8 bearings in TWO YEARS

Why? Do you have experience with these situations?

This is a typical crossing I would do with my truck. I venture deaper when other trucks are present so they can extract me.


Maybe he does have other issues. Maybe his tie rods, LCA bushings, and LCA BJ's are also getting ready to go like mine did. Maybe they aren't.

Crossing clean water should not be an issue unless the seals let water in. Both of my diffs and tranny fluid have always looked OK unless I drove to many miles without changing them....and even with that I have never seen any signs of water infiltration.

Unless the clean water gets so high that it hits the fan and blows it apart or you suck water into the intake the majority of issues should be on wear parts (bearings/bushings/tie rods/etc. and electrical issues. After a while the electrical connections will corrode. For example my headlight bulb harness is bad even though I have cleaned it and applied dielectric grease.

 

Actually, a MECHANIC would be the type who would just replace the bearings and go. A good auto TECHNICIAN would go after the root problem...lol.

Vehicles are built today to do some limited water crossing. 2-3 feet deep however is NOT a typical water crossing. At 3 feet of depth, the water pressure is 1.3psi. Not a lot, but these seals are rotating, and not designed, nor expected, to handle fording in 3 feet of water for 100 yards without some type of POSSIBLE intrusion. (I didn't say there WILL be, I said it is possible, and more probable at 3 feet. Heck that is half way up your doors!)

Now we have the question as to why your bearings continue to fail. Well we would actually need more information. Are they failing because of lack of lubrication, improper installation, or water intrusion?

Lubrication? Then perhaps the manufacturer has some problems, or the installer is not verifying that the bearings have proper amounts in them when installing.

Improper Installation? You don't just throw these bearings into a press and go. There is a proper procedure to follow, and if you don't do it correctly, then you increase the risk of future failures.

Water Intrusion? Were the seals replaced? ALL of the seals? you have 2 seals on the inside one that is in the steering spindle, and one that is on the axle shaft. Then you have 2 outer seals, one that is on the steering spindle, between that and the wheel spindle, and the other is the seal on the locking hub, or cap, depending on your system.

 

Semantics! But yeah, we're on the same page.

 

Maybe dealer installed chinese-made bearings to save some bucks...

 

To some it is semantics! You are correct. To those of us who are professionals, it is more than that. I hate being called a mechanic. I hold myself to a higher standard in my work, and I have a hell of a lot more training and experience than a mechanic. But yes, I can see how you can see it as semantics in your eyes.

 

Damn. Im about to break 100k and havnt touched mine

 

Ouch!

 

Thank You Bill..

 

My point is if the OP is running stock as he stated 2-3 foot water crossing and stock axle breathers can equal water in the diffs as well as water intrusion to the cab.

 

This is probably not the cause, since they are going out on different wheels, but I'll put it out there so they can check the next time they pull the hub apart.

Have them ensure the shafts are straight. I had a buddy who purchased a truck with two mysteriously bent halfshafts. They caused his vehicle to burn up wheel bearings - he replaced a boatload of them before an experienced tech decided to haul out the shafts, set them on a flat surface and spin them.

 

how big is your truck if the water is 3-4 feet deep???

 

I'd get a unimog for this job meself. deep water daily ? shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

 

Thanks for the replies. Some seem surprised about crossing 2-3 feet of water daily. That is standard if you are in the timber/farming industry (I am surprised you were not aware of that).

I am not sure on replacing the seals. Because the dealership has picked up the tab, I haven't argued details on the repairs, and assumed they would fix it considering it happens monthly.

I am happy to hear that others aren't having this problem so hopefully I just got a lemon!

 

Would it be bad etiquette to start a new thread about fording rivers, how often, and mechanical issues? Just hoping to learn about my problem.

I am no car professional, just an owner and thinker and farmer.

-Faust

 

I too am wondering if they are replacing the inner and outer seals for the bearing assemblies.

 

Like a waste disposal technician!

Don't worry though. I'm on track to soon be an entry level diesel technician.

 

It seems obvious, but next time start over, maybe with a new mechanic, and check all other moving parts, then make sure all seals inside and out are replaced with the new bearings.

 

I think maybe next time you start a thread, you try it with a little more tact in your posts. Several posts, similar to the bolded one above, are making you sound like a high-and-mighty who is better than everyone else. Not everyone here works where a 2-3 foot water crossing is the norm. I am in Alabama, and I have several customers with Tacoma trucks who work daily for a local logging company, and they have never said a word about 2-3 feet of water as a daily event. (or even a weekly event for that matter) I have replaced one set of bearings on each truck, and that has been it. Most of their trucks are 07 or 08 models, and are pushing 150-200k miles on them already.

2-3 feet of water crossing is pretty deep, and to be honest, a Tacoma is pretty light of a truck to try and go into 2-3 feet. You must be having a lot of water in the cab every day. I just checked on one, and 3 feet is nearly half way up the door.

Either way, perhaps since you were the one who posed a question in the thread, you could be a bit more polite in your postings. After all you were the one who asked for help and insight.