Nissan & Toyo Rear drive axle flanges??.

Yep, 6 studs on the fully floating rear axles. They were increased in size from 8mm to 10mm a few years ago on the Toyotas.

The weight of the vehicle is taken by the axle bearing on the axle housing and the vehicle mass comes of course through the suspension to the axle housing.

Torque delivered from the engine is transmitted to the tyres via the wheel studs but also by the contact with the flange. The wheel nuts should make the flange and wheel one unit with the studs just acting as locators.

If the wheels nuts become loose or are not seated correctly then the torque is placed on the actual studs and they can break and 80 series toyotas break them quite easily. Overstressing the studs by rattle guns doesn't help either.

Once the tyres are turning, the vehicle is pushed forward by the rear suspension. On the old leaf spring types, the push is on the front spring mount and is called a "hotchkiss" drive. The rear spring shackles just allow the axle to travel up and down due to road surface conditions.

Hi Axle,
Full foating toyota axles hav the split cones

Axle
Yes mate they are a pain in the A#^^$, after i installed the rear auto Detroit Locker I had a problem with it giving a big kick one day and sheered all 6 of them on the R/H side , I was then told it is a problem with toyotas when installing auto lockers in the rear and they also said no one knows a remedy , I told him know one , I fixed it all up myself after extracting the broken studs and put 3 spot welds on it , I have had no more problems , it has been out into the Simpson over Easter , But i do believe the nuts may have been loose to set up the reaction in the first place as I did have the axle out about 2500klm before the problem,