Symptoms
Fading or pulling drum brakes on an early truck.
The fix, step by step
- Bolt-on kits replace the front drums with brackets, calipers and rotors; the job is hub off, bracket on, rotor and hub back on, caliper mounted, new lines and a full bleed.
- IH8MUD's mini-truck knuckle conversion, written up on a 1972 FJ40, is also reported to work on an FJ55.
Tools & part numbers
- Hub tools
- flare-nut wrenches
- brake bleeder
- Cruiser Corps kit A151 (front) or A150 (front and rear, 8/1970–8/1980)
Where to buy the parts
Front disc brake conversion kit, FJ40/45/55 8/1970–8/1980Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
DOT 3 brake fluid (1978 4.2L)RockAuto ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 / FJ55 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.