Should I replace my front wheel bearings?

[eurasiaoverland]

'96 Hilux Surf (JDM 4Runner) with approx 150k.

I've stripped the front suspension in order to replace the ball joints and upper and lower wishbones, so I've got the knuckle spindles off.

One front bearing sounds fine, the other sounds a little dry, though it is still smooth and the noise was not noticeable when the wheel was attached.

So I'm now thinking; as everything is apart, it would be a good time to replace both bearings (with new OEM Toyota parts). On the other hand, it means pressing the old ones out which will be a pain in the ass.

Is a dry bearing likely to fail within the next say 30k??

Thanks

 

[99Runnr]

Dry would mean heat, which is obviously going to accelerate wear. Hard to say without having hands on the parts. Was there any slop in the bearing? Best way to test, is with suspension assembled, grab top and bottom of the tire. Does it wobble?

You can obviously simulate this, but due to the size/weight of the wheel and tire, it's an excellent leverage point to test the bearing. With your location, you gotta decide if the wait/cost is worth it. They are pretty spendy if I remember correctly.

 

[Mellemel]

I just posted the same question before I saw yours ! Is your bearing noisy at all ? Mine is quiet but has a fair bit of play. Do you have the same braking vibes and pulling to one side ? Sounds as if we are in the same boat here. I'm at 384,000Km on a 97'.
I thought bearings had to get noisy before having to be replaced !

 

[99Runnr]

I just posted the same question before I saw yours ! Is your bearing noisy at all ? Mine is quiet but has a fair bit of play. Do you have the same braking vibes and pulling to one side ? Sounds as if we are in the same boat here. I'm at 384,000Km on a 97'.
I thought bearings had to get noisy before having to be replaced !

You have play in yours? Replace it.

Bald tires still roll fine until they burst or slide uncontrollably.

 

[nevada]

'96 Hilux Surf (JDM 4Runner) with approx 150k.

I've stripped the front suspension in order to replace the ball joints and upper and lower wishbones, so I've got the knuckle spindles off.

One front bearing sounds fine, the other sounds a little dry, though it is still smooth and the noise was not noticeable when the wheel was attached.

So I'm now thinking; as everything is apart, it would be a good time to replace both bearings (with new OEM Toyota parts). On the other hand, it means pressing the old ones out which will be a pain in the ass.

Is a dry bearing likely to fail within the next say 30k??

Thanks

if it were me, I would replace them. especially the one that is dry/making noise.

im not sure about the shops there, but around here it would be $40-50 to have them swap the bearing.


to answer the last question, I would say yes. if it is truly dry, it would fail in much less time than that.

 

[JayRolla]

If it was me.

Solid = let her go

Play = Replace

Dry/Noise = Would have to hear myself

Either way go with OEM bearings and seals.

 

[Mellemel]

I have just been out and jacked mine up and when I spin the wheel there is a click at the same spot, I think could be a broken bearing roller perhaps ! The play is not always apparent, it depends which position the wheel is in. Would you agree on this diagnosis ?

 

[99Runnr]

I have just been out and jacked mine up and when I spin the wheel there is a click at the same spot, I think could be a broken bearing roller perhaps ! The play is not always apparent, it depends which position the wheel is in. Would you agree on this diagnosis ?

Yes. My wheel bearing's failed (made noise) under side load in sweeping corners. Once removed, the slop was different at varied degree's of rotation.