Needle Bearing Failure With Lift (How Many)

So basically I’m think whenever I lift my truck I should replace the needle bearing ?
I have a 2020 sport 4x4

 

I would do it just to be safe. The bushing is $60 and You might be able to find someone with the removal tool. Took about an hour and a half. Can’t hurt to be proactive. I wish I had know about this sooner.

 

Easy peasy when doing the lift.

 

Is it hard to do? ive done suspension before but never axle/diff work and it just makes me nervous

 

I had a buddy help that had done it before and had all the tools. But it really isn’t too bad. Watch a few videos on the install and make sure you get the proper tools and you should be good. If after watching the videos you’re still nervous... you could always pay someone to do it but I think most places charge around $300 for labor.

 

I have a 2019 DCLB with Bilstein 6112s on 6 driverside and 5 passenger side. I have just under 3000k on the lift and felt the vibrations slightly after. Goes away in 4WD. My question is, how much longer can I go until I get it replaced?

 

Until you can't stand it anymore.

 

So how does the bushing fix the issue? Wouldn't the shaft need some sort of bearing for better rotation. That was pretty cool for the ECGS guys to design this and work better than an actual Toyota part.

 

The issue is the small amount of “play” between the bearing and the shaft of the CV that is exaggerated by the angle of rotation. The bushing is a more snug fit that elevates the vibration.

 

Experienced the dreaded vibration immediately after lifting my truck last Spring. Installed the ECGS bushing and it’s been smooth sailing since.

 

I would imagine Toyota would have had a solution for that. Oh well atleast we have folks like ECGS

 

? A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist much outside modified vehicles?

 

A few people have mentioned there was a TSB on that issue, and some folks said theirs failed on stock height

 

That is part and parcel of needle bearings. They can fail while unmodified. And when modified, Toyota does not care. Nor should they. I do however think they should stick with the sleeve instead of the needle bearing. Would only add to their reputation of reliability.

 

The issue is also present on some completely stock Tacomas. FYI.

 

Super super minimal. Not even worth Toyotas time.

 

They cared enough to make a TSB for it. Has been a problem since the 2nd gen.

T-SB-0026-15

 

i am trying to figure out if doing the front diff drop with a 2" lift will help to avoid the needle bearing issue?...and if so, why don't more people do that just as an easy precaution?...

 

There’s a TSB for window seals. Doesn’t mean much, it just saves them labor hours. Moot.

Thanks for proving my point that it’s such a minority that Toyota hasn’t changed it in decades and didn’t bother changing when anew generation was released.

 

I think some of this can be solved by following Toyota’s recommendation of using 4wd for a few miles every few weeks. I’ve religiously done this since I’ve owned my 2016 and no issues. Have a 1.5” lift now. No vibration. It’s definitely not a cure all but it helps. I think a lot of trucks hardly ever get used as trucks. Thankfully I’ve put 134k hard miles on mine and I honestly think it’s been a good thing. Just my 2 cents as I’ve had only minor issues.