ECGS Bushing - Is it a must?

I’ll also add.. that if you do have a shop do it, some will not be familiar with what’s involved. It’s dead simple, but I’ve heard a few stories from folks that came to me and were given the run around.. apparently.

I’d recommend it. Having the needle bearing is a poor design, IMO. The ECGS / Yukon (same thing) bushing is awesome.

 

2011 access cab on 6112's set at the lowest setting , maybe an inch of lift its barely level with the stock leafs

Didn't have vibes at first but I do now (about 5k later). Can actually hear and feel it, the CV axle is significantly looser on drivers side compared to the passenger side

 

Change it out ASAP boi. Also .... Double check that CV. They don't usually come apart like that.

 

A shop tried to quote me $800 and "half a day". Lmao. Sad thing is, they are the only place I've called so far who knows exactly what I was talking about when I asked about a needle bearing replace. They even knew of the ecgs brand and have the install and removal tools from them.

 

Your dealership would only charge about an hour and a half to do it.

 

Would they be willing to install the ecgs bushing which is an aftermarket part though?

 

Depends on the dealership, honestly. You'd also have to have the part already on hand.

 

My Toyota dealship said they wouldn't install it. May vary depending on the dealer

 

Any off-road shop should be able to or should at least be familiar with it.

 

I had slight vibration after installing an OME lift. I took my truck in to my normal shop (The truck shop in San Diego) and they had the ECGS part in stock and were able to install it for $230 a couple years ago. zero vibrations since

 

Turns out it wasn't the ECGS - wheel bearing was making the rumble and vibration. Oh well
Did it anyways, pretty simple.

Have the remover and install tools for the bushing and seal if anyone wants to buy it off me

 

2 weeks ago I was driving to work and after taking the truck out of four wheel I noticed a rumbling feeling on decel. Felt like I was running over some weak rumble strips but it was still very obvious vibration wise and audibly.
Did some reading that night and found the forum about the ECGS 8” Clamshell Bushing. Figured that was the issue I was having.
I’m a Ford technician and the dealership I work at has a Toyota we share a shop with so after talking to a couple guys we all figured that it was the needle bearings taking a dump. My parts dept actually stocks the ECGS solid bushings and the other guys in the shop had the removal tool.
Was a smooth process overall. You can see the needle bearing sleeve broke off from tapping the removal arm in to place so I had a small single piece I had to fish out but I also ripped about 1/3 of a shop rag and stuffed it inside as well from the start. Drove the new bushing in with a seal driver from my set from harbor freight..fits perfect. Drove it in til it was flush with the carrier.
Re-Installed everything and no more rumble.
Forgot to mention I’ve had the truck lifted about 2.5-3 inches for the last year before the issue ever arose. From what I hear if you never lift the truck it rarely goes bad.

 

Yup, the failures happen with the change of angle of pressure being put on it from axle via the lift.

Funny, I work at a Toyota dealership and we've got a Ford dealership across the street that we swap jobs with fairly regularly if they get complicated or "fun"

 

I need to replace this bearing as well. Can somebody recommend a good place that will do this replacement? (I’m in North New Jersey)

 

2.5” OME 887 coils, Bilstein shocks, and 1.5” add-a-leaf did at 12k, immediately felt vibration and only has grown more pronounced, ordered bushing, removal tool, and seal today..

Don’t have a 35mm socket, but think a 1 3/8” socket should work..

 

Did 2” front 1” rear myself and all good for now.. no vibrations… I guess it is random…

 

For now I do not have lift and I feel vibrations only at „heavy acceleration”. There is some play at CV axle (bigger than at passenger side) so it must be related to needle bearing.
I ordered bushing, removal tool and instal tool yesterday. I am still looking for some repair shop in North New Jersey. Please advise.
If not I will need to replace it by myself byt I have limited time for that.

 

Dealerships have the tools if you don't mind paying for a trained Toyota Tech to do the work properly.

That being said, any shop that advertises that they are a 4x4 shop should know about the issue and be able to do the work.

 

Somebody posted, that toyota dealership refused to change that bearing to bushing.
I do not know good shops to do this job right. Always I was fixing and doing my car maintenence by myself. I know only tire replacement shops
By the way,
My truck has 16k mileage, so I am surprised that this component failed so fast.

 

Curious to know...when toyota offers their factory lift, do they install this eggo bushing? If they don't need it, then why do you need it? Although my tacoma is bone stock with 22k miles, and zero vibration issues, seems this stock toyota needle bearing is working just fine.