DIY- Front Wheel Bearings

Thanks for the video! Did you replace the passenger-side bearing too?

As a note, Spidertrax prohibits using impact tools on the spacer.

 

At least they aren't the "unit bearings" that a number of the domestic trucks have gone over to and that tend to fail suddenly and catastrophically without warning- and have to be replaced as an entire very expensive assembly- have heard horror stories about people on vacation who encounter sudden failures...

 

...sealed hub?.. yeah, i don't know much about the longevity of wheel bearings... i'm just a bit dishearted w/ all the threads about wheel bearings going back at fairly low mileage..

 

So I have recieved many thanks and rep for this video. But nobody leaves names attached to the rep. So in response to you people that have left rep...

Your Welcome!! Glad it helped!!

 

Nice Vid! I would have bought new seals for sure though. Well I did buy new seals, but I can relate to not wanting to, they are very costly and I could not get a good reason why. Normally the parts guy at the dealership I get my parts from can tell me why a certain part might cost more, but these are simple O ring type seals and they are like $18! Yep for one ring seal. I would say anyone who has turned a few wrenches can do this job, one thing that is hard is the large axle nut. It is tightened to something like 200ft lbs or something really high like that. I had to get that socket to do the job bc I did not have one already. All in all its pretty straight forward and kind of fun if you enjoy the challenge. JOE>

 

about to do this myself....

how long did it take ya'll steve?

 

Not too long. the filming kinda added to the time doing the whole process. Without filming it I might say about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours

 

Well...

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/drivetrain/131_0805_4x4_truck_unit_bearing_system/

 

This might help;
http://www.wheelbearingwarehouse.com/Symptoms_of_WornHub_Bearing.html

I'm beginning to see some of these symptoms myself.

 

Good video, thanks for posting that up.

 

Your welcome.

 

Good video showing how this is done. I have done several from the different generations and it does not take a lot of time. This biggest problem people run into is having a good press for the job.

You can buy the inner and outer seals from Advance Auto Parts. Dealership is not the only location anymore.
2005-2012 Model 4WD
Front outer seal BCA 710477
Front inner seal BCA 710573

These bearings are considered "sealed system" which means they are pre-packed and require no additional lubrication. If you are going to reuse the housing and hub I suggest you take the additional time to clean the back side of the hub where the seal rides. It is very easy to ignore this and end up destroying a new seal and bearing (from water/dirt intrusion) very quickly.

 

Are you talkign about factory setup or when replacing them. When you replacing them they only come with little grease to prevent rusting in shipping. They need to be packed with grease before installation.

 

I am referring to replacing the hub bearing complete. Every set I have bought was prepacked complete. Never had to add any grease. Heck, they were so packed that I couldn't have added grease if I wanted to.
To clarify I am talking about hub bearings from 1997 thru 2012 model Tacomas.

 

Which ones did you buy? I seen koyo and timken and both came only with white lithium grease in them for shipping.

If you look in my picture gallery there is a photo of koyo with what it comes.

 

They're crappy design. I can't think of any worse bearing design. Mine last 2-3000 miles if I don't replace the seals. With seals- 10000m. That was with 31" tires and no lift.

 

I looked at your photos of your bearing. I am not sure what was up with that one, but I have bought Timken and other brands of bearings and never had them packed with just lithium grease. They have always been packed tight with bearing grease. Not sure why yours were different.

 

X2...same as Moog

If yours are only lasting that long your doing something wrong. I have almost 15,000 miles on my new bearings. I'm running tall 33's and play in the mud non-stop.

Every one I have ever seen on TW regardless of brand was packed with white lithium grease.

 

mine were / are packed with white lithium grease as well...and not much of it i might add

 

I didn't say they didn't have any lithium grease at all. I said the ones I had gotten were not JUST packed with lithium grease. Bearing grease was on the inside. I don't know what is going on with the distributors out there, but I have replaced over 6 sets of bearings at my shop on Tacoma trucks alone, and never had a single one that was not packed properly out of the box. I am just saying what has happened HERE. That is all.