1st & 2nd Generation (1983–1986 & 1987-1991)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1983-1986 & 1987-1991.
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So yesterday I had my mechanic replace the passenger side axle(the axle shaft bearing was getting noisy). Instead of replacing the axle with the type I had(seperated/2 piece type), he installed the one piece type from the later gen 2's.
He swore to me that it makes no difference what-so-ever.
He explained to me that Toyota switched over to a one piece design to save money and it fits exactly the same way that the 2 piece one fit.
The only difference is that in the future(misc. repair issues such as cv boot, wheel bearing, spindle,etc...), the whole axle has to come out rather than just one piece making it messier with gear oil and such to replace.
But ironicly, the passenger side spindle can be wiggled out without removing the axle because of the axle's longer length, so I guess that it's not an issue.
I trust these guys, Ive been doing business with them forever
Didnt even know they switched. But, when youre axle goes bad, its better/easier to just replace the whole assembly anyways. It cant be any harder to replace anything axle related with a solid piece vs the 2-piece.
If it fits, and it works, then dont worry about it.
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Didnt even know they switched. But, when youre axle goes bad, its better/easier to just replace the whole assembly anyways. It cant be any harder to replace anything axle related with a solid piece vs the 2-piece.
If it fits, and it works, then dont worry about it.
The online manual (1990 Camry)doesnt even show the one in my car. I have an 89 toyota FSM and it shows both the old and new.
It's weird cause the 1 piece design for 89 would definately NOT fit my car, but from looking again at the online 1990 fsm, it looks all good. The 1990 FSM actually shows 2 types-GKN and Toyota type, both 1 piece.....confusing. The only thing that I can think of is that one is specific to the manual and one for the automatic, but niether FSM's state that.
.....but all seems good so far, so Im not worried.
The primary reason for using stub shaft and bearing on passenger side is to make interchangeable axles on both sides.In order to improve steering control on acceleration (to minimize a torque steer), the axles must also be of equal lenghts. For do-it-yourselver it is easier to take out 6 nuts instead of pulling the whole axle assy out of transaxle.
The primary reason for using stub shaft and bearing on passenger side is to make interchangeable axles on both sides.In order to improve steering control on acceleration (to minimize a torque steer), the axles must also be of equal lenghts. For do-it-yourselver it is easier to take out 6 nuts instead of pulling the whole axle assy out of transaxle.
I see, but length is not the issue. both sides seem to be the same length, just the rh side was upgraded to the one-piece design of the later gen2's.....but the length of the half shafts seems to be the same, old vs. new.
It may be hard to see(sorry, I dont have a scanner), but I have the one one the top. It's more like a three piece axle to be exact since all axles are atleast two pieces
they are interchangeable, when i got my blue car going i switched both sides over to the one piece because they are more common but i did keep the old stubs since the store kid had no idea what he was looking at when i brought the old ones back
they are interchangeable, when i got my blue car going i switched both sides over to the one piece because they are more common but i did keep the old stubs since the store kid had no idea what he was looking at when i brought the old ones back
Thanx for the reply.
Do you think it's OK to have my to have one of each?
.....my RH side axle was changed over, but the LH side axle is the older design.
BTW, After two days of driving, everything seems to be fine......just thought Id ask since you have experience with both.
my 1991 USA 2wd 1st gen is production month june which is suppossed to have the frist gen tie rods, in october the switch to 2nd gen tie rods. It took a gew trips back and forth to figure out that someone had made this switch and that it was possible
I have trouble getting it properly aligned because of this. Usually I either forget the first trip or they forget and I remember when I go back to get the lean fixed.
Last edited by Lastofthe2ndGen; 12-16-2006 at 12:34 AM.
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