These are the best pics I have seen of the Drotor, I haven't seen the backing plate he makes fully.

 

^^ the e-brake is non-functional at this time. I am waiting for a back-ordered bracket to be delivered.
It appears as I will need some custom cable ends at the front. The DS cable is very long and the PS is close to the OEM location.

Part numbers for the cables:
Driver: 46430-35563
Passenger: 46420-35773

 

Do they both go back to the split under the cab? VS the split being on the axle? The length might not be much of an issue with the longer trucks. Do you have a PN for the bracket? Think one could be built?

Thanks for the PN's!

I emailed FROR a few weeks back about cutting my ends off and welding the toyota ones on, never got a reply. Maybe he slammed and doesn't want to deal with reworking an axle. I guess I will have to order parts and do it myself even though I'm only a couple hours drive from him.

 

Sweet! did you get the 8.4, or 9.5 diff? rear discs are the shit for sure!