How often Blowing Out Wheel Bearings?

I'm placing this thread here because faster paced off-roading is primarily what I do with my truck.

I want to see how many guys are destroying their wheel bearings. I haven't had a problems with them in the past but I am trying to make a decision on updating my LT kit to another kit with a stronger Hub.

I'm currently running a TC kit and going to have my engine cage shaped around the TC kit and bumping off the upper arm. I don't want to have problems in the future with wheel bearings and end up changing my cage work because I decided to change LT kits.

I'm thinking about upgrading to a Solo or DTF kit but not sure if its worth the extra money. Plus im staying with leafs and is probably overkill.

 

You should be totally fine. Over years the trucks I have built and seen many Tacoma's with that hub and have only seen very few issues. I would try to Change them every two years or so just to be safe. And use only Original parts. I built a 2nd gen tundra I know larger wheel bearing but same thing just bigger, Linked and all and he beats the crap outta truck truck "Asmoot" white tundra. I have only had to change his wheel bearings once so far. DTF kit is a good choice with the hub bearing. Solo race kit with Dana 44 is also a good choice just that you can easily service it yourself anytime you want.

 

2nd gen on TC 3.5. I change them about every 3 years. I carry 2 with me just in case.

 

Thanks Anthony!! So asmoot is still using a stock wheel bearing? I think he’s on an lsk kit.

Yeah Solo is using a D44. I don’t know too much about them but I know they’re stronger than stock.

This s giving me a little more confidence. I just want to “do it right the first time” if I’m getting a full engine cage.

 

What are you running in the rear? Also where did you get the stock wheel bearing? I know some people are piecing them together and selling but I’m nOT sure if they are as good as Toyota factory.

I have just heard too many stories of people replacing their wheel bearings 4-5x. I’m not sure if they’re mud bogging or running their trucks fast and hard.

 

Solo's D44's are the same parts off of a square body 80's Blazer. Because of that they're super easy to find parts for wherever you go if you need to replace parts. Just get good stock bearings like the ones from @BamaToy1997 and don't cheap out on parts store / ebay ones and you should most likely be good to go.

 

Yeah he is, the lsk race kit uses stock hubs. I run the Dana44 on my kit. Its pretty stout. Either kit is pretty gnarly, Dtf kit may be wider.

 

I'm LT rear and I beat the crap out of my truck. I work at a dealer so I use all Toyota factory parts. My cost on parts prices are the same as Bamatoys. I almost went with Bamatoy on my last set but needed them sooner.

 

I can confirm, he drives it like he stole it. and daily drives his truck.I built a set with tilmken bearings and dorman hubs. so far so good but time will tell. +3.5 camburg kit. and tiring to keep up with him. lol tiring is the key word.
the set I built cost about half of what the others cost. using the same parts as bama and the other competitors. The pressing together part isn't that big of deal if you have aces to a press and some mechanical experience. I bought a press and all parts for less then they charge for a set of 2. not by much but i can now make multiple sets for cheap and im all about saving money where i can and at half the cost Im willing to try. time will tell if im stupid or not. But after the abuse i put down on the last trip im willing to say Money well spent.

 

The main thing with the unit bearings and the 4wd kits is you HAVE to make sure that 35mm CV axle nut is torqued to spec or you just end up roaching the bearings because that's what holds the dang assembly together.

 

And a little trick a few guys use on the d44 stuff which seems to help keep a proper preload on the bearings is machining a spacer just the right length to fit between the bearings and ride on the inner races that u get proper preload when the outer nut is torqued down prolongs the life of the bearings quite a bit...just kinda tedious making the spacers cause it's on off on off on off checking fitment