Front wheel bearings shot - try DIY or take it in?

Just an FYI. This happened to me but I was able to pull it off without too much trouble using a 3 jaw puller.

 

I appreciate the encouragement, but made the decision to take this to a shop. I'm not where I planned to be, but am going to try to salvage the rest of my vacation & not spend it working on my truck against a hard deadline. I took this week off 'cause I needed a week OFF...not to do more work. I need to go ride my bikes and fortunately don't need the truck to do that. I'm on a 3-day streak and aim to make it at least 7.

So I'm shopping my options. Only quote I've gotten is $1,050 and frankly is sounding worth every penny at this point. Still gonna shop around a bit though & try to find someone familiar with the Taco. There's a shop called Toy Crawlers local to me that was recommended by someone on the forum - gonna be my first choice. But at this point it seems there are at least a couple trustworthy shops within walking distance, so I'm gonna quit sweating this.

Thanks again for all the posts. This really should have been an easy decision, but when it comes to other people working on my stuff.....

 

What 3-jaw puller did you use? Maybe I can add it to my tool arsenal.

 

I'll grab a pic in the next few days when I'm off shift. It's not anything special. I think I got it at autozone. I used a piece of scrap 1/4" steel I had cut out with a hole saw from some other project to lay across the hub to screw the puller down onto.

 

Pull the knuckles yourself and have a shop do it is my vote. But having someone do it good is always a pleasure, having a fixed car and no busted up hands to put on your lady? Priceless.

 

It's still an option. I haven't had anything done yet - can't find an interested shop that doesn't want to charge me and arm and a leg. And I ate up too much of my vacation making phone calls. Tomorrow I'll be renting a car though so I can get back & forth to work & that's gonna light a fire under me to do something one way or another.

 

I had mine done last week. I ended up pulling the knuckle off and taking it to a shop with the parts. I paid 80 to have it pressed out and new parts in. Parts for one side I paid about 200. So about 280 total for one side only

 

How long did that side take ya?

 

And just curious - how did ya wind up spending $200 on parts for one side? I was thinking the bearings were 65 bucks or so.

 

Not long since my suspension isn't stock. But depends on the brand you buy. I bought a timken bearing which was about $95. seals, one seal was $24 the other was $10 and the wheel hub was $60

 

Good stuff. Looks like I'm gonna go price & order parts 'cause I'm having trouble finding a shop to do this.

 

Heh. Funny how easily things can be mis-remembered. Anyway it was a 2 jaw not 3 and the piece I used to brace it was something I cut out previously with a torch not a hole saw. Meh. Still pretty sure it was autozone.

 

Yeah thats a good idea man. Idk if things are cheaper where you're at. The original koyo bearing for me was priced at 175 here in California. That's why I went with the timken. I believe autozone has their brand for like 65 but idk how good they are

 

175 holy cow! I think I found the right Koyo through Amazon for 75, but amazon says it doesn't fit. Really just started looking into parts though so who knows? I think I'm just gonna run down to HF and pick up a press too - should mostly pay for itself after this job. Hopefully I can take it apart & store it under the house when I'm all done.

 

That's what I wanted to do but I was in a time crunch. But I'll get my press for the other bearing. I'm going to attempt to do that one on my own

 

Found this off timmy the tool man's video. Says on Amazon it'll fit my taco.

Koyo Wheel Bearing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007453K9C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Yeah, says it won't fit my truck for whatever reason. No time for that now though - of course work would call me in early as I'm trying to get this done

 

I don't know if he does 1st gen but @05Taco4x4 sells new hubs and bearings pre pressed very reasonably. Got a set for my 05.

 

nope, not for 1st gen.

 

Let me know what you find out from them. I may be due for wheel bearings soon as well and I'm up in Boulder.

Not only does he not do 1st gen, nobody would do that because you'd have to supply the spindle and hub to the rebuilder OR they would supply new ones and the cost would be obscene. 1st gen is NOT like the 2nd gen with regards to wheel bearings.