Understanding Open Face vs Closed Face Center Support Bearings

So I put my VIN into the toyota website and got this part number:

$142 37230-35130 Toyota Clutch Bearing - 37230-35130

37230-35130

When I lookup the part number I get and open face one and a closed face one? I'm super confused on which to get. They have the same part number. Is there a difference?

 

Not sure if this is the case for first gens, but I know on 2nd gens there are two different P/Ns. One with dust shield for 4x4 and pre-runner trucks, and one without for 2wd.

Only one of your pictures loaded, but Im guessing thats the case here.

And no, no one has the correct picture listed with the correct P/N when shopping online..

 

the one pictured seems right

 

I just replaced my carrier bearing, I bought the spicer replacement. Here is what my old and new one looked like:


My new one is the "open" style. The old one seems to be the same style, although it's a bit roughed up at this point. Haven't had any issues with the new one!

 

What the OP is calling "closed face" is the Toyota spec bearing for the 1st gen 4wd Tacoma. The other (Spicer) is Toyota spec for some other Toyota application. They both "fit"and "work" but the Taco spec bearing has two additional seals under that "face". Might be worth it for some, others not given the price difference.

For some reason a bunch of folks on this forum think they are "the exact same thing" and the Spicer is Taco OE. Obviously they are not.

"The Spicer says Toyota right on it" is the typical justification, from this thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-genuine-oem-carrier-bearing-for-79.583219/

The open Spicer (and other brands) are common in the aftermarket at a much lower price. No 1st gen 4wd Taco came with the Spicer brg, not from the factory and not current Toyota service replacement.

OE vs Spicer, OE on the left.


Inside an OE (factory) Tacoma spec bearing with the two extra seals.


Recent Toyota service replacement.


An OE bearing.

 

So morbid curiosity here, is there anything from Toyota that did come with a Spicer bearing? Because if you buy the Spicer bearing they have a Toyota part number formed into the rubber right outta the box. I never bothered to cross reference the number since the bearing was cheap and worked.

 

The "Toyota part number formed into the rubber" crosses to something else like the T 100.

Not going to debate the worth of the two extra seals, just pointing out the difference.

 

Yes, the two extra seals is what I was getting at in my poorly worded post above haha.

Pretty sure they are manufactured for Toyota by Spicer. The 2nd gen trucks have a Spicer sticker right on the driveshaft assemblies.

 

Spicer did make some 1st gen driveline parts according to Toyota, I think it was 5 lug stuff.
The 4wd shafts use Koyo u-joints and the supt bearing itself is Koyo along with the double cardan parts.
One would think if Spicer also made the 1st gen Taco 4wd support bearing they would sell it.
Anyhoo it's all trivia, point is they are different.