prerunner wheel bearings help

Been trying to find a video but no luck.. Found a few basic tips but a visual guide would be much more helpful. I just got the spindle off and trying to understand how to go about it. I have access to a press and even a pneumatic clamshell type puller(if that would even be usable/make things easier). It'll be my first time ever attempting this job, let alone using those tools, but fairly confident I can pull it off, as long as I know the right steps and maybe what to avoid when using the press and whatnot.

About the only info I've found so far. Other sources seem to be just as limited:

Anyone got any sources on a write-up or videos (as I can't seem to find any)?

And any clarification on that nut and spanner? I purchased the bearings, snap rings, and seals already.. Do I need to get that nut as well? I assumed that went to an abs system when I was looking at the parts diagram(which mine is non abs if so).

 

"The hub has to be pressed out of the bearing then the snap ring has to be removed and then the bearing has to be pressed out of the steering knuckle housing."

Just found this as well. Makes more sense now worded that way. So I'm just trying to imagine how the spindle will need to be positioned on the press.

Do I need to remove the dust shield or wheel studs?? I don't even see how the dust shield would come off without the hub pressed out (I took out the four bolts holding the shield in place, but it just spins between the hub and spindle, or am I missing something?). Or how it could be braced in the press with those in the way if not...

Sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to prepare myself for when I get them over to the press.

 

I've never done this, but I've read that you need a hydraulic press. I want to say I remember guys having to use something like 30 tons to get it out? At least for the 4WD models. I think the prerunner uses the same bearings. Someone feel free to correct me if I've got this all cattywampus.

 

There's this thread
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-replace-front-wheel-bearing-2nd-gen.189356/

 

Wrong gen, wrong model.



I know this is different year, but looks similar (at least from the beginning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOSrVIFdSvc

 

Yeah I've browsed some of the second gen stuff, as well as different hub bearings for a few various other vehicles to try and better familiarize myself with em. I also failed to mention that i did read about the various working pressures needed to pop some of them loose. And that at least one guy has had luck with his HF 20T press (which ill be using) either normally or by applying heat. My brother is the one whom has all the tools (including a slide hammer, as well as that clamshell puller, and among other tools) so I'm confident we can pull this off without paying someone to do it. Its just he has limited time to help me so if i cant pull it off myself it'll have to wait. But, if all else fails i guess i will take them in to Napa.

 

Timmah made a nice video of it. let me try and find it

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearing-replacement.499014/#post-15624258
It's a manual hub conversion video. But close enough to work.

 

Hell yes mang! Exactly what ive been looking for! Watched a few minutes of the main press work but will have to watch the whole thing for sure.. Thank you!!

But man, this, looks like it should be a fun job and not as simple as i was hoping. Ha. I hope he(my bro) has some press sleeves and plates that will work. If not, im not sure if i should attempt buying more tools or not! I'd hate to go all out only to have the HF press wimp out, or destroy something in the process. I'm headed over to his place later this evening so I'll report back on what he has (after i show him that video too) and see if he thinks we can do it or not. Certainly looks like it's not gonna be done in an hour( which is about all the time he has to help me today he said).

 

Same thing I thought when I watched video. More involved then expected. Make sure you watch the complete video.

 

Welp, this may have been all for nothing. Ha. Seeing as how this is turning out to be more involved than i had hoped, I'm most likely gonna have napa do them. Im not very trustful of most shops and my expectations of them being knowledgeable about the 2wd prerunner hubs was pretty low. But i was out and about and said what the hell, wouldn't hurt to ask.. Low and behold, they are familiar with them and have worked on them before. The reason im willing to trust them, is right off the bat when i asked him if he was familiar with tacoma hubs, he asked 4wd or 2wd. I said 2wd, Prerunner, and he cringed. Lol. That told me right there he knew what i was talking about. And he asked a mate if they had the spanner nut socket tool and they did (due to a previous job they needed it for to which he also kinda cringed about because they had to aquire that tool to do it). So anyways, $45 per side. So screw it. Ill pay to have them done. Certainly seems worth it for this job. Was hoping to add another notch in my mechanics inclination belt, but oh well. Just gotta order those nuts and take them in.

 

Who's doing them? Napa were at?

 

Here in maricopa.

 

To far from me. I'll have to check around my hood.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ2sOfVrnhU
I used this video to make my prerunner into 4x4. Its fairly simple and it took me about 1-1/2 to 2 hours to complete each side. Dont be afraid to do it, its a fairly simple process just make sure you press everything in straight and that you support the bearing when you press the hub back in. I used a 20 ton press from harbor freight and a press kit that i bought on ebay for 100$. I called a shop and they quoted me 150$ each side.

 

45$ is super cheap though. I would definitely let them do it

 

Nice to see you Dudes getting some use out of the videos I've been posting.

 

Yeah buddy! You rock dude. I really wished i could've done this myself. But like said, $45 seems like too good a deal to pass up considering my limited time alotted to work on it myself. I could probly do it over a weekend with my brother, but i work weekends so that would probly cost me more in the long run to skip out on work..

And just to be sure im not missing anything, I've got the bearings, snap rings, the larger bearing outer oil seal, and soon the spanner lock nuts.. What about the grease caps, can those get mangled on removal and should i get new ones? Theres the large one on back and small one on hub(again since mine's a prerunner. see pics in op for reference).

 

I'm not familiar with the removal of those caps. I'm familiar with the ones on the 3rd Gen 4runners and I've seen my share of mangled up ones. You have to be gentle and patient and slowly pry them up. On the 4runner, I use a skinny flat tool striking tool to start the process and then graduate to a small chisel and finally a large chisel to pry it away enough to where it will pull off.

 

Alright another (unsettling, and lengthy) update. Bare with me...

I picked up the lock nuts from the dealer then stopped to drop off the spindles at Napa. Had a good discussion with one of the mechanics there. Whom owns a pretty nice 3rd gen 4runner as well, so that was a nice bonus and nice to finally meet him as we've waved a couple times at each other.. But anyways, he noticed I still had a slug adapter on the top spindle and asked what I was running for uca's, which are camburgs. And I mentioned that I was also replacing the slug adapters as one was needing to be replaced due to play,according to camburg, as I had inquired about the play through email with a quick vid of the play, which I'll post below. And that I was a bit concerned because the new slug adapter slid right in when I test fitted it the other day after removing the spindle( I had noticed the play previously so this was an added bit of maintenance whilst doing the other work to it, including new oem ball joints and some tie rod ends, and a new rack as well which isn't even in my hands yet! Phew!).

So he wanted to see for himself before we went ahead with the bearing swaps, so I ran home and back with the slugs and he was also concerned that the slug just slid right in when they should be REALLY tight and needing to be pressed in... I told him that I was planning on waiting until it was all back together before I could really see if the play remained or not (as it was kinda tight, but it did slide in by hand). But he explained that the slug should not just slide in like that regardless and that even if it was better than before, it may just get worse over time again. But he said he'd hate to do the bearing swap on it and still end up with play in that spindle up top.

SO... We discussed my options. Which there's really only one option at this point, and that's to source some new spindles.... YAY!

I mentioned to him that I had someone suggest welding that slug adapter to the spindle. But he was hesitant to say that was an option. Viable, but probly not the best route to go. For one it might weaken that top spindle(although he mentioned that maybe not because of extensive gusseting options on our spindles). Two, you'll just have the same problem the next time the slug or bearings need replaced. Which at this point I am kinda considering welding them (at least the old slugs and not the new ones, and the one side that has play as the other does not), only due to the fact that those bearings will probly last me quite a while. And the slug, idk about. But seems like it wouldn't be an issue seeing as how they don't really seem to wear. I say that because I can't see any signs of wear on the old slug at all. And it's not like it needs to pivot or be reliant on being replaced like the actual uniball. And don't see how welding it with a couple small beads( or maybe even a few good tacks) would hurt the uniball operation. I'm not even sure how it became loose to begin with. I was in a wreck a couple years ago. So maybe that forced it enough to allow the slightest play and has just gotten worse over time. We also inspected the inner race of the spindle hole and couldn't really see any imperfections besides a tiny tiny nick on the top most part of the inner race(or whatever it's called).

So yeah... Supposed to give the guy at napa a call tomorrow and let him know how to proceed. I think I'm just gonna hold off and pick my spindles back up. Gonna see if I can source a new passenger side spindle I guess. Maybe I'll get lucky. So can anyone let me know what all spindles are interchangeable with mine? Does it HAVE to be a prerunner hub or will a 4x4 hub work since I'm pressing out the guts anyways..


Here's that vid..
https://youtu.be/vDjcp1IzQy0