The floor mats are coated with a generous layer of coarse-grained sand, the paint now sports a few desert pinstripes, and the new-vehicle smell has long wafted out the window. That's just the way we like it. | 
Can an FJ Cruiser haul 8-foot lengths of steel tubing home from the metal yard? You betcha! The rear seat was folded forward, the tubing cinched together, and the tie-down loops in the floor served as anchors. Yes, the rear door had to stay open during the short drive home. | 
That's a 38-inch Toyo Open Country M/T and a host of other hardware belonging to our '03 Super Duty. Once again, the FJ's flexible rear area can haul cargo, passengers, or a little of both. A large, lockable cargo bay is a big-time plus. |
The 4.0 V6 is a healthy engine, so it was able to propel 35-inch tires authoritatively even with stock axle gears. Just the same, too-tall gears mean less control on tight, twisty trails. Fuel economy suffers too. All-Pro Off-Road knows the importance of proper gearing and stocks gearsets and installation kits for the FJ Cruiser. | 
The 'Cruiser can use a Tacoma ring-and-pinion in the rear diff, but the frontend takes gears that are unique to the FJ. These same gears are also used on some non-USA Toyota models, so All-Pro imports the front gears. A 4.56 ratio was the way to go with our 35s. | 
Drain the oil before you pull the pumpkin, or you'll get a messy reminder as soon as the mating surfaces come apart. |
The same angle of attack was used up front. The lower ball joint rides in a bolt-on housing, making it a cinch to separate the steering knuckle from the lower control arm. | 
A spring clip keeps the axles inside the front differential. Careful prybar manipulation was the secret to successful extraction. | 
The driver-side tie rod had to be disconnected. Once the tie rod and lower control arm were pulled free of the steering knuckle, it could be rotated away from its home position. This in turn allowed pulling the CV shaft clear of the diff. The CV shaft was also disconnected from the wheel hub and set aside. |
The control arms, tie rod, and CV shaft were left in place on the passenger side. The long-side axletube was unbolted from the differential, and the pumpkin was lowered away and taken to the workbench. | 
This fixture eliminates the risk of dropped diffs and crushed toes. | 
Proper presses and pullers not only made the job easier, they made it possible in the first place. Trying to make do by using improper tools will often leave you with damaged parts and a fried temper. |