Out of curiosity. To those who off road and go throgh water, mud and sometimes get stuck. How has your front wheeling bearings been holding up. I must of replaced my front wheel bearings about 2 to 3 times already in the past 3 year.... yes with OEM and OEM seals. Couple weeks ago I was wheeling got stuck in some clay-ish mud. After going home, sounds like passenger side wheelbearing is bad. AGAIN! The sound doesn't change when turning, but it's definitely front wheel bearing.
Front wheel bearing
- Thread starter kolelt
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thecole1098
New member
Still on my original ones and I mud every other weekend. However, I haven't gotten stuck. Yet.
4eigner
New member
20 ton press, & a 4x4 ball joint adapter set (from harbor freight I believe...I think this was especially useful if you've done the manual hub conversion), using old bearing to press in new ones to keep force distributed on the race.
Have you considered globbing on marine grease across the ends of the bearings to try to keep the H2O out?
JayRolla
New member
280k miles on originals. I completely avoid all mud and water.
Surprised you have not learned your lesson.
firemanj92
New member
Along with the press and other tools stated above, you'll need either a 3" pipe cap for supporting the backside of bearings when pressing in, extra arbor plates or extra steel beam (c-channel, box or other 3in+ tall) to support the spindle off the arbor plate a couple of inches off the press deck. I used the front rotors and pressed the hub/lugs into the matching holes. There's pics somewhere around here. Otherwise it was pretty easy once I figured out that I needed additional height of the press deck. -J
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Surprised I have not learned my lesson? I like to wheel. And get the truck dirty. I built it not just for pavement. Plus in NJ. It's mostly dirt, mud and water trails. Just part of off road life.
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No I did not think of that. That's a good tip actually
JayRolla
New member
I mean after 3 wheel bearings you think you would learn your lesson. Lol. I have. You know don't keep touching the hot stove. I preach to all my buddies about how bad it is. Some listen and some don't.
Yeah I understand lol. And I see your point. It only happened when I got stuck in deep deep CLAY. Like, whole front end and rear axle were sick in mud. Clay is like really fine! As far as off roading. I do try and avoid most of the mud and water.
I just wanted to know if people have this issue also. No big deal. I'll change the wheel bearing and seals. It's not really expensive.
Hmmmm, but wouldn't the mud mess up the races surface and bearing surface ?
JZiggy
Senior Member
Yeah probably, but if you cleaned them out soon enough you could definitely prolong the life of the bearing. Just like regreasing your u-joints after you get home from a day of wheeling.
Just that regreasing u joints is 10 min job vs regression our front wheel bearing lol. I wish ours wasn't pressed in. And it was bolted !
Yeah. Just that regreasing our front bearing isn't that easy lol. Wish it was a bolt on. Aren't like newer tacomas it's 4 bolts and it comes of.
Chuckles89
New member
Are you installing them the correct way? When I did mine last year, one of them got installed backwards and that lead to premature failure.
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
Most newer vehicles have a hub assembly.
Pretty sure I am. Cannot recall it though. It was a while back.
Heh, pros and cons. The serviceability of greasable bearings makes them relatively easy to change out (no press) and if you maintain it, they should last the life of the truck. But realistically, 99% of the population will never service these and therefore a sealed, pressed in bearing is better suited.
