Wheel bearing recommendations? To cheap out or not...

I've been shopping around for some bearings for my 95' 5 lug Tacoma and I haven't found a lot of options. As of right now I already have a set of driveworks bearings and races from Advance Auto, but after doing more research I'm considering getting some higher quality bearings so I don't need to replace them for a while. What I'm finding though is that most of the bearings for my truck are between $3 and $15 dollars (I think the ones I bought were around $8 each for inner and outer) and the only premium ones I found are from Timken and are $80 per bearing so $160ish total. So I already have the cheap ones, should I go ahead and throw them on? Or should I return those and shell out for the Timken bearings. I'm a little confused by how there's not an option inbetween those two price points really and I'm wondering if it's really worth it to go for the Timkens. I guess I can always throw on the cheapos and get the Timkens if they fail. Would like to know what you guys think

 

Yes Timken is worth it.

 

If we're talking wheel bearings- are you doing this yourself?

If a shop is doing it - It's going to cost you roughly $1000-$1500 for the front and that again for the rear. It's a ton of labor to get things apart and do the press work. Little of that cost is going towards the bearings and seals. At that point what's another few bucks for the OEM bearings?

If you're going to do it- do whatever you want. When the cheap bearings fail you'll be much quicker the second time you do it, and probably end up getting the OEM bearings after you've learned your lesson.

 

I think his is a 2wd truck, which I think is just the old style of bearings and races, no press work involved. Still with that said, no way I'd put the cheap chinesium bearings in.

Could be wrong though on the design of bearing, never worked on a 2wd.

 

Koyo (Japanese) or Timken (American).

Can't go wrong with either, and they're pretty cheap already.

 

Yep you’d be correct the 5 lug 2wd uses tapered roller bearings

 

Agree - way too much work for a cheap part. All the cost is in the time/labor so cheap parts make no sense IMO.

 

I think your confused....the timkens are for the rear, like 80 a peice.....

The front bearings are simple tapers......

 

The inner ones - I buy best you can.....Napa.....like $28 ea....
these will last long time.

The outers really take the brunt of the wear....trust me I know...
SO those are like $13 everywhere.....

And you'll need new inner seal.....

The outer one .....A3 bearing, is not as robust and sealed like its 4x4 6 luggers....
but $13 A3 is way easier and cheaper vs. $100 6lug....

I just pull that outer A3 out every couple years inspect/repack.....20 min job...
If the grease is gritty, I just toss that one.......brake caliper just holds everything in place to just work outer bearing......easy peesy.....
By staying on top of it you avoid race wear/damage.....
So yeah I keep spares of these, with seals.....right next to PCV grommets....

I've got two big ol' cans of the stp grease.....SO THE GREASE IS ALWAYS THE SAME....so I dont have to mess with or repack inner.......when u do that u bust that inner seal...

If you get that 30mm nut too loose, you'll get brake rub and premature failure...
Too tight and fails even quicker.......there's numerous vids out there.....I know nothing I didnt parrot from these guys....


The really big PIA is getting those races in/out......
if you do things right and maintain and keep repacking/replace way ahead of time before failure, you'll always be able to avoid the half day job nitemare......races remove/reset.......
but have to stick with same bearing brand and grease.....

 

Here's the rear along with the special tool needed to fit in a 20 ton press.....
not to mention the seals, orings, and diif fluid needed to complete.

 

I’ve used Timkin on my old Ram which had a rep for eating front unit bearings. Going to Timkin and packing them properly with good grease and I never had another problem. I never go with the cheap stuff. It will leave you on the side of the road at the worst time.

 

My Ram ate those things quicker than it did diesel

 

Don’t you just love the quirks of that gen?. My dash just disintegrated before my eyes. I miss the truck in some ways and curse it in others.

 

Mine was a 3rd gen, I miss it at times, that lovely 48RE going out, u joints galore, interior falling apart, death wobble, ac issues, it kept me busy and poor. Typing this I do not miss it st the moment.