3rd Gen Wheel Bearing Info

[soundmanlpte]

Hello,

I'd love for someone who knows about the wheel bearings on our trucks to explain the maintenance necessary for keeping them going. Or send me to a link that would explain it. I know that we can't repack them in the traditional sense. At least not without a shop press. However, the Haynes manual describes a process using a hammer and a block of wood to do it.

I took my wheels off last weekend to bleed the brakes and spun the wheels while I was at it. The front ones feel really good. On the back ones, I noticed a fairly consistent clicking feeling. Is that simply the gears in the diff? Or dry wheel bearings?

Any info/clarification would be useful. Thanks!

 

[nissanh]

usually the front wheel bearings in toyota's runs a life time.... they never wear out. But for the rear (without independent suspension), they do wear out and needs new bearings. Get the OEM bearings to the rear. I tried OEM bearings into a hilux and another person bought "Japanese made" bearings for his hilux. After installing I see the hilux I had has a very smooth rotation when I spun the wheel and the other has several hard stopping spots.

Lift the rear wheel and support the truck with jack stands. Place one hand at 3 O clock position and the other at 9 O clock position. Now move the hands in opposite directions. If you feel any free movement than bearings are bad. It is OK to go in and out (horizontal) little bit but not up and down (vertical movement)

 

[soundmanlpte]

usually the front wheel bearings in toyota's runs a life time.... they never wear out. But for the rear (without independent suspension), they do wear out and needs new bearings. Get the OEM bearings to the rear. I tried OEM bearings into a hilux and another person bought "Japanese made" bearings for his hilux. After installing I see the hilux I had has a very smooth rotation when I spun the wheel and the other has several hard stopping spots.

Lift the rear wheel and support the truck with jack stands. Place one hand at 3 O clock position and the other at 9 O clock position. Now move the hands in opposite directions. If you feel any free movement than bearings are bad. It is OK to go in and out (horizontal) little bit but not up and down (vertical movement)

Okay cool. Thanks for the info. I will check that. If they do need replacing, can I do it myself? Or does it need a shop press?

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Okay cool. Thanks for the info. I will check that. If they do need replacing, can I do it myself? Or does it need a shop press?

A press is needed. The provided link says axle seals but the bearings were replaced too. This write up is what I followed when I did my bearing, seals etc after owning my truck about a month. I can tell you this, the most critical part of the job is making sure the axle seal is properly seated on the retainer so no gear lube leaks out. Read through the write up completely and familiarize yourself with the job so you can check the press work that is done.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...on-replacement-thread-3rd-gen.html#post571040