ECGS Bushing - Is it a must?

Does anyone know if freezing the ECGS bushing helps with installing it. Or just oil it up and pound it in.....My wife prefers the second one......

 

Freeze it for sure. I do that on all installs

 

The thing I’ve seen people do is get the tool stuck in the diff though and struggle to get it out, that could be a little nerve wrecking

 

Getting it in is easy if you have a punch and a hammer. Just shove a plastic baggy in, then get the tool lined up and use a punch to tap it in past the needle bearing. Voila. What usually give me the most issues is getting the CV out. On a new truck it can be a bitch

 

A pry bar on the notches with a 4 lb. mallet does the trick. Same way going in.

 

Oh I know, but once I had one that was so fucking stubborn, I had to have someone manning the prybar with all their weight on it, while I simultaneously make a "slide hammer" with a 3' pipe wrench and some cord that wouldn't stretch, and swung it like a golf club. After 15 seconds of hard swings the fucker popped out.

 

From my understanding this is only done on the drivers side why doesn't that passenger side have one?

 

Good question, maybe because the tcase is on the driver's side?

 

For whatever reason Toyota didn’t use a needle bearing on the passenger side. You can kinda sorta see that here. This is a pic of my diff.

 

How likely am I to damage output seal?
I know they’re pita to replace, at least on other car i have

 

There’s a very real chance you’ll damage it, but if you’re cautious you’ll be fine. It’s not hrs to replace it, but it is hard driving it to the right depth so it doesn’t leak again. I’ve had to do my passenger side like 4 times over the last year and a half because apparently I suck at it.

 

This I know lol, I had to replace 2 on an M3, I ruined 2. First you have to drive to right depth, then make sure it’s equally seated, so that coupled with space constraints made it for a pita. I’ll have to be real careful, then again I say that a lot..

 

That's weird, I'm sure there's a logical reason for it, you'd think they would do the same because needle bearings are so fragile. Good to know! Thanks!

 

This os the video I plan to follow on Saturday when I install ECGS bushing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m9W31KGy6k0

 

This is the exact same way I did it. Good stuff.

 

Well its good to be back. Tacoma world gave me a 3 day vacation. Got my needle bearing out and ECGS in. Drives great with no vibes or humm. Anyone looking for the needle bearing puller let me know.

Update. I no longer have the tool.

 

Mrtoad25 I could definitely use the bearing puller...

 

First post here, I've been reading a lot and did the ECGS install today on my '16 (50k miles)

A few things I learned doing it:
-I installed mine ahead of the lift I'm doing next weekend. I actually had a growl and some vibrations around 45-50mph even with stock suspension, and this bushing fixed it.
-My CV axle was very hard to remove, had to end up using a slide hammer with a hook and some metal clamps. This worked in about 10 seconds whereas the pry bar/hammer method took about an hour with no progress.
-Autozone rentals are great... torque wrench and slide hammer were clutch.
-I had to grind an angle on the ECGS removal tool like many others, after the mod it was easy.
-I had the bushing in the freezer for a day prior to install and it was still a pain in the ass to get in. I used a bearing/race driver kit from harbor freight.
-Grease the clip on the axle before you put it back in just like others have mentioned. Grease will hold the open end facing down, otherwise it's a pain.

If anyone else needs the ECGS removal tool, I can ship it out. Just ask that you pay it forward.

 

Quality fuckin 1st post. Welcome. You’re one of many and why this place hasn’t been washed away in another flood.

 

Good post. I'm interested on either borrowing the tool or getting the dimensions of the plate that goes inside the bearing. I think I can make one at work. Thanks