Brass bushing inside front wheel hub

I recently bought a used 95' std cab 4x4 2.7L 4cyl with 160k miles, it has been used pretty hard as a farm truck before I picked it up.

Shortly after buying it I replaced both front wheel bearings. They were pretty sloppy (lots of play top and bottom of wheel), were producing a lot of road noise, and the steering was getting a bit squirrelly. While doing this I noted that there was what appeared to be a piece missing on the drivers side. It is a small brass bushing.





Anyone know exactly what this part does? Or if its absence would cause the bearing to walk again?

I ask because initially after the repair it drove great but after just a few weeks things have deteriorated and there is now significant play in the drivers side again. I am planning to do the bearing again but want to make sure I do not have to do it again and again after that. If you can recommend a quality reman'd hub I would be open to that option though I already bout the bearings and seals again.

I have the parts manual but I cannot find that part, I think it may be considered part of the hub.


I have been to the dealer but not had any success locating the part. I have also been junkyard diving. Out of all the Tacos/Prerunners my vintage I was only able to find one 4x4 front hub and when I took it apart the brass part was missing and the bearing came apart in my hand....

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you have one I will buy it off you as I need to take care of this before making the 3.4k mile round trip Christmas journey to visit family

Thanks in advance for your feedback and help.

 

I would like to know what it does too. I have a similar problem on the passenger side. Mine is not missing but has been boogered beyond belief by somebody else. My wheel bearing were replaced a few months back as well and that side has gotten loose again.

 

Looks like the lock nut but seems like there should be an additional tab to prevent it from backing off while driving....it's been a long time since I've worked on locking hubs. ??

 

http://www.offroadsolutions.com/products/ors-replacement-hub-bushing/