I just get 2 of the cheapest bearings/hub assemblies from Ebay. Since most vendors sell fake bearings anyways, it is unlikely that people are actually getting a Koyo bearing and not a fake chinese ripoff part. I also have a complete assembly with me in the truck and can swap it out if it breaks.
Aftermarket wheel bearing?
- Thread starter MikeinNH67
- Start date
I had to have a wheel bearing replaced a couple of years ago on my 2005 V6 4runner - purchased from new. Good mechanic, and it took him hours of work. I would replace whole assembly next time (in under an hour). They come pre-pressed and you just bolt them on. Good luck doing this without a "press".
No trouble with the one he replaced. The other three are still maintenance-free and 15 years old.
It's usually the front ones that go. I keep a new "spare" assembly WB in my garage for the next one that
fails.
I've never replaced any of the Ujoints on the driveshaft and they still are hanging in there. At the first noise, I get them fixed as you don't want the DS flying off and breaking
BTW U-joints (3 of them) would have to be done by a good mechanic with a lift. They are on there like "solid". Mine are OEM. Can't beat that after 15 years. I've had failures of U-joints on a GMC Jimmy and it isn't pretty. Make sure they are lined up as straight as possible. Any wobble and they will fail.
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It's not really a "catastrophic failure" item so you might be carrying around 40lbs for no reason. To each his own though
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
The Beck/Arnley assembly came in on the weekend. Hopefully I can get to it this week. Nothing stamped on the bearing itself so I assume Chinese.
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
I started taking mine apart on Saturday then quickly realized the dust shield was basically gone. I put it back together and placed an order for new shields. If I'm gonna do it I'm gonna do it properly. 
Odd there's no aftermarket option for these.
Odd there's no aftermarket option for these.
hgill
Member
I got mine from a member on the tacoma forums. Pretty solid quality and have not had any issues thus far. They were a fraction of how much the stealership wanted.
Wheel Bearings & Hubs Press Service *** 4x4 *** PreRunner *** | Page 66 | Tacoma World
Wheel Bearings & Hubs Press Service *** 4x4 *** PreRunner *** | Page 66 | Tacoma World
Terminator03
New member
RinI started taking mine apart on Saturday then quickly realized the dust shield was basically gone. I put it back together and placed an order for new shields. If I'm gonna do it I'm gonna do it properly.
Nope, I found that out as well because the one on my driver’s side is in bad shape. Passenger had been replaced before I bought it. I’ve had the new shield hanging in my garage waiting for whenever I do my front bearings. Not sure if they still have them, but a year or 2 ago NAPA listed Koyo brand bearings for a fairly reasonable price (~$75 per bearing) without hubs. Since I have a press and all the tooling, I plan to do as you originally mentioned and just get new bearings, and seals, but reuse my own hubs. Just haven’t had time to do them as there have been bigger priorities.
I had a front WB fail on my 2005 150,000 miles 4runer. A mechanic knocked out bearing and the cost for job was $300+ It took hours of labor.
The right way to do this job is buy the complete assembly and just bolt it on and off.
Amazon.com: FKG 515040 (4WD Only) Front Wheel Bearing Wheel Hub Assembly fit for 10-16 Lexus GX460, 2003-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 03-09 Lexus GX470, 07-14 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 05-14 Toyota Tacoma, 6 Lugs With kit: Automotive
The one above comes with 1 year warantee.
2WD 3-Year Warranty
Amazon.com: MACEL 515040 2WD Only Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly Compatible with 03-16 Toyota 4Runner, 07-09 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 05-17 Toyota Hilux, 05-19 Toyota Tacoma 6Lugs w/ABS: Automotive
The right way to do this job is buy the complete assembly and just bolt it on and off.
Amazon.com: FKG 515040 (4WD Only) Front Wheel Bearing Wheel Hub Assembly fit for 10-16 Lexus GX460, 2003-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 03-09 Lexus GX470, 07-14 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 05-14 Toyota Tacoma, 6 Lugs With kit: Automotive
The one above comes with 1 year warantee.
2WD 3-Year Warranty
Amazon.com: MACEL 515040 2WD Only Front Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly Compatible with 03-16 Toyota 4Runner, 07-09 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 05-17 Toyota Hilux, 05-19 Toyota Tacoma 6Lugs w/ABS: Automotive
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MikeinNH67
Senior Member
I went with Beck/Arnley, the install was actually pretty simple. If you stick a piece of 1/4" angle iron on each side of the hub so that the 4 bolts push against the outer hub when loosened, it pushes it right out quite easily. I also like how the bottom swing arm unbolts without pulling the ball joint. I also replaced the dust shield while in there as there was nothing left to it. Pisser is that the old bearing appears that it was not bad, it looked fine when I separated it with my press and I still have the noise. Contemplating doing just the bearing on the other side as maybe that's where the noise is coming from. I hope it's not the front diff but I bought gear oil today for that.
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
So I finally got to replacing the passenger side front wheel bearing today plus the rusted dust shield. No more noise except for tire hum. I went with the BECK/ARNLEY 0516444 from Rockauto as it has a Koyo bearing in it and comes with seals for just under $80. Worth having someone press them onto your hub than buying the China made assembly in my opinion. I have a press so wasn't too hard to do. The old noisy bearing was an unknown brand and whoever replaced it in the past did not put the seal that is between the bearing and hub. People wonder why I do my own repairs. 
So this closes out my bearing saga for now. If the drivers side China bearing starts getting noisy I will go the same route I did for the passenger side.
So this closes out my bearing saga for now. If the drivers side China bearing starts getting noisy I will go the same route I did for the passenger side.
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
I noticed the Rockauto picture for Centric also showed the NSK bearing. NSK is supposed to be good so I hear.
you can also get this. this is what i use and seems to be okay at a decent price. this is for a 4th gen 4runner - 4x4 only with hub and bearing.
4Runner / Tacoma / FJ Cruiser - Wheel Hub Bearing Assembly - (4x4) - with ABS | eBay
4Runner / Tacoma / FJ Cruiser - Wheel Hub Bearing Assembly - (4x4) - with ABS | eBay
Drcoffee
Senior Member
You can get a full hub bearing assembly which makes the job quick for one wheel but after buying two it gets expensive quick. Years back I bought a harbor freight 20 ton press. Since then I replaced the 4 wheel bearings on my lexus is300, the rear bearings on my kids ford explorer and my FJC 2007 front bearings and probably the fronts on this 07 4runner. The press has saved me thousands of $$. Well worth the $140 I paid for it.
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
I wanted the Japanese bearings which is why I went the route I did.
As for the press, I use my HF press more often than I thought I would. Quite useful.
As for the press, I use my HF press more often than I thought I would. Quite useful.
