Replaced Rear wheel bearing and still have play

N

Nathan97Limmited

New member
Hello,

I have looked every where and no one seems to have the same problem. Any input is appreciated. So got a 1997 4runner two years ago and the passenger side rear wheel bearing was bad or so I thought, there was a bunch of play. So I replaced the wheel bearing using Timmy the tool mans videos and still have a bunch of play on at the time I thought it was a bad new bearing so I replaced the wheel bearing again "this time with one from Toyota" and still had a bunch of play. So I went to the junk yard found one with very little to no play and put it on mine (axle wheel bearing Abs ring backing plate, everything just kept it together and put it into mine). And I still have play! but slightly less than after the wheel bearings I put on. After changing the tires I noticed I had a bunch of play again so just last weekend I tried to change the wheel bearing for a third time another wheel bearing from Toyota and I still have a bunch of play did everything by the book and torqued to spec. The only other thing I tired was grabbing the drum from the side (drivers side) and putting it on the passenger side and it didn't changed anything. The driver side rear wheel has Zero play and I've yet to change it. Could it be the rear differential/ 3rd Member? It makes no noise while driving and theirs no metal in the fluid. Thoughts?
 
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Is the axle housing damaged (where the bearing sits) or the bearing cup damaged? Is the actual bearing pressed all the way on? How tight were the retaining ring and abs tone ring? Since everything is a press fit you might have something that is loose.

Is the actual axle loose or is it the drum?
 
Sorry I should have said they play is up and down and side to side I don't remember there being any in and out. And the bearing I believe is pressed in all the way followed the video and got it on far enough to put the C clip back on. The housing seems fine but it did not take much for the bearing to come out of the housing but this is also the new housing and axle since the first time i did the Wheel bearing. I think the axle, when the tire is on you can feel and hear a clunk side to side and up and down
 
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It sounds like the actual axle housing where the bearing outer race sits is worn, egged….


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I've tried two different housings the first one i tried to put a small shim in with no luck but maybe. They are crazy expensive from the dealership for a new one. I'm aware the bearing doesn't sit here. Only photo I got from the last job I did.
 

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so you even tried with a junkyard complete unit and had the same issue. How does it compare to the other side ?
 
Sounds like an egged out bearing cup.

If the side with play is swapped over the the opposite side and doesn't have play, then it only leads to one possible conclusion.

Edit to remove bad info lol.
 
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2TH4IST said:
Sounds like an egged out axle housing. Probably best bet to swap out an whole housing from a junkyard.

If the side with play is swapped over the the opposite side and doesn't have play, then it only leads to one possible conclusion.

If you have a spare bearing you can slide it into the housings hole to see if there is any play, like to check if it's out of round. Or check it with a bore gauge or dial caliper.
Click to expand...


Sliding a new bearing into the axle housing hole and looking for the play between the OD of the bearing and the housing would tell the story.

When I have to remove my axles I must reverse the drum and use it as a slide hammer to get the axles out of the housing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I did noticed when removing the bearing from the housing after I got the axle out that it basically fall out like I just hit it twice with a hammer and it came out BUT the same thing happened to Timmy the tool man in his the video. Unfortunately there is no 3gen 4runners at the junk yard anywhere near me I'm up in Edmonton Alberta Canada. A new housing or "CASE, REAR AXLE BEARING; RETAINER, REAR AXLE BEARING, OUTER, LEFT; RETAINER, REAR AXLE BEARING, OUTER, RIGHT" Part Number: 4242135030 from Toyota is $130 USD. I thought it might be the housing too but this is my second housing the original one I changed the bearing on and the second one that I took from the junk and also changed the bearing on Still had the same issue but who's to say that they both are not good anymore. Any thoughts before I buy a housing and hope it works
 
Nathan97Limmited said:
But I thought the bearing does not sit in there? Like it just sits in the housing and and on the axle and the ABS ring just spins in that space?
Click to expand...

Holy smokes, I need to be more careful posting stuff when I'm beat tired. Sorry you are correct, the abs tone ring resides in the void. I'll go back and correct my post so if anyone comes across it they won't be confused.

The bearing sits only in the cup. So either the cup is the issue, or there is an issue with the retainers and abs tone ring or the c clip isn't seated or an out of spec bearing.

On the axle housing side of things, do the bolt holes or alignment flange show any signs of damage?
 
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Alright so I may have been lazy and just replaced the bearing housing with a new one. NO LUCK, still have the exact same play. At this point I've gone through 2 axles 3 or 4 bearings and 2 housings. I am stumped. Thoughts Anyone? Could the only thing that it could be is the 3rd member / Rear Diff? I'll Add a video of the play when I get a chance.
 
Holy smokes. I was hoping for a good result from your replacement parts. I checked both of mine yesterday as I'm doing a rear disc brake swap. Zero play.

I'm stumped as well. Maybe could be a bal lot/batch of wheel bearings? Did you get the bearings from Toyota or ebay/amazon? If it's the later could be low quality out of spec bearings.

Was there any damage on the axle when you pressed off the original bearing? Did you cut or press off the retaining ring/abs tone ring?

Did you torque the 4 bolts to 48 ftlbs?
 
Hello! Two bearings from NAPA one Bearing from Toyota one bearing from Rock Auto but its the same one as the Toyota. Pressed off the bearing and the axles seems fine to me. It seems this stuff always happens to me!
 
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