Symptoms
Grease and gear oil weeping past the knuckle wiper seals, sludge inside the knuckle, or play in the front wheel.
The fix, step by step
- Same job as an FJ40: pull the hub, spindle and Birfield, remove the steering-arm cones and knuckle caps, then replace the inner axle seal, knuckle bearings and wiper seals.
- Repack and reassemble, using top shims to set knuckle-bearing preload and bottom shims to center the knuckle.
- Use the spec from the factory service manual.
Tools & part numbers
- Spring scale
- brass drift
- seal driver
- Cruiser Corps kit 514-108 (FJ40/45/55, 1958–9/1975) or 514-109 (9/1975–1/1990)
- 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 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.