Wheel Bearings - Gen II

OK - I've read a lot about wheel bearing issues.........is this a 'thing' with the Tacoma's? 2009, Tacoma Access 6 cyl. auto. 125,000 miles. Bought new, old man highway miles....... I am not mechanic so, I can't fix. "noise" in left front: Dealer says "both bearings bad." My - 40 yrs experience mechanic retired best friend says - take to dealer due to the press needed, etc. PS: he is a Toyota driver.

Dealer says - BOTH front ones bad and then alignment - so I had them fix: @ $ 1,200

the very next week: Noise still there. I think maybe the cheap Walmart tires I just put on...... I take back to Toyota dealer though thinking something wrong with new front bearings....... Dealer says BOTH back ones now bad: Est. $ 1,500, including another alignment

I tell him if they told me originally all 4 and $ $ 3,000, I would have traded the damn thing, a I'm just trying to hang on till Spring '17 anyhow. They say that it 'just happens.........two then a week later 2 more

So my mechanic friend jacks up back - spins tires - we get noise out of drivers side only.

Gonna have a local muffler shop change the one...........

SO, are the Wheel Bearings an issue in these things.........between the radio/Cd replace by dealer warranty and still messing up, steering column (yoke?) and trans lines ($ 1,500) and now this...........

Just bithcin here........thanx for Listening - Heck I could have gotten this "performance" from a Chevy at a lot less initial cost............

 

Sounds like your dealer made their nut.

FWIW, @BamaToy1997 supplies bolt in, high quality hub assemblies for $350 (for the set).
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ive-done-the-work-you-save-the-money.288282/

I'm sure your friend would help you install or show you how..

I'd find a different dealer to get service done at or go to an independent shop.

 

This was the route I went...no problems in 15000 or so miles. Great product and great help over the phone.
If you still have the groaning vibrations consider replacing the needle bearing in the front diff. East Coast Gear Supply sells a solid bushing replacement. And yes, the wheel bearings and needle bearing are not uncommon parts to go bad before you would expect them to.

 

I had wheel bearing nightmares... had a local shop replace them for me, no problems after that... had a rear axle bearing go out... had to have the dealer fix that one... nightmare... 66K miles for the fronts, an additional 10 then the rear... got rid of truck shortly after... my 2014 has been perfect.

 

If you can't do any work find a mechanic Bearings are made ready to go from two TW members can be installed in an hour or Two

 

Sounds like the dealers whole department was able to make their boat payments with the way they bent you over!

 

I agree it sounds to me like the dealership tech did a piss-poor job of diagnosis and ended up raking you over the coals. I would contact the service manager and ask him to look into it, and that you feel that the original issue was the rear bearings, thus the front's were changed, and paid for, when they were not needed.

As for your general question, OP, yes, wheel bearings are a pretty common failure item on the Toyota truck line (Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, 4 Runner, Lexus GX 460 and GX 470)

 

Sounds to me like the issue is the diff bearing.

 

Thanx folks - Great Info. I'll work with my guy.

 

Even more input to say Thanx to. yes I am going to Toyota District management.