Front wheel bearing are they hard to replace?

I don't know why you'd have to replace a lock ring unless you fubar'ed it taking it out. Which isn't likely. That part is pretty straightforward and is prob. the easiest step.

 

It looks like you have the correct outer seal(the large one, they're the same for prerunner/4wd) But looks like you have an inner seal(the smaller one) for a 4wd hub.
I use this for my parts diagrams(attached file). It says it's for 2001-02, so maybe cross reference things to be sure. Should be the same tho. And yes, you should have lock rings for the Prerunner. Its a good idea to get some as theyre cheap anyways. In case you/the shop buggers them up. Napa told me they are supposed to be discarded and new ones installed. Trying to remember what he said, something about it being a torque specific nut, softer material maybe, something or other, and that you won't be able to torque it back down as tight as it was if reused. Not sure on all that tho. I just snagged em at the dealership. They were fairly cheap. Just like the snap rings. Better to be safe than sorry and have to make the shop wait until you source more parts. Maybe even the grease caps too. But I think those are fairly easy to get out. But could possibly be damaged too if they're rusted in or something.

 

Another thing @Stout890 , if you havent already, make sure the shop youre taking it to has the special lock nut socket to get them lock nuts off. Otherwise ive heard of people using a chisel to get it off/on. But then it wont be torqued. Supposed to be 205 ft lbs iirc. Even with new ones ive heard they couldnt get it that tight. But better to ask the shop if they will be doing that because if its not torqued all the way it could possibly cause play. My local napa had the socket already as they had done some in the past.

 

It's something usually done by a machine shop. Prob. cheaper there anyway. The 4wd shop I first went to charged 100 a side and didn't really even want to do it for that. Machine shop said 50 and didn't blink. Said they do Taco ones often and that while they're tough, most press jobs are or people do it at home.

 

I Called oreilys and they have the tool to rent so I'm picking that up in the morning along with 2 new lock nuts.

So I got the spindals off tonight and popped off the grease caps and there is a ton of grease that is outside the bearing. Now I'm just wondering if that grease should be inside the bearing and the rear seal has failed. Or is that normal.

Other than that the old bearings are still tight with no play, they just make a metal on metal noise when there spun.

Maybe they didn't need to be replaced? Oh well too late now I'm in too deep lol

 

Well they were Probly due and just recently spewed their grease. Napa said mine spewed their grease when they went to press them out and that they were about due. They were only a lil hard to turn and no signs otherwise. But I was doing them as preventative maintenance while I tackled other things. Good thing I did I guess.

 

Did it make your ride quieter?

 

It wasnt noisy before.

Edit. My guess is yours were farther along than mine. How many miles? Got 193k myself. But Idk if they were ever changed before I bought her. Either way, it is a wear item so good to be changed regardless.

 

178,000 on mine but it's 18 years old and I have no idea also if they were ever changed. I'm also happy to change them just for piece of mind. But I have been chasing a noise in my passenger wheel well with all new ball joints and shocks w/springs and now bearings. So all that would be left in that area would be control arm bushings or tires.

The tires were cupping from my previously blown out suspension. But they have actually started to wear smooth again since the new billies and coils.

 

Reviving an old thread to answer a question. I'm in the process of having a bad front wheel bearing replaced on my 03 4x4. My question is in regards to the lock nuts (part#

$14 43521-35010 Axle Bearing Lock Nut

43521-35010) in the quoted comment. Are those lock nuts needed on my '03? I thought I read somewhere that the later 1st gen 4x4's with abs & add diffs don't use a locking nut. I took the spindle to a machine shop with a good rep to do the press work. The machine shop called me later and stated that they need a "retaining collar" to finish the job. What the heck is a "retaining collar"? Are they referring to the spacer? Shouldn't that be reusable (unless they damaged it in the press work)? I provided them with a new snap ring & seals for the job. Am I missing something? @BamaToy1997 or anyone else with experience with 1st gen. wheel bearing replacement: Is the shop referring to the bearing spacer & does that part get damaged sometimes in presswork?

 

I thought the lock ring was only for manual hubs?

 

Me, too. That's why I'm a little confused as to what they may be missing to finish the job.

 

Ah. I just checked the fsm. Prerunner and manual hub 4wd trucks need the staked lock nut. So you shouldn't need it.

 

Boy oh boy. I'm excelling today.

 

LOL: The "upside down". Thanks for the FSM screenshot. I'm going to assume that either they FUBARED the job and damaged or lost the bearing spacer or they are confused and are assuming that all tacoma bearings need the lock nut.

 

Sometimes they have to cut off the retainer, because there's not enough "purchase" to press it off.