Front hub bearing

But the question on the board is whether it makes any sense for the average Taco owner to pay $300 for a pair or assemblies when they can have a pair of Dorman assemblies for half the price. I agree $300 is cheap compared to $1200 at the dealer, but that's not really what's being discussed.

 

Understood.

I do think it makes sense to pay for the higher quality bearings for the chance of it lasting longer.

Nothings guaranteed and the Dormans could last twice as long. I’m willing to take that chance.

I’m fortunate that the extra $150 isn’t going to create a hardship, too.

Also, buying it from the vendor here supports his business and not some corporation.

 

That all make sense. Thanks for clarifying your comments. FWIW, I do see an ebay posting of Dorman hubs claiming "Asian" bearings for about $90 a side, but specifically noting an option for "KOYO" bearings in the same hub for $160 a side. Just so we are clear, I was never suggesting vendors on this site are charging too much, only questioning whether the price of the non-KOYO (or NSK now, according to vendor posts) was unreasonable.

 

I get it.

Whatever you decide, consider keeping and rebuilding the old hubs after the new install.

Wish I did that w my ‘07 I drove to 351K miles. I would have saved quite a bit

Good Luck

 

So is it common to have to replace the rear bearings around the same timeframe as well?

 

No.

I think rear bearing replacement is infrequent but others will know more.

 

Conflicting info on axle nut size, is it 35mm or 36mm? I went out and picked up the 36 already lmao.

 

Looking forward to seeing the pictures. I got my replacement hub from BamaToy1997 "bumper to bumper" in Florida and it has been great. I had the install done by my mechanic, Jason "Speed Freek" here on TW. That was 3.5 years and almost 40,000 miles ago... The bearings are still quiet.

Here is my post from Nov. 9, 2015 when I had my front left wheel bearing/ hub unit replaced:
=========================================================================

Mentioned in BamaToy1997's vendor thread and in SpeedFreek's thread, but let me add here in the San Diego thread that Jason (SpeedFreek) in Vista outperformed himself with a most epic front hub/bearing assembly R&R job ever! I arrived at 10:30 am yesterday and was driving away at 11:30 with a new and quiet hub from BamaToy1997 in Florida!

Here is what I posted in BamaToy's thread:

The Job is done... and the hub/bearing assembly from BamaToy1997 is in, is working, and the NOISE IS GONE!!!

Thank you for the fast shipping of the new hub assembly Bill and thank you Jason (SpeedFreek) for the awesome, fast and excellent install today (under an hour)!

I arrived at 10:30 and was leaving at 11:30, including chatting about motorcycle and Baja racing.
Jason did the install so quickly and smoothly, I missed the actual instal of the new hub, so Jason removed the brake rotor just for me to take a photo!

Here are the photos, starting with the new hub in the box from Bill, when I opened it...











Jason enjoys making Tacomas run good again!


Old hub...





New hub...





Here is the old hub/bearing off the truck...vvv



When spun, you could hear the roller bearings... When they have grease, you don't hear the metallic sound.

So, as soon as I got up to highway speed, I could tell the hum noise was gone and the truck sounded totally normal, once again!

Thank you Bill, thank you Jason, and thank you Tacoma World!

 

My eBay hub is still going after 18 months

 

TW Member that does a hell of a job at reasonable prices, you won't be disappointed: @05Taco4x4

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-press-service-4x4-prerunner-nsk.537080/

 

The thread is mostly about whether the cost of the pair from that and other TW suppliers makes sense compared to off the shelf for almost half the price. The only difference is KOYO/NSK bearings vs. Chinese, and we still don't have much information on this thread about whether that difference is significant for the average joe - me, for example, with low annual mileage and relatively light use for the next 5-10 years or so.

 

Also, maybe replacing the seal behind the hub assembly on the knuckle may make a bearing last a lot longer no matter what kind it is, of course the seal wouldn’t matter as much if the truck is not going through sandy, muddy, wet areas.

 

My stock ones were toast at 110K and the rears followed not long after. I'll go with the best bearing available and hope for the longest ride.

 

Definitely 35 mm socket... I just replaced my CV joint boots.

 

Yes, exchanged for 35 mm, now I can not get the abs sensor out, I took off the bolt but it just swivels back and forth, I pull on it but it is plastic and I don’t want to break it. So I went to disconnect the plug, but it must be a fandagled special tool to remove plug, any tips? LoL do not want to break another part to replace!

 

I don't think I had to remove the sensor when i replaced mine?

 

Ok, but did you replace that seal behind the hub as well? I was mostly doing it to give me room to swing the caliper out of the way.

 

I do not recall replacing a seal. I installed mine over a year ago, so my memory is not so clear. Have you tried some YouTube or Google for installation help?

 

The results I get are people make it look easy pulling the sensor out, or they skip showing that part. Then I find people online breaking the sensor. I will just cut the wires if eed be and solder ad seal em up after!

 

I guess I'm glad I didn't try to remove it then! The way it goes for me it would have been broken!