So, perhaps my best experience throughout this. I decided to stop-by a small shop on my way home, a place I had a rather good experience with a few months back for an AC vacuum test and fill.

This guy spent an hour with me today and let me ride with him to hear the noise and let me watch him throw it on a lift. He demonstrated that the driver rear exhibits a rather noticeable noise but the passenger rear also makes a minor noise.

He quoted me somewhere between $350.00 and $400.00 for each bearing. Let me first say, that price has me conflicted on whether or not to use him or do it myself. Of note that he doesn't do the presswork himself, he uses a place in town called "The Machine Shop".

After spending the hour diagnosing, he told me I didn't owe him anything. I went as far to say I was considering doing the job myself and further pressed that I didn't mind throwing him a few bucks as he has so far been the most helpful, most transparent, and friendliest of the now three different groups I've had look at it. He still insisted I didn't owe him anything but just told him to bring it back when I needed something else. Then he proceeded to have a meaningful conversation with me about if I do decide to do it myself.

I decided to call The Machine Shop myself, he asked me which vehicle I had. I told him a 4Runner, his very quick response was that it depended on which one I had, some of their bearings they charge $35.00/each for and the other they charge $50.00/each. I could generally careless about an extra $30.00, it just reassured me that they are at least familiar with doing this.

Even though I don't exactly look forward to devoting likely two evenings to this (the shop isn't open weekends), I do think I'll do it myself. I need to get things ordered. I figure since the main part I cannot do myself is the pressing, and since the mechanic himself is using a 3rd party, why not just save the money and make things happen?

Assuming that I use that shop listed above for the press work, I don't think I actually need this do I? Since they seemed very familiar with doing this, I assume they already have something such as this.

Drcoffee, as a sidenote, using RockAuto, could you assist in providing me a parts list for everything I need to purchase for both rear axle bearings? Anything I need, just let me know (seals, bolts, gaskets, grease, etc). If it's worth buying to make my job easier, I probably don't mind spending the few bucks. Since I haven't done this yet it's hard for me to visualize everything. I'll have a much better understanding after taking things apart.

Also Drcoffee, am I to understand via your linked posts that these bearings are not lubricated via the gear oil and that in fact in the oil seeps past the seal it will degrade/washout the grease and cause issues quickly?

The bearings are prelubricated. The gear oil does not lube the bearing.

Parts

Left and right rear bearings NSK best value
Toyota OEM seals x2 dont use aftermarket, they will leak and its not fun doing this twice.
3 qts gear lube 75w90

Thats about it. The axle retainers should be re-used unless you cut it off, then you need two more. Have the machine shop press off the bearing and retainer together and FLIP the retainer so the bevel faces outboard. The seal will have a new surface to seat on. The bevel is not necessary for axle insertion. Dont sweat it. The brake line is connected to a bracket on the dust shield. Use tin snips to cut a channel at the top so the brake line can be lifted out of bracket when you pull the axle out. Otherwise you will need to disconnect the brake hose and that just adds work to the job.
The biggest pain in-the azz was reinstalling the parking brakes. There is little room to get the springs on. Be patient. I used screw drivers to lever the springs into place. No special tools are needed. Take pictures of the parking brakes before removing.

I dont know why but the same NSK rear bearings are $58 each. Half off

Attached Images

 

Seeing as how I'm doing this myself to save money, I don't mind spending a few extra bucks quality is better. Are those NSK equal to or better than the Timken bearings HA594246 and HA590050? For the seals, can I get those from RockAuto? Part numbers if so? I would very much like to purchase two of the retainers as well, are those the "SKF CIR270 Snap Rings" on RockAuto?

I will get gear oil locally. Anything else to buy? I'd like to make this purchase as soon as possible. What about the manuals that say not to reuse bolts?

Timken uses chinese bearings. NSK makes better bearings IMO.

The snap rings (C-clip) are reusable

Buy the retainers and seals at Toyota. Should be roughly $12 each

Re-use the bolts.

I always ask for a mechanics discount when buying parts at the dealership. The parts guys will often find a way to give me a discount on parts like these.

I purchased the NSK bearings you suggested, also added in two of the snap rings just in case as they were cheaply priced.

For the seals, two of these?

2007 Toyota 4Runner Drive Axle Shaft Seal (Left, Right, Rear). OIL (FOR REAR AXLE SHAFT LEFT) - 9031058003 | North Georgia Toyota, Dalton GA

On this site:

REAR AXLE SHAFT & HUB. 2007 Toyota 4Runner | North Georgia Toyota, Dalton GA

I see that there are 42423A and 42423B retainers, however they seem to have the same part number 4242360050.

Thank you Drcoffee for all of your input. I ended up placing an order from Toyota Direct for 2 of each of the following:

Gasket
O-Ring
Washer
Retainer
Snap Ring
Shaft Seal

$82.00 even out the door shipped. Perhaps I could have reused several of these but I'd rather have them in hand and replaced if at all worn. May as well for the substantial savings for doing this myself.

This is the best part of having tools, a garage and some liquid courage. You know damn well exactly what parts you used, and that you installed them correctly. No what if’s like when someone else does the work.


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Hope this solves your problem OP, I've been hearing a "hum" on mine for some time now. I suspect the wheel bearings.

I pulled everything apart this weekend. Let me say, both of the bearings sounded pretty loud when turned by hand.

I dropped everything off at the local shop this morning, will be $100.00 for both of them. He just called and told me everything was ready, hopefully I'll be able to put this behind me soon enough.

I'm dreading the emergency brake reinstall.

On my fjc I did reconnect the parking brakes, but on my 07 4runner I did not. I never use the E brake anyway. It added $50 to the job for new pads and hardware. Who needs it?

Post pics of the new installed bearings before you reassemble it.

I'm definitely going to try to get the parking brakes. I may change my mind in the process of doing so.

Here are some photos.

Hopefully this is the solution to your problem, keep us posted. Drink some beer while doing the parking brakes lol.


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It without a doubt will be a solution to a problem. The old bearings were very noise when turned by hand. The new ones are nearly silent as expected.

I am curious (as well as cautious) as to why Drcoffee wanted to see photos.