Needle Bearing - Yes, Replace It (ECGS)

I asked them about this topic and I trusted their answers.

It could be that the needle bearings are fully seated in some carriers and not in others? I don’t know, have helped two friends with this and both tools installed somewhat easily. They took some work, but they went in within five minutes

 

It could also be variation in the diff like you said.

 

Could be the tool…….dont know. You may be right.

 

Hello, do you have these tools? Would you be willing to pass on or know who will? Thanks

 

There were a few sets floating around but I don't know if they are still around. I am down the hill and do them on the side. PM me if you end up not getting tools etc and want to just contract it out. They take me about 2-2.5 hours on the lift.

 

Never got the tool. Look like that user got the tool and disappeared.

 

Got mine changed out a month or two ago, I wanted to wait until I had a few thousand miles on the truck post-ECGS bushing. Man, I should have done it sooner. The truck rides smooth as can be for a truck on E rated tires. I am very happy with the decision to have the ECGS bushing done.

I always like to think of mods in terms of things I would, or would not, do again if I had to restart my build from scratch. I would 100% do the ECGS bushing again; totally worth the money.

My truck was at 50k miles and I took it into my shop for the usual service interval. The shop I use specializes in lifted Toyota trucks/SUVs. The owner told me there was a pretty noticeable vibration during the test drive. I had become used to it and assumed it was a rough ride due to my E rated tires. He said he was 95% sure it was the needle bearing so I gave them the green light to swap it out for the ECGS bushing. Zero vibrations now and it is much more pleasant to drive on the road.

I have Bilstein 5100’s all around, set to the 4th perch up front. Icon AAL in the rear with the Headstrong Off-road 1/2” shim (if anyone is curious what mods I have that were causing the needle bearing to start to fail).

 

It has happened a few times in the different ECGS threads unfortunately. I saw one that was going around had a post count minimum to send to them which was a good way to ensure it stayed in the system.

 

Thanks I may take you up on that. I've had my truck lifted for years now with no vibes but there is significant play in the CV so I thought it's something I should do.

 

Anyone in the Portland/Vancouver area know where to get these installed? I just lifted my truck and want to have this completed.

 

3d Printed the install tool.

Completely destroyed the needle bearing trying to get it out.


I didn't have vibrations but I figure since everything was basically disassembled during my suspension install, I should just get it done now than later. Also figure since I've read about folks doing a lift and immediately getting vibrations, it was well worth the extra headache.

 

another member pointed me here.. i think this is what i have going on! (i have 22 TRD OR)
i got the TRD lift from Toyota, about 6 weeks ago, then about a week later i got the 17" sema wheels and 275/70/17 Falken AT4s
i did NOT notice the rub feel/pulsing the steering wheel before the new wheels and tires, or maybe in the immediate few days after, but developed a vibration/pulse in the steering wheel at about 45 mph. got tires rebalanced. still there, tried to trick myself it wasnt as bad. went to dif shop, rebalanced again. said balance was WAY off. fixed it. felt better overall, but issue still present.
tried cutting it to 4H yesterday and it felt like it immediately went away, read on here that was the trick to test it.

really getting bummed out about this issue! having trouble deciding if i should go to toyota and say hey you did this lift and now i have this issue, or just buy the ECGS parts and go elsewhere and knock it out

 

Just do the ECGS, I don’t know if Toyota will do it. I had to find a shop that will use self bought parts.
I just put AT4’s on as well. I started with 285’s but the tire was huge! My neighbor has KO2’s on his and we side by side them and AT4’s are a way bigger tire. I sized down to 275’s and fit is perfect.

 

Yup. Just do it yourself. Save yourself the trouble as they likely will give you the run around.

 

had that needle bearing replaced on Monday, seems to have taken care of it!

 

So you replaced OEM bearing with the bushing not another needle bearing? Not clear the way your post reads.

 

Ok! I FINALLY have a ECGS Bushing to install that I will have enough time to record for everyone... I'm not old (but I'm not young either) so I will need to figure out all the YouTubes and GoPro etc but I will have the video up soon (as soon as I clear the 3.4L head job on the lift right now). Once that video is up, I am going to talk to ECGS and see if they will send me one at a discount for me to install and remove out of a junkyard diff that a local yard is considering lending me for a removal video because a lot of people question how/if you ever need to remove the bushing.

 

There is already a video on the ECGS website

 

The way they do it is way to much work

 

correct