Wheel Bearing Woes

Good afternoon everyone!

My front right wheel bearing has failed and I'm looking at options.

Dealer said it was going to be $1720 to get it done plus tax.

Other shops quoted about $700-900

I can get the Koyo bearings, and seals for $165 from eBay, or can get them with hubs for $250. Are hubs necessary or should I keep the ones I have? Also worth getting new nuts etc?

Any words of advice from anyone? I have a local shop that said they'd press in the new bearings for 60/side. Was planning on doing the right, then the left when it starts to go. Feels really good rn.

I'm confident I can get the spindle off, unsure about hub though I've heard varying things.

Thanks for the advice!

-Nick

 

-i have found on my other older cars that vendors like Dorman have started to sell "Loaded Spindles"
they come with spindle and pressed in hub/bearing as an assembly.
you just bolt new assembly on.
i have used for 01 Forester....real lifesaver
unk if avail for your Taco (dont want to guess yr/model/tranny from your pix)

-if you do decide to do R side....then the L later.....remember, you have to pay for 2 alignments
poss tht Firestone still does tht 'lifetime' align.....my race friends really abused that deal(like 5 alignments a year for multiple yrs) im not sure that they even sell that package anymore.
GL

keep everyone posted

 

You need a press either way.
If your hubs are "worn". Just get new ones.
The shop that presses them on will thank you for it.
You'll also be getting new lug studs too.

I guess it depends on your budget.

 

I've read a bunch about people not needing an alignment afterwards. How true is that?

Thanks

 

So you think it's just better to get the whole package then?

Thanks!

 

100% alignment needed

 

If a loaded spindle available YES!

even comes with new studs as TNshooter recommends

again, Unk if Dorman makes for your model

See u later after u get out of the rabbit hole!!!!!

 

Does the package come with Koyo or SKF bearings?
If not, NO.

The hubs are cheap.
Like $35 apiece.
Just buy them and take them to the shop doing the press work.

This is the hub. The hub doesn’t come with any bearing.

 

I’ve never seen a landed spindle assembly.
I haven’t looked “hard”, but that would be a new one for me.

 

I've seen loaded knuckles before but the only ones for the Tacoma are from YOTA1 and they're $1300. I'd take the knuckles off yourself and have a shop press them for $60. Get a koyo bearing and the hub. I'd also snag new axle nuts and you may need new cotter pins.

 

The kit is with Koyo parts, so not bad. Paid $260 shipped plus tax.

 

Got two Koyo bearings with seals, and hubs. Taking the spindle off this weekend, and the shop is going to press it for $60!

 

Yeah
Not surprised (not available/made for Tacoma)
Just a shot in the dark

more I think about it…….what a great business plan…..
-Buy a bunch of boat anchors(not bent spindles) just above price of scrap metal price
-buy bearings/hubs for bulk pricing
-start cleaning/pressing
-sell sell sell

 

Weld gussets on while its apart.

 

No, you don't need an alignment after installing a bearing. You aren't changing the suspension geometry like you do when you install a lift.
That's my educated opinion.

 

Agreed^^
Just as you don’t move threads on otr ties. (Or better, count threads b4 loosening otr tie bolt, then make sure same amt of threads visible when torquing the same)
A PITA but saves you $129.95
Upr/Lwr ball joints fixed suspension mounting positions
No adjustment.

 

Glad you got it all worked out inexpensively. That $1720 Stealership price on doing this job would hurt too much. $60 a side to press the bearing and hub together is a good deal. Just be very sure that the machine shop presses the bearing into the knuckle with the correct orientation. The shiny metal side of the KOYO DU5496-5 bearing faces outward toward the hub (below). The last full-time repair shop that pressed mine installed both KOYO bearings in the knuckle backwards. As such, there was no way to apply much less maintain the proper amount of preload on the bearing so both FW bearings failed in just 3 years. I finally set up a 20-ton HF shop press on HD casters to do my own presswork once again so can verify that it takes many tons of pressure to press these bearings/hubs in and out.

 

Ugh^^^^
Had a shop press a Honda bearing in backwards
ABS lite would not turn off after repairs completed
Tech didn’t know that one side of bearing is magnetic (to communicate speed to ABS computer)

 

Leid
Might reach out to you in future….
If you have experience with Rear bearing replacement
Dreading the Day…….That Day Will Come.

 

And that was a well-thought-of full-time shop in Kingwood, TX in your area so I thought they knew better. I worked out of IAH airport for about 20 years or so. And yes, I have changed KOYO rear axle bearings several times. Getting that seal just right is key. There is an excellent video on doing that job (Timmy's IIRC).