Need some help and a place to work

Hey all!

I'm John and I just moved to the Bay Area from Philadelphia. My girlfriend is studying at Stanford and we're living in student housing on campus. I drove my Tacoma out here with a small uhaul trailer and the bed and rack full of our things (probably a little over loaded, but it drove like a champ!). Once here I noticed a growling sound coming from the truck and determined the front wheel bearings are shot. I was just going to have a shop fix it, but was blown away by how mush they wanted to do it, I guess I'm not used the labor costs out here yet. Anyway, I ordered two new bearing assemblies from 05Taco4x4 and they should be in here any day. My problem is that I don't have a decent spot to do the work. Our parking lot is always full and there's just not a good spot around on campus to do the work. So I'm looking for someone local ish who would be interested in letting me use their space to do the work. Also, since I couldn't bring too much with me, I only have my hand tools and would need to use a jack and jack stands, and a puller or slide hammer. I can just rent the puller or hammer, but I don't want to buy a jack and stands since I don't have anywhere to keep them.

Finally, I'm also hoping to meet some folks in the community here. I have lots of auto friends back home I could call on but no one out here yet.

I'm happy to get beers and lunch or whatever for a little help here. Thanks everyone.

 

you just missed a east bay mod day, would have had lots of tools and hands. @MJonaGS32 when is the next one?

and welcome to norcal.

 

Not sure where in the bay you are located, I’m in half moon bay. I got a pretty decent assortment of tools (no slide hammer or puller or hydraulic press though) could probably do it next weekend. Let me know.

 

@Johndh25

I'll have my hands full doing plumbing stuff at my house on Sunday..... but my driveway is free if you need to swap wheel bearings. I don't have a slide hammer/puller, but I have a jack, stands, compressor, hand tools, etc.

I'm in Sunnyvale about 20 minutes from the Stanford campus and available this Sunday 9/23 if you need a place to wrench.

Welcome to the Bay! Need to covert you to a Niners/Warriors/Giants/A's/Sharks fan!

 

Thanks guys. I'm tied up this weekend but might be able to make next weekend work. I'll let you know. Got the bearing assemblies yesterday, just waiting on the seals now. Thanks again!

 

http://pitrow-diy.com/

 

i may as well be on the other side of the moon, up here in Santa Rosa.. good luck with the repairs.

"and a place to work"..i initially thought you needed help getting a job.

 

His lady is studying at Stanford... . I'd say he's in pretty good hands.


(Disclaimer: I'm 100% pro-Stanford. LPCH saved my son's life at birth. He is now almost 5yrs old. I'm their biggest non-alumni booster.)

 

Hey everyone,

Alright, I got all the parts and am ready to work. Anyone available Sunday to let me invade their driveway??

I should also say that this is the first time I'm replacing wheel bearings so a little advice might be helpful...

Thanks!

 

@Johndh25

Don't quote me on this.... but i think for the 4wd trucks, you'll need a 35mm socket to use for the wheel bearing install.

I have a prior obligation this sunday around 2pm...might not leave you much time to wrench if its after my appointment.

If someone else isnt able to reach out and assist sooner, I can help the following weekend.

 

I’m available Sunday pm me or let me know.. I have a 35mm socket I believe.. I feel like your going to need a hydraulic press though.. Timmy the Toolman on youtube has a video about installing manual hubs on a 3rd gen 4runner and they change out the wheel bearings.. it’s not an easy task for sure..

 

Not if replacing hub/bearing assemblies on a Gen2 Tacoma. It can be difficult to separate them from the spindles if you are not @CalTacoma09
His came out real easy.
Mine put up more of a fight but it got done.

 

Ah, I see yea we shouldn’t need a press. If we need a tool/part there is an ace hardware & Napa auto 2 blocks away

 

Down to help if needed though I have to admit, havent gotten to the hub/bearing in the manual.

 

Thanks to @presto for helping me out and letting me use his driveway and tools. We got the job done is about 2.5 hours. Besides braking 6 lugs (they were way over torqued from a tire replacement) there were no problems. Presto even had a bag of spare lug nuts for me.

We did not reinstall the dust covers. Seems fine but I was a little worried that, in addition to doing their dust cover duty, they double as a gasket of sorts behind the bearing assembly. A quick google search led us to believe it shouldn't be a problem, but I was wondering if anyone has some first hand experience.

 

By dust covers, I am assuming the rotor shields? If so, they have a multifunction to them. They act as a heat sink for your brake rotors and help the rotors perform at their best adiabatic efficiency. They also protect them for debris/dust/rocks. Another function can be to also redirect water away from a hot rotor.

It would be advantageous to put them back on.

 

Yes the rotor shields, I’d look to see what the cost of new ones would be, probably won’t be too expensive..

Edit: never mind those things are like 50$ each.. https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...iteid=214329&vehicleid=185727&diagram=8512290