Rear Wheel Bearing Tool

[RivMan]

Hey guys

Can anyone confirm that either of these tools work for the 4th Gen rear wheel bearings? Mine are both making noise, and I'd rather buy the tool than pay a dealer twice! I haven't found a thread for anyone that has done this with a tool other than the $400 option. Will these work to pull the ABS ring off without damage, and press everything back together?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axle-Beari...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axle-Beari...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

If you've done this project in the past, what tool did you use? Anyone have a loaner they would part with for a couple weeks?

Thank you!
-Rob

 

[4RunnerMexico]

I pulled the axles and took them to a machine shop with all the parts. I got Timken bearings and OEM seals and retainers.
The guy I went to had done a ton of them, knew exactly what to do and charged me $75 a side.
Just find a good machine shop with a huge press, they should be able to help you

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Hey guys

Can anyone confirm that either of these tools work for the 4th Gen rear wheel bearings? Mine are both making noise, and I'd rather buy the tool than pay a dealer twice! I haven't found a thread for anyone that has done this with a tool other than the $400 option. Will these work to pull the ABS ring off without damage, and press everything back together?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axle-Beari...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Axle-Beari...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

If you've done this project in the past, what tool did you use? Anyone have a loaner they would part with for a couple weeks?

Thank you!
-Rob

What he said above. Dude, you don't want to mess with them. Take the axles out (easy), take the parts with you and find a differential or machine shop do it. They can be finicky and very easy to F up. It's just one of those things you pay someone to do.

 

[RivMan]

What he said above. Dude, you don't want to mess with them. Take the axles out (easy), take the parts with you and find a differential or machine shop do it. They can be finicky and very easy to F up. It's just one of those things you pay someone to do.

I can appreciate that it's not something most would tackle, but I'm the type of person that has never paid the dealer for anything more than mounting / balancing tires and alignments. I have a press, so I just need to buy or build the special tool.

Most recently I tackled a frame-off restoration on my K5 on a whim. I'm not afraid of projects like this, just need some feedback on whether the tools I'm looking at are the right ones.

Thanks
-Rob

 

[fdbyrne]

I used one very much like the first one you linked to when I did my 1st gen Tacoma. Worked great.

When I needed to do my 4th gen 4Runner I used it again. The holes weren't in the right location so I had to drill new ones. Also, the metal was so thick that I could only get the nuts onto the bolts a few threads deep. They were shallow enough that I was scared to proceed but I did and it worked.

FYI, don't even think about doing this without at least a 20 ton press. It took me everything my 20 ton press had plus some heat to get the old bearings off.

All in all, with the right tools it isn't that hard. The worst part by far was getting the drum brake mechanism reassembled. That was a real ***** with the little room you have to work in.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

I can appreciate that it's not something most would tackle, but I'm the type of person that has never paid the dealer for anything more than mounting / balancing tires and alignments. I have a press, so I just need to buy or build the special tool.

Most recently I tackled a frame-off restoration on my K5 on a whim. I'm not afraid of projects like this, just need some feedback on whether the tools I'm looking at are the right ones.

Thanks
-Rob

Yeah, I get it. I've done a V8 swap in my truck and 95% of the rest minus locker/regear and these bearings. I don't let anyone touch my truck and I'm very mechanically inclined. I've come to the point in life where some things are easier to just pay someone as long as it's not a dealer and it's a decent price.

Nice project...mine was a 63 Triumph TR4 ground up/frame off/engine rebuild resto. Every nut and bolt replaced. Only thing I didn't do was bodywork and paint.

 

[gm350reratliff]

Just looking at the links, the first one is the one you want to go with. When I did mine, I ended up taking the axle shafts/bearings to a dealer because I couldn't find anyone with the correct tool nor could I get one in time to do it myself. IIRC, they only charged me $90 to press bearings on both sides, I supplied everything they needed.

It was funny when they called and said my 4runner was ready to pick up and they even washed it for me, lol.

 

[RivMan]

So I ended up taking these to the dealer. I provided all the parts, and they charged me two hours labor to swap both sides. $275 just in labor.

Book time is listed at 2 hours per side, so I guess it wasn’t as bad as it could be.

Next time I’ll buy the tools!

-Rob

 

[RivMan]

So I ended up taking these to the dealer. I provided all the parts, and they charged me two hours labor to swap both sides. $275 just in labor.

Book time is listed at 2 hours per side, so I guess it wasn’t as bad as it could be.

Next time I’ll buy the tools!

-Rob

Six years later, it's next time!

Anyone have a recommendation for a tool for this project?

Thanks
-Rob

 

[MikeinNH67]

I've seen videos with folks using something like in the link below. There's cheaper versions too but may be low quality.

Wheel Bearing Puller Toyota 4Runner FJ Tundra Tacoma & more + 2 Inner Race Tools | eBay

 

[inscarguy]

There's an another option. Dorman makes complete axle shaft with bearing, backing plate, hub, hardware etc. The only thing you have to change over is the e-brake parts. It's all a self contained unit. I just got one for my '06.

 

[alia176]

Six years later, it's next time!

Anyone have a recommendation for a tool for this project?

Thanks
-Rob

Here's a video of that special tool in action and can be purchased from eBay. It's made by a guy named Duane. I used it on my daughter's 3rd gen 4runner and it's awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-c2x3F8DU4&ab_channel=TimmyTheToolman

next question I have why new wheel bearings only after six years? That seems awfully premature for a quality set of bearings. Do you regularly dunk your rig in water or something? Wheel spacers too thick and putting extra leverage on the bearings?

 

[R4Adventure]

I can vouch for the tools that Duane sells. Top quality stuff and great service. Anything else is a cheap knock off.

Rear Axle Bearing Puller Toyota 4Runner FJ Lexus GX460/470 Tacoma | eBay

I used these last year to replace the rear wheel bearings. Made the job super easy. If you have access to a press, this is a no brainer.

 

[chroad]

If you’re near Birmingham, AL, I’ll sell you mine. I bought it to do mine bearings thinking they were my problem but they weren’t. It’s still in the box where I bought it from Duane from his eBay listing.

 

[RivMan]

Here's a video of that special tool in action and can be purchased from eBay. It's made by a guy named Duane. I used it on my daughter's 3rd gen 4runner and it's awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-c2x3F8DU4&ab_channel=TimmyTheToolman

next question I have why new wheel bearings only after six years? That seems awfully premature for a quality set of bearings. Do you regularly dunk your rig in water or something? Wheel spacers too thick and putting extra leverage on the bearings?

Thanks, all! I'll pickup that eBay tool.
[MENTION=119796]alia176[/MENTION] - This is a different 4th gen 4runner than I had six years ago. As far as I can tell, these are the original bearings (175k miles) and one is leaking grease.

Thanks
-Rob

 

[MikeinNH67]

Are you sure it's grease and not diff fluid? Diff fluid has a strong scent and you are around the miles that the axle seals with start to fail and allow the fluid to drip out and down the back of the rotors and backing plate.

 

[RivMan]

Are you sure it's grease and not diff fluid? Diff fluid has a strong scent and you are around the miles that the axle seals with start to fail and allow the fluid to drip out and down the back of the rotors and backing plate.

Yeah, it's red sticky grease being channeled through the hole in the hub face.

-Rob

 

[AuSeeker]

Yeah, it's red sticky grease being channeled through the hole in the hub face.

-Rob

There shouldn't be any grease...red or otherwise coming out of the rear axle...unless a previous owner or bad mechanic packed grease in and around a leaking seal to try and stem the flow of leaking diff fluid to rip off the owner or the owner trying to sell the vehicle!!

The bearings are sealed bearings and the only leaking that should ever occur IF the axle seals has gone bad will be diff fluid.

 

[RivMan]

There shouldn't be any grease...red or otherwise coming out of the rear axle...unless a previous owner or bad mechanic packed grease in and around a leaking seal to try and stem the flow of leaking diff fluid to rip off the owner or the owner trying to sell the vehicle!!

The bearings are sealed bearings and the only leaking that should ever occur IF the axle seals has gone bad will be diff fluid.

I guess you're correct, it is gear oil leaking past the failed axle seal. They will leak out of the seal, and into a "cup" on the axle shaft. That cup is designed to channel the gear oil away from the brakes, out of a hole in the rear brake rotor.

Skip to 5:30 on this video for an explanation on that oil deflector: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paes641GxAE

-Rob