Wheel Bearing Replacement

Tim the thing I like about your videos are that the take a lot of time - they show the whole process and mention any details to consider. I piece together info I find online on a lot of repair stuff and it takes way longer than sitting through one of your videos (latest project is an engine swap) - even watching one twice or three times to make sure I'm comfortable enough to dig in. Keep up the good work! They say to really know something is to teach it so I'd say there's a lot you know about our trucks! I'll keep linking your vids on here so you can be wrenching and maybe even go wheeling with any time left over lol!

 

Thanks Anthony. In regards to your engine swap, I filmed and helped wrench on a V8 swap project on a 3rd Gen 4runner. Some of this footage will help you with your job. It's the next project I need to start editing. It's not going to be as comprehensive as our other videos because it wasn't out project but a buddy of ours. I tried to capture as much of the job as possible without slowing down the guys working on it. So, I'm billing it more for it's entertainment value, but people will definitely leave the video with way more information than they had before on what's entailed to doing a V8 swap. We actually lifted the body off the chassis so it's a glimpse at things you don't normally get to see. The guy finally has 3rd Gen 4runner back on the road so I'm going to film the final clips this Sunday when he comes over for our get-together. I think we will have the video out in a few weeks. The Timing Belt video should be done within a week so stay tuned for that one.

 

I misspoke here. I was thinking the 20 ton Harbor Freight press because that's the one I own. I'm not sure if the 12 ton press could handle the press work for our front wheel bearings.

 

I wondered about that when you write it. I just figured some were tougher to get out than others and you got lucky with an easy one. No biggie. As long as people know the 1st gen front wheel bearing is hard AF to get out, we are good.

Fortunately the 1st gen WB is very robust and does not fail often at all.

 

Les Schawb wanted to charge 350.00 a side to do mine. I did it for 110.00 having the press work done at a local machine shop and buying a new wheel bearing.

 

Do you need an alignment after changing the wheel bearings?

 

I would suggest it, if you have firestones lifetime alignment.

 

The only way you would need an alignment after a wheel bearing job is if you wheel bearings were wasted when you did you last alignment. So, I would say NO, you don't need it.

 

FYI, I layed out and made my own SST out of a old thick walled socket, it worked fine. Since then I bought a service set of special sockets on sale at Tooltopia, I forget the brand but it was a good buy of about 5 or 6 special wheelbearing sockets. Also did my first bearing job with a Proto puller, it was tough but I was able to get it apart, again since then I bought a 20 ton press from China freight and put it back together,, caught it on sale for a good price also.

 

Gorilla lugs from @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc annnnnnd problem solved.