Symptoms
Grease and gear oil oozing from the knuckle wiper seals, a mix of grease and 90-weight inside the knuckle, or play when you lift a front wheel and shove it.
The fix, step by step
- Pull the hub and spindle, slide out the Birfield, then remove the steering-arm cones (they stick, so use penetrating oil and tap the arm from below) and the top and bottom knuckle caps.
- Clean everything, replace the inner axle seal, knuckle bearings and wiper seals, repack the Birfield and knuckle, and reassemble.
- Bottom shims center the knuckle and top shims set preload: if preload is low, remove shims from the top.
- One IH8MUD write-up set preload at 4–5 lb with shims; check your factory service manual for the exact figure and where to hook the spring scale.
Tools & part numbers
- Hub socket
- brass drift
- spring scale
- seal driver
- torque wrench
- Cruiser Corps knuckle kit 514-108 (1958–9/1975) or 514-109 (9/1975–1/1990)
- OEM knuckle wiper kit
- moly grease
Where to buy the parts
Knuckle rebuild kit (Japanese), FJ40/45/55/60/62 1975–90Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Knuckle rebuild kit (Japanese), FJ40/45/55 1958–75Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Steering knuckle wiper kit, OEM (1958–90)Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Front axle Birfield (inner axle) seal, 1968–90Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.