How do you get to the rear wheel bearings?

I've never had to work on a solid rear axle before. How do you get the axle out to change the wheel bearing? Mine is shot and needs replacing.

 

Based on this picture, it looks like the axle bolts on. I've never changed one so this may not help.

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2001_TOYOTA_TACOMA_VZN170L-CRPGKAB_4102.html

 

Take off your wheel and tire.
There are 4 nuts on the back or your hub (where the axle meets the brake)
Unhook your brake like that goes into the back of your hub.
Remove all 4 bolts.
The axle will then slide out of the housing.
I did my axle bearing a year or so ago and I had mine pressed out by a machine shop (probably the easiest safest way to do it!)
And you will probably want to replace that axle seal that rides on the inside of your axle housing.

Sorry if these instructions aren't to clear but it is very very simple to remove the axle!!

If you have anymore questions let me know!

 

Thanks. I was looking at everything earlier this evening and know exactly the 4 nuts you are talking about. It didn't look super hard but i've just never done it before.

 

your gonna wanna get it pressed on and off for sure. I did mine on my old 96 and the bearings were on there so tight I had to melt the ball bearings with a torch and then cut the inner race off the axle with a torch because it was still seized on. Very finicky work.

 

Ya and what I have found in the past with other things like this is that you or I always end up tearing up something that cost twice as much to replace as it did to take it some where and have them press the bearing off and back on.

Also I know I said this earlier but probably goin to want to replace your seal that rides in the axle housing when you do this its like 6 bucks and I have had 2 blow out and it sucks because you have to redo the brakes because the diff oil gets all over the shoes.
But if you dont want to or think you need to them just put grease all over the seal when you put the axle back in and be very careful not to break that seal!!

 

Oh yeh thats true forsure. And this was in the winter so it was no fun at all. The only reason I did it was because I brought in the axle to toyota to see if they could press the old bearing off and new one on, and they stated moaning about not making any money for doing things like this and that I'm bringing in my own parts. Finally they said the could do it within 2 days.

2 days for something that was going to take them 20 mons to do and charge me like $140 bucks. haha i told them what I thought of that and went on my way.

 

sub fo I plan to do this this week...

 

Similar...

Not really your average DIY job though.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/246760-2nd-gen-rear-axle-bearing-diy.html

 

I replaced the rear bearings on my truck. I built a tool that bolts to the backing plate with a tube through it that the axle shaft went into. At the other end of this tool was a plate and angle iron. The angle hung on the press and then I could just press the axle out. Took a couple days to figure out. It is not a do in a couple hours job IMO.