Rear Bearing Woes...

[robstibz]

Axle seals went on my 4runner, should have been a straight forward job...should've!

Drums were siezed onto the hub and in the process of removing/destroying them, I also had to damage the backing plate. So I figured since i'm at 160k anyway, lets do the bearings while i'm in there.

I have medium size press but not the special service tool to get everything off the shaft. Does anybody know any dealerships with the tool or machine shops that are capable in the Philly area???

I brought the axles to one dealer who quoted me $175, I figured thats not bad and assumed somebody at the dealer may be familiar with it but I was wrong. The service advisor slipped and told me they were sending the axles to a machine shop who "might" be able to swap bearings. That was enough for me to say dont do anything and i'll pick up my axles.

 

[Stick Figure]

OTC , 09521-25011-01 Rear Axle Shaft Puller - Toyota

thats the tool you need.

That is set up with 3 different bolt patterns in mind. You really only need one to do your truck So if you can drill a few holes and weld plates to two ends of a tube you can make that tool for far less.

 

[Nelsonmd]

You could make one of those by picking up an old axle housing from a junk yard. It could be in terrible condition and still work. That's assuming you can weld of course.

That price for the replacement isn't bad I think.

 

[robstibz]

I don't want to purchase the sst for one job, and I can't weld. I could probably have a friend fab the tool but it might take some time.

If I cut/chisel the old abs rotor/bearing/retainers off, Is it possible to install the new rotor/bearing/retainers without any special tools?

 

[MX4R]

Any good machine shop can do it. We have bearing pressed and removed all the time for close to nothing at work.

 

[Stick Figure]

I don't want to purchase the sst for one job, and I can't weld. I could probably have a friend fab the tool but it might take some time.

If I cut/chisel the old abs rotor/bearing/retainers off, Is it possible to install the new rotor/bearing/retainers without any special tools?

install is possible with out anything special. I think I just used a piece of pipe to help set up the press.

Not sure how you are going to get the old bearing off with out the press and some sort of special tool.

there isn't a lot of room to get a chisel in there.

 

[robstibz]

I have a press, i'm hoping I could get the old bearing out with that after cutting off the old retainers and abs rotor.

 

[Stick Figure]

but that is exactly what the special tool is for it to press the bearing off. The tool bolts to those 4 studs and then hangs in the press and allows you to push down on the axle to slip it out of the bearing. Otherwise you might be able to get a bearing splitter between the hub and flange, but I doubt it will fit. I used that method to pull the retaining and ABS ring off of one axle, but i still bolted the bearing splitter up to the "SST" that I made.

 

[robstibz]

Ahh I see what you mean. I just picked them up from the dealer, looking at them now. This stinks. Wondering if I can rent the puller from somewhere

 

[robstibz]

How does the backing plate separate from the flange/bolts that bolt to the axle housing?

 

[JT4Spencer]

How does the backing plate separate from the flange/bolts that bolt to the axle housing?

I just did my rear wheel bearings, I also am not sure how you will get the bearing off without a press either. I bought the 20 ton press from Harbor Freight for 160.00 on sale. And fabbed up a SAS tool out of 3" elec conduit and some 1/4" steel plate.

You could just take the axles to a shop and have them removed only, and do the install yourself. All you need is a piece of heavy wall metal fence post pipe (1-15/16" OD x 27 1/2" long approx 1/8 wall tubing) and a sledge to tap everthing back on. Do some research on the Yotatech forum, Dr. Coffee has some serious input on placement of the inner spacer the seal rides on.

Also I would only use factory seals, Dr Coffee has a video on this also.
A possible solution to leaking axle seals - YotaTech Forums

Too bad your not closer you could just bring them by..

Best of luck!

 

[robstibz]

^Where are you located?

I have a press, just not the welding ability! I'm going to talk to a friend about fabricating the tool. Is there a how-to anywhere on making your own sst?

I found a few 4x4 shops in the area, gonna call around tomorrow and see if anybody can do it. If not, then i'm gonna have to make the tool.

Also, still not sure how the backing plate separates from the flange. It looks like those 4 studs (the ones that attach the whole assembly to the axle) are pressed in. Do those need to be hammered out? Could they be put back in place?