front wheel bearing problems

i have a 2003 toyota tacoma 4by4 2.7 engine. i replaced the front wheel bearing and a couple day's later that bearing was gone, so i got a new bearing and a new hub and put that on my truck couple of day's later that bearing was gone. what am i doing wrong. i'm stuck in my house over christmas with no truck.

 

When I did the front wheel bearing on my 2001. I learned that once you press in the hub you put on the washer then the clamp. The first time I reversed it.

 

the most common cause or repeated bearing failure is lack of lubrication (not enough or wrong type of grease) or over tightening the nut.

you may be over tightening it, tighten the nut then back it off 1/4 turn and then tighten it with your fingers until it stops then lock it in place in that position.

its not supposed to be tight or it overheats with the friction and fails. it is supposed to be free moving without pressure on it but not loose enough to wiggle. if done right, before installing the calipers, the rotor should make a full rotation when its given a spin after you install the hub, if not it is too tight.

 

This advice is not applicable to 4WD hub design.

 

Keakar, you are thinking old-school bearings. the new ones that are in the 1st gen and 2nd gen Tacoma trucks are a sealed unit. When you torque the primary hub nut to the correct torque, you DO NOT EVER loosen the nut and retighten. Set the torque and be done with it.

To the OP, when you are getting all of the work done did you replace the two seals? There is one between the hub itself and the bearing. I know it seems crazy, but I have seen people forget to install it. Also, when pressing in the bearing, you MUST be sure that the press setup is correct, or you will damage the bearing during installation, or shortly after.

 

sorry, I didn't see it was 4wd.

with sealed bearings, if they are failing on you then you pressed them on wrong damaging them or you are buying cheap china crap and need to get a good set of OEM bearings for it.

ok, yes I keep getting mixed up with 4wd truck differences.

2wd trucks still use the old open design 2 piece bearings

 

thanks guy's for your advice. do the 1st gen 4by4's like mine 2003 have those seal's . what would the cost be for me to replace the bearing assembly with the bearing pressed in. thank's again guys

 

yes all 4wd have the seals because that's what keep the differential fluid in the axle housing.

as I understand it, its not wet bearings like the 2wd trucks have so the seal keeps the bearing side dry and the sealed bearings are self contained and need no oil to lube them.

 

The front bearings are nowhere near the differential seals, there's a splined half-shaft with CV joint between them and the differential. Gear lube gets nowhere near the hub bearing.

BamaToy is talking about the seals at the hub & spindle that keep dirt, water, etc. out of the pressed-in bearing.

 

thanks, I keep forgetting the fronts are CV joints and not like the rear axles

just trying to help but I need to pay closer attention to what im responding to

 

The rears are essentially the same way. From inside out there is an inner gear oil seal in the end of the axle tube then a sealed ball bearing followed by an outer seal keeping the outside world out of the bearing. No gear oil touches the bearing, or shouldn't.

 

where would i find a hub with the bearing pressed onto it, the whole bearing assembly thanks guys

 

Newfoundland? If so I fear your headaches may have just begun.

I have never seen any "assemblies" for 1st gens. The only thing your going to find is the whole knuckle, bearing, hub from a salvage yard. The only other option is to assemble what you need from new parts.
I'm not sure if you understand how the knuckle is assembled. There are 2 main press operations. Briefly, the bearing is pressed into the knuckle then the hub is pressed into the bearing.
This job should only be done by someone that really knows what they are doing or has done it before (and still knows what they are doing). As BammaToy mentioned, press set up is extremely critical. The correct bearing races (inner/outer) for each press operation must be supported/pressed against or the bearing will be damaged.

This diagram might help.

 

i have tried all the scrap yards here in newfoundland, and nova scotia to find the knuckle, the the hub with the bearing in it, i can't go wrong replaceing it then. i have had no luck getting the parts i need. if anyone out there know anywhere i could try and get those parts it would be real helpful. thank's guy's 2003 toyota tacoma access cab 4by4 2.7 engine

 

top of page click the buy/sell/trade link

lots of people are selling off parts trucks and you can usually find any part you need

 

97 4by4 4runner would the front end parts knuckle, hub and bearing I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4by4 2.7 engine

 

wondering if the parts fit my truck

 

I had my front right bearing replaced on Dec 30th; I had a professional do it as I am not that good at this type of work.

OEM Bearing was $135
OEM Wheel seal was $18
OEM Wheel seal/Dust Shield was $54
Press Bearing assembly was $90
Alignment was $75

Vehicle is 03 Tacoma DCSB 4x4 3.4l