After ripping into the front axle I've found my spindles, and axles are shot, as well as the the birfields being borderline ok. If I go with marfields and shafts from Marlin and new spindles from Toyota I'm looking at about $810.

If I go with a birfiled eliminator kit it will only cost $639 from Marlin of $499 from Sky Manufacturing and I get the spindles included. I'm only running 30" tire and just looking for a little better than stock replacement. Is the birfield eliminator worth the saved money? Does anyone think it'll me more of a headache that just keeping the birfields. Thanks for you responses.

If you want all out strength for a stock toy axle housing, go with 30 spline longfields...

True, but like he said, he's running a 30" tire. Longs would be more than over-kill.

I know somebody around here has done this...from a $$ perspective, I'd say " go for it". I don't think you'll gain any strength or performance, tho...

Thanks for the reply guys. Longfields will have to wait until I can justify the extra expense. This is my DD and I'm just looking to replace my 301,000 mile worn parts.

With the u-joints I'm guessing it comes down to which is easier to service when it breaks. Birfields are a PITA to replace as evidenced on my bench.

Does anyone have any experience on breaking the u-joints on the eliminator kit. Did it do much damage to the axle housing? I got one side chewed up from a broken birfield and it's not pretty. Curious to know how bad a grenaded u-joint would tear things up in there.

I think even 27 spline longfields are stronger than the birf eliminators. From everything I have read, I would never do a birf eliminator. Service your axle, use stock inners, and use 27 spline longfields.

x2

A picture is worth a thousand words!!! When it went I had to replace the housing and one hub. You can buy new bushings in the spindles and get some Longfield 27-spline birfs.

This is what the kit looked like when I pulled it out. The short side looks like it is still together but the caps were FUBARed and the ears on the shafts are tweaked.

Thanks for the replies and talking me out of the birfield eliminator kit. That pic looks like something went through the meat grinder. I hate to see the axle inside after that went around in the knuckle.

I just bought 2 marfields and 2 spindles from Marlin and inner shafts from Alllpro (Marlin was out for 2 weeks). I'm all set now. Thanks again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

You didn't ask for feedback on the Marfields before (though you did mention them). I would not pay the extra expense for them; I would have gone Longfields and picked up some used axleshafts for ~$50. Why do you need chromo inners with 30" tires?

Nuttin' like an armchair quarterback dinging the play you called, eh? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Now you tell me the marfields suck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> I was torn between the marfield UM-05 and the profield from Allpro. The folks on Pirate4x4 told me the profields sucked. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Go figure, I guess I partial to Marlin Crawler too. Nice and helpful folks and the price was better that Allpro's profield.

I gotta tell ya, I really did want the longfields. However I couldn't justify spending the extra $170 right now for their 4 piece set with 30" tires. Someday went I hit the lotto I'll want to slap big tires on and build a rock buggy. But it's gonna have to wait <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

The plan is to get my DD rolling for the next many miles and do this on my paycheck to paycheck budget. All I can say is thank God for the Toyota aftermarket. The dealer quoted me $279 for the birfields so I didn't dare ask about the axles <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> For the same money you can get stronger longfields, axles, and money towards a locker. Getting something comparable allowed me to save my <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> big $$$. Now if I could have found where to get the used axles I'd been even better off. Going aftermarket saved me about $500. I'm hoping what I bought will last as long as the Toyota parts did and will be at least as strong. Here's my axle repair cost breakdown dealer vs. aftermaket.

DEALER
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$558 - 2 Stock Birfields
$400 - 2 Spindles
$??? - Long and Short Axles (scared to ask and hearing the 2 above)
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$958 - Total less axles

AFTERMARKET
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$160 - 2 Marfields
$ 80 - 2 used Spindles from Marlin
$200 - Long and Short Axles
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$440

One more thing. How big of tires do you think the Marfield UM-05 birfields and the 4340 moly axles can handle? I really want to get some 31x10.5x15R BFG mudterrains and was hoping what I bought would be sufficient. My friend has them and they look and perform better than my gas saving AT's. Thanks for your input and advise.