Rear axle bearing questions.

[Jew_97YOTA]

I first want to say that I am thankful for all of the awesome information I have gotten from this site, thanks to the amazing community.

I have a 97 4runner and am in the middle of changing the rear wheel bearings. I have done this twice now on the other side of the car since the first time it was done the oil seal wasn't seated right. So Im familiar with the process. My problem is that after i took the axle with all the new parts to the machine shop they called me and said the outer bearing seal was not the right part.

So i went to see if oreilys gave me the wrong part. after some searching I found out the seal that came off of my axle was from an 02 4runner. This made me recheck the parts numbers on all the other parts and make sure there werent any major differences between my 97 and an 02 Runner.

I found that everything is the same but the bearings and the Bearing housing(knuckle). The difference in the bearings is the 02 inner bearing race has an extra flange or spacer sticking past the face of the bearing.

The bearing that was on the axle when i pulled it out was for a 97 4runner. and the shop said that there was a lot of play in the bearing housing. My theory is the mix match between the bearing and housing is what caused the bearing failure.

so I was wondering if anyone knew much about the difference between the 00-02 axle bearing and the 96-99 bearings. And since I have the 02 bearing housing can i just use the newer bearing or should I replace the housing and use the 97 bearing?

 

[Arnezie]

Buy only Toyota. Nuff said

 

[wc11]

Buy only Toyota. Nuff said

+1. OEM only
I've done 1 bearing on one wheel in 523,000km (324,000 miles)

one side twice?

 

[Jew_97YOTA]

All the parts are toyota. I ended up going to toyota to replace the orielys oil/dust seal. thats where i found out I had the 02 bearing housing.

So obviously toyota changed they bearing and housing between those years. I believe it was in 2000. But i was wondering if anyone knew anything specific about the differences. Also if the axles were slightly different to account for the difference in bearings between those years.

As of now I have the later 00-02 outer oil/dust seal(therefore i have the later bearing housing) but have the earlier 97 axle bearing. Im not sure what year the axle is. I checked with the toyota dealer and the later 3rd gens have a different part number for the axle than the earlier 97 model. But that could be some small change on the flange or something that doesnt matter? idk

so do i keep the housing and use the 02 TOYOTA bearing or get a new housing and use the 97 TOYOTA bearing?

I may be making this more difficult than it is but i want to make sure I have the right parts pressed onto the axle so I am not forking out another Dealer bill for new bearings and what not.

 

[Jew_97YOTA]

sorry if i wasnt clear enough. I had gotten everything from toyota but the outer seal cause i had forgotten to order it so i just stopped by oreillys.

now i have gotten the seal from toyota and every part i need from here on out will be from toyota since they were a huge help today on looking up the differing part numbers for me. :biggrin2:

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

The bearing changed in 01. The inner race "protruded" about 5mm. My 2000 and 99 have the same bearings.

I'm confused about what is a bearing housing?

What on this page do you thinks you need?

1997 Toyota 4Runner Rear Axle Shaft & Hub - ToyotaPartsDeal.com

Most people use new bearings, inner seals, inner retainers, and c-clips. The outer retainer can be reused, as well as the ABS (if you have it) rotor, as long as they are being pressed off the right way. Even the dust boot and outer seal can be reused if not in bad shape.

 

[Jew_97YOTA]

This is the Bearing Housing I currently have(who knows why)

01-02 BEARING HOUSING - TOYOTA (42421-35050)
http://http://www.oempartsquick.com/oe-toyota/4242135050?origin=pla&gclid=CjwKEAiA2IO0BRDXmLndksSB0WgSJADNKqqoBE5zUUnCQbVD3tHRg_AbNvtMsg9Rld5nkevnsXYWwRoCO2Dw_wcB

97 BEARING HOUSING - TOYOTA (42421-35030)
http://http://www.oempartsquick.com/oe-toyota/4242135030?origin=pla&gclid=CjwKEAiA2IO0BRDXmLndksSB0WgSJADNKqqoB_jZoo2btfIBz7etYg2ASo2Qv-HoDns3_dKLZBt_CRoCc9_w_wcB

01-02 4-Runner Wheel Bearing
AKTOY-ABS

This is the bearing that was on the axle when i pulled it off. and this is the one i currently have bought from toyota.
97 4 Runner Wheel Bearing
https://www.google.com/search?q=97+4runner+rear+wheel+bearing&espv=2&biw=1737&bih=925&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwidtuHPiYDKAhWIQiYKHRXEAkgQ_AUICCgD&dpr=1#imgrc=8IgyeyhYQAOrqM%3A

Sorry for the links but i couldnt figure how to post images real quick but this shows the later 3rd gen 4runners had a different part number for the bearing housing in 01-02 and a differernt bearing with a wider inner bearing race.

 

[Jew_97YOTA]

The bearing changed in 01. The inner race "protruded" about 5mm. My 2000 and 99 have the same bearings.

I'm confused about what is a bearing housing?

What on this page do you thinks you need?

1997 Toyota 4Runner Rear Axle Shaft & Hub - ToyotaPartsDeal.com

Most people use new bearings, inner seals, inner retainers, and c-clips. The outer retainer can be reused, as well as the ABS (if you have it) rotor, as long as they are being pressed off the right way. Even the dust boot and outer seal can be reused if not in bad shape.

I have everything i need as far as retainers, abs ring, and everything.
my concern is I for some reason have the later bearing housing, which is what im calling the piece that the bearing slides into on the axle and also has the 4 lugs to be bolted to the axle housing tube. you can see a picture in the links i posted above.

So should I:
1. keep the later 01-02 bearing housing and use the 01-02 wheel bearing
or
2. purchase the earlier housing and use the earlier wheel bearing that was designed for my model year

Thanks for the reply