anybody done hubs and bearings on 4wd?

[blazier196]

I have a 05 4runner 4wd se. Well I brought it to pep boys to get the parking brake looked at and the front tires aligned after I noticed my left front tire which is a nitto Terra grappler was wearing out faster than the other ones by a lot. So they put it on the lift and grab the left front and you can literly shake it with your hands. It will move prob a half inch every way. They said I need a new hub and want to charge almost 700$ to install it. The part is only 105 at atuozone. Is there any other parts I would need? Is it that difficult to change?

 

[zopperman]

you can buy a preassembled hub and bearing from bluepit and DIY. it's 4 bolts + axle nut
[MENTION=99491]Bumper2Bumper Auto[/MENTION] also sells them

 

[bob3dsf]

+1 for the "kit" from bluepit. It was pretty easy, just time consuming but not real bad. If your setup with tools and workspace is better than mine (which it likely is) it shouldn't take too long. The most difficult part was getting the brake rotor off the hub. The corrosion on the inside of the hat cause it to be pretty stubborn coming off.

 

[Bumper2Bumper Auto]

+1 for the "kit" from bluepit. It was pretty easy, just time consuming but not real bad. If your setup with tools and workspace is better than mine (which it likely is) it shouldn't take too long. The most difficult part was getting the brake rotor off the hub. The corrosion on the inside of the hat cause it to be pretty stubborn coming off.

I make the same assemblies right here on t4R, and mine cost less. Most orders are delivered within 5 working days. If you are interested then simply click the link in my sig, or go to my vendor page! My 4X4 assemblies are $189 each, and that includes shipping.

 

[Adumb]

I did both front wheel bearings. I pulled out the hub assembly and took it to a friend at sears. He Tried to press the old one out with no luck. He took the torch to the bearing and split it off that way. The new one pressed right on and then it was just a matter of reassembly.

 

[Sungod]

Your hub is bad? That would scare me that they would call that part instead of the bearing which is most likely the real problem. The hub isn't typically a wearable part and usually only needs to be replaced if it is damaged. You can buy the bearings and seals for $80 and take it to a shop to have them pressed in. You are looking at maybe $100 total for parts. Or you can be lazy and buy an assembly for twice that and save yourself a trip to a shop. It is your money.

 

[sonerick]

Your hub is bad? That would scare me that they would call that part instead of the bearing which is most likely the real problem. The hub isn't typically a wearable part and usually only needs to be replaced if it is damaged. You can buy the bearings and seals for $80 and take it to a shop to have them pressed in. You are looking at maybe $100 total for parts. Or you can be lazy and buy an assembly for twice that and save yourself a trip to a shop. It is your money.

If you do it the way [MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] suggests, then you are looking at the following:

$80-$100 for parts
$15-$40 for press work, depending on the shop
$10 in gas unless you live right near the shop
Time spent gathering parts
Time spent finding a shop that's open on the weekend when you are likely to be doing the work
Time spent removing existing hub/bearing assembly
Time spent arranging for a ride to/from a shop while your T4R is down
Time spent waiting for the press work to be done
Time spent putting it all back together

Total direct costs: $105-$150, plus your time.

If you buy a whole assembly, you are looking at the following:

$190 for the assembly
1 +/- hour for R&R

I find that it's tough to find a shop that's open when I'm not working, which is usually Monday-Saturday. I also have only one vehicle, so it's necessary to arrange for a ride to a shop to get the press work done while the T4R is down. So for me, it's a no-brainer to buy the whole assembly and take care of it quickly and easily with minimal down time.

Apparently [MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] 's time is worth nothing to him, but my time is valuable to me. So I find it much more worthwhile it to just buy the whole assembly for an extra $40-$85.

[MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] : stop posting the same condescending, over-opinionated bull$hit every time someone makes a post about doing their wheel bearing.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Your hub is bad? That would scare me that they would call that part instead of the bearing which is most likely the real problem. The hub isn't typically a wearable part and usually only needs to be replaced if it is damaged. You can buy the bearings and seals for $80 and take it to a shop to have them pressed in. You are looking at maybe $100 total for parts. Or you can be lazy and buy an assembly for twice that and save yourself a trip to a shop. It is your money.

The reason most shops and dealers recommend the hub also is due to the tendency of the inner race to almost fuse to the hub shaft after a lot of miles. I've seen many times the inner race having to be carefully cut off with a cutting wheel because it will not budge on the hydraulic press and/or cannot even be set-up safely on the press. I've seen this happen with both Toyota and Honda bearings most commonly, but other vehicles have done it also.

As a technican I cringe everytime I see someone have to cut, hammer, and chisel the inner race off and worry about damaging the hub. So our dealership has gotten used to the habit of recommending an entire assembly to avoid wasting time and potentionally damaging a part that will be reinstalled.

Its sort of why no one really rebuilds alternators or starters anymore; its cheap to do; but most technicans don't want to waste the time and potentional issues to rebuild them when you can get a new one for a decent cost ready to go; that and some people don't even know how to rebuild them.

 

[nevada]

to add to the above..

why would you want the lowest, cheapest POS autozone bearing?

 

[Sungod]

If you do it the way @ Sungod suggests, then you are looking at the following:

$80-$100 for parts
$15-$40 for press work, depending on the shop
$10 in gas unless you live right near the shop
Time spent gathering parts
Time spent finding a shop that's open on the weekend when you are likely to be doing the work
Time spent removing existing hub/bearing assembly
Time spent arranging for a ride to/from a shop while your T4R is down
Time spent waiting for the press work to be done
Time spent putting it all back together

Total direct costs: $105-$150, plus your time.

If you buy a whole assembly, you are looking at the following:

$190 for the assembly
1 +/- hour for R&R

I find that it's tough to find a shop that's open when I'm not working, which is usually Monday-Saturday. I also have only one vehicle, so it's necessary to arrange for a ride to a shop to get the press work done while the T4R is down. So for me, it's a no-brainer to buy the whole assembly and take care of it quickly and easily with minimal down time.

Apparently [MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] 's time is worth nothing to him, but my time is valuable to me. So I find it much more worthwhile it to just buy the whole assembly for an extra $40-$85.

[MENTION=49]Sungod[/MENTION] : stop posting the same condescending, over-opinionated bull$hit every time someone makes a post about doing their wheel bearing.

My time is worth money, and if you want to give me an extra $200 just because you are lazy, feel free. That could be the reason you only have one car. Spending money unnecessarily doesn't make sense to me considering the minimal work envolved. If we were talking $5-10, I would agree, but $200? My hourly rate is no where close to $400 per hour. Is your hourly rate that high? It takes all of about 5 mins to press out and press in a bearing and pretty much every shop of any kind has a press. It isn't uncommon for people to have them in their garage. You could even buy a press at Harbor Freight and do it yourself and still come out ahead.

As I have said, it is more convenient for you to buy the parts by all means do so. I see that as no different than someone who has to take their car to a shop because they can't do the work themselves. I would think that most DIYers would prefer to do their own work and save money. My point is that it is cheaper if you can do the work yourself.

 

[Sungod]

to add to the above..

why would you want the lowest, cheapest POS autozone bearing?

What are you talking about? When did National or Timken become cheap POS autozone bearings? Just because Autozone sells Timken, does that make them cheap?

 

[nevada]

What are you talking about? When did National or Timken become cheap POS autozone bearings? Just because Autozone sells Timken, does that make them cheap?

so is that LOW PRICED bearing hes referring to a quality brand?

its well known that autozone sells garbage. they cater to the lowest common denominator.
do they also sell good, quality stuff? probably. but thats not why people go there. also i highly doubt the bearing the OP was talking about is quality...

 

[Sungod]

The reason most shops and dealers recommend the hub also is due to the tendency of the inner race to almost fuse to the hub shaft after a lot of miles. I've seen many times the inner race having to be carefully cut off with a cutting wheel because it will not budge on the hydraulic press and/or cannot even be set-up safely on the press. I've seen this happen with both Toyota and Honda bearings most commonly, but other vehicles have done it also.

As a technican I cringe everytime I see someone have to cut, hammer, and chisel the inner race off and worry about damaging the hub. So our dealership has gotten used to the habit of recommending an entire assembly to avoid wasting time and potentionally damaging a part that will be reinstalled.

Its sort of why no one really rebuilds alternators or starters anymore; its cheap to do; but most technicans don't want to waste the time and potentional issues to rebuild them when you can get a new one for a decent cost ready to go; that and some people don't even know how to rebuild them.

At a dealership you have the luxury of calling parts that don't necessarily need to be replaced. A dealer near my house ditched their brake lathe because it is easier to replace them and they don't have to waste time with the lathe. It costs the customers more, but it saves them time. Another reason why people hate dealers.

I agree that there are some situations that the hub would need to be replaced, but calling it every time regardless of the condition because it is easier for you and costs the customer more doesn't sound fair to your customer, does it? If there is anyone here that should be doing press work, it should be you. You have a press on site.

You saying that it is easier to just call parts is no different than the dealership that I went to and the tech call tie rod ends because they were frozen and he was too lazy to apply some heat to free them up.

 

[Sungod]

so is that LOW PRICED bearing hes referring to a quality brand?

its well known that autozone sells garbage. they cater to the lowest common denominator.
do they also sell good, quality stuff? probably. but thats not why people go there. also i highly doubt the bearing the OP was talking about is quality...

autozone bearing

Decide for yourself. In any case the same bearing can be found at rockauto for $40 less.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I recommend to a customer what I would personally do to my own vehicle. Regardless of what the dealership has learned to do; I still would recommend a hub with a new wheel bearing because I have had plenty of hubs with nicks, scores, and such because I have had to physically break the inner race off. I would not want that on my own vehicle and have a personal level of standard of my own work; I would not want to install a damaged part onto a customer's vehicle when they expect a properly done repair and my name is attached to that repair.

On a side note, that brake lathe thing is both silly and not surprising.

 

[sonerick]

My time is worth money, and if you want to give me an extra $200 just because you are lazy, feel free. That could be the reason you only have one car. Spending money unnecessarily doesn't make sense to me considering the minimal work envolved. If we were talking $5-10, I would agree, but $200?

$190 per wheel bearing/hub assembly vs. ~$120 for parts, press work, etc. is a difference of $70, not $200. You're exaggerating.

My hourly rate is no where close to $400 per hour. Is your hourly rate that high?

No, my hourly rate is not that high. I wish it was. But I certainly bill out at a rate higher than the ~$70 difference between buying a full assembly and re-using your old hub. Again, you are exaggerating the cost.

It takes all of about 5 mins to press out and press in a bearing and pretty much every shop of any kind has a press. It isn't uncommon for people to have them in their garage. You could even buy a press at Harbor Freight and do it yourself and still come out ahead.

OK, you still have to find a shop that's open, get to the shop, and then get home. If you live next to a shop with a press, good for you. If you have a press, even better for you. But most people don't.

For you to suggest buying a press when the whole point of your argument is to save money is a little bit silly. A cheap press costs at least $150. Unless you're planning that as an investment to come out ahead long-term over the course of a few wheel bearing changes, it's not going to be cheaper than using a pre-assembled bearing/hub for one job.

As I have said, it is more convenient for you to buy the parts by all means do so. I see that as no different than someone who has to take their car to a shop because they can't do the work themselves.

If you take the hub/bearing to a shop to do the press work, it's because you can't do the work yourself. Using a pre-pressed hub/bearing assembly simply eliminates having to go to a shop for the press work.

I would think that most DIYers would prefer to do their own work and save money. My point is that it is cheaper if you can do the work yourself.

YOU'RE STILL HAVING SOMEONE ELSE DO THE WORK FOR YOU IF YOU TAKE IT TO A SHOP FOR THE PRESS WORK.

I get what you're trying to say: save a few bucks and re-use a good hub. But some people are in situations where its more cost effective to just buy a pre-assembled unit. For you to chalk it up to laziness or incompetence, which you have done recently every time someone posts about using pre-assembled units or advertises their products, is just silly, so please stop.

 

[Calimander]

This is really a no-brainer. I replaced mine with a complete assembly from the bluepit guys. I took my old ones to my place of employment and pressed them apart in a 100 ton press. I am VERY experienced in industrial bearing removal and using press's and pullers of all sorts. These were in super tight and the average DIY guy is going to have one hell of a time with this job. Bottom line is to save yourself alot of hassle and buy an assembled unit.

 

[Maineiac]

I recommend to a customer what I would personally do to my own vehicle. Regardless of what the dealership has learned to do; I still would recommend a hub with a new wheel bearing because I have had plenty of hubs with nicks, scores, and such because I have had to physically break the inner race off. I would not want that on my own vehicle and have a personal level of standard of my own work; I would not want to install a damaged part onto a customer's vehicle when they expect a properly done repair and my name is attached to that repair.

On a side note, that brake lathe thing is both silly and not surprising.

This is why you sir are a professional. You are the kind of mechanic I would want working on my familys transportation.

Buy a good berring and do it yourself. You will have the satisfaction of knowing it is done right.

Cheers Maineiac

 

[Mikwalz]

Hello all,
I just replaced my front bearings reusing my old hubs. I had the local napa machine shop take the old hub/bearing assembly apart and press in the new bearing ($40 bucks). They were able to do that without issue. I was not able to find a retail shop autozone, pep boys, that sold preassembled hub/bearings, and did not do any research on this website (which I should have) as to the availability of buying this combo, which can save a lot of time and hassle if you use your runner as a daily driver, because in my area the machining shops that have the press are only open during the week at normal business hours, so needing to borrow a car was needed and to transport the bearing hub to the machine shop while mine was up on jackstands. Also, I'm no wonder mechanic, (was able to install my daystar 2.5/1.5) but it took several hours (4-5hrs) and lots of elbow grease to remove the bearing and hub assembly, especially the first side, mostly due to not wanting to screw anything up and the rotor was very solidly rusted on to the hub. It took a propane torch a ten pound sledge and a short 2x4 and over an hour of hammering to get the rotor off. (I live in Illinois so lots of salt) plus I was very hesitant to slam my rotor multiple times for fear of hurting the rotor, or any of the suspension components.. so lesson I learned was that it may be a simple disassembly of the front end, which is straight forward, but you can easily run into a snag such as not being able to get the rotor off easily...

 

[Sungod]

$190 per wheel bearing/hub assembly vs. ~$120 for parts, press work, etc. is a difference of $70, not $200. You're exaggerating.

No, that is pretty accurate. You can get the parts from rockauto for under $80 and press work should add no more than $10. That puts you at $90. What you are missing is the work is times two. You shouldn't only replace one side. So there is your $200 savings. Even if your press work runs a little more or you have to buy your neighbor a 6 pack to run you up to a shop you should still be able to walk away with $175 extra in your pocket.

I went through this same thought process with my front axle shafts. I could have bought boots, and rebuilt my own, but after finding new axles that were only $20 more than boots, it was a simple decision to go with new. It did cost me more, but with time vs convenience, convenience won out.