New Dorman Pre-Assembled Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly - thoughts?

Hi to all - long time lurker here with a question on a new Dorman product.

2006 Taco DCSB Prerunner, about 185,000 on the odomeeter. Front left wheel bearing is starting to go out - started looking at replacement parts, ran across this Dorman pre-assembled assembly: Dorman 950-004.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8382276&cc=1432865&jsn=407&jsn=407
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hLOAGQQixg

I've previously replaced the front right wheel hub and bearing assembly with a pre-assembled unit from Bluepitbearings.com - great experience with their customer service, also.

So here's the question:

Do I try the Dorman pre-assembled unit, or do I replace the bearing in my spare wheel hub/bearing assembly?

Thanks in advance.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-complete-save-custom-built-available.288055/

 

Thanks for the suggestion, JerseyBuilt looks like a good option, but for a Prerunner we're looking at $275, while this Dorman assembly is $95 + shipping. Like everyone else, I'm on a tight budget. Is there a reason I shouldn't trust a Dorman-built assembly?

 

Didn't know the cost... now knowing I'd say go for it. Even if they last 1/2 as long you'll be saving in the long run.

Haven't heard of any complaints or praises on the Dorman assemblies.

 

Contact @BamaToy1997 He will get you set up with everything you need. Parts are Toyota OEM and pre-assembled.

 

Ive used dorman for control arms and plenty of other parts for other vehicles with good results. If your short on money this may be a good option. Cant imagine it being bad.

 

Thanks to all for the info! Appreciate y'all taking the time. Love this damn forum.

 

Not entirely relevant, more of a FWIW, I put a passenger side Dorman rear axle hub assembly on my wife's '03 Highlander-- almost 5 years and 110k+ miles ago. The OEM bearing had only made it to 95k (granted the OEM unit was 9 years old at the time) ...

 

the problem with most of the preassembled units (including the ones from the factory on our trucks) is the lack of grease. The TW link above is using all OEM parts (which are superior to dorman) and have been greased properly. the extra money would be WELL worth it to not have to touch them ever again.

 

agreed with above, using OEM parts for the extra 150-200 bucks is worth the hassle in my opinion, even if you have to eat shitty for the next few weeks. I recently bought one of the preassembled units for $300 using all OEM parts and it was worth the peace of mind of having genuine stuff back on there.

 

Upon what non-anecdotal evidence is this based? Just asking...

 

Nice shitter pic.

 

If I knew about these, I would have gone for it.

 

Most all aftermarket parts available at your FLAPS (not "most", 99.44%) are made by the same manufacturers that make OEM parts; i.e. Dorman does not "make" anything, they just slap their label on something they bought from an OEM jobber. Manufacturing something like a wheel hub requires a lot of investment in machine tools and tooling, and those shops that make "Toyota" parts do not sit around with their thumbs up their backsides waiting for Toyota to order more--as production time permits they crank out the same parts for aftermarket distributors like Dorman, CardOne, ACDelco, Beck-Arnley, etc. The hub assembly you buy with Dorman's label and part number on it could very well be the exact part the same manufacturer made for Toyota.

Over the years I have purchased numerous parts from local FLAPS that have had the same casting and mold numbers and markings as the OEM part--because they were made with the same patterns and molds as were the OEM parts. In short to blindly dismiss aftermarket as inferiors has no basis in reality, and I find it odd that it is so commonly put forth in a community that so routinely flogs OEM parts and so keenly embraces "aftermarket enhancements"?

 

Be sure it is assembled correctly.....I've heard some of the Dorman's are assembled without the outer seal installed.

 

Source, documentation?

 

I bought a set from the above

 

There was a post here on TW about it. OP was member TacomaTrav.

 

When I first started building these units for customers in my shop some 5 years ago I took $1000 of my company funds and bought 2 of all of the main manufacturers that I could find. (Koyo/Timken, Moog, National, SKF, etc) and did a heavy duty torture test. And I DO mean torture test. One of the things I noticed was that SKF and Moog brands both only used lithium bearing grease in their assemblies. That is just like using water to be honest in this application. I have noted over the years when I was using both National and Koyo brands that many units just did not have what I felt was sufficient bearing grease in them. Some were even dry on 30% or more of the rollers. So one of the steps I take in my assemblies is using a needle injector and grease gun to make sure that ALL of the rollers are protected fully. So the information isn't just based on anecdotal information, but extensive inspection.

I have been seeing the new assemblies by Dorman showing up and was shocked at the price considering what it really takes to make one. So to get rid of any mystery I bought one for testing and inspection. The unit I bought was the 2WD, and it arrived today. I haven't taken it apart yet to verify anything on the inside yet, but what I did find out today has me a bit worried. I found metal particles and shavings on the inner edges of the bearing seal on the back, where the magnetic ring is located. Now yes, I concede that this could be a one-time situation, but still, if I had just been a regular customer and installed this on my truck, it would have VERY quickly failed as the metal particles shredded the bearings inside. The other thing I noticed is that the center cap was not installed. This isn't a HUGE thing, but again, the average person may not notice it. This would have allowed any water on the road to get into the bearing cavity of the steering knuckle, and again destroyed the bearing. So far this is not boding well for these assemblies in my opinion. Sure, I have a biased reason to want it to be a bad thing, but he inspection so far speaks for itself. Monday I will be disassembling the entire assembly and verifying the inside.

 

Sounds like you will find what you want...