Jeremy556
New member
Was this under warranty? I'd be pissed if they misdiagnosed which bearing it was and I had to pay for two. They're usually pretty easy to diagnose with a stethoscope.
Wheel bearings go bad?
- Thread starter adam2562
- Start date
Was this under warranty? I'd be pissed if they misdiagnosed which bearing it was and I had to pay for two. They're usually pretty easy to diagnose with a stethoscope.
jbstrd
New member
I am digging up an older thread here. I just took my 4Runner into the dealer to have a noise in the left front wheel checked out. It occurs between 30-35 MPH and I can feel the vibration through the steering wheel. My rig only has 15,600 miles on it and the noise has been occurring for the past couple thousand miles.
I just got a call from the service advisor that both front wheel bearings are bad and they are going to replace them under warranty.
As you can tell from my sig, my rig is lifted with offset wheels and larger tires. I am glad they didn't hesitate to cover this under warranty, but what is the deal with all of these premature wheel bearing failures?
I have not wheeled my rig at all and I have very few miles compared to others. I wheel the piss out of my Tacoma and have only replaced my front wheels bearings once with 170k on the clock. Hope this is just a fluke thing. Does anybody know if they have beefed up the replacement wheel bearings? I highly doubt it, but I am wondering if I will be in the same scenario in another 15K miles.
Thanks for any input.
I just got a call from the service advisor that both front wheel bearings are bad and they are going to replace them under warranty.
As you can tell from my sig, my rig is lifted with offset wheels and larger tires. I am glad they didn't hesitate to cover this under warranty, but what is the deal with all of these premature wheel bearing failures?
I have not wheeled my rig at all and I have very few miles compared to others. I wheel the piss out of my Tacoma and have only replaced my front wheels bearings once with 170k on the clock. Hope this is just a fluke thing. Does anybody know if they have beefed up the replacement wheel bearings? I highly doubt it, but I am wondering if I will be in the same scenario in another 15K miles.
Thanks for any input.
BrianSD_42
New member
What is with the wheel bearings on some of these 5th gens?
I'm at 230K miles original wheel bearings on my 97.
I'm at 230K miles original wheel bearings on my 97.
Jeremy556
New member
Over sized/weight tires and wheel spacers/offset aftermarket wheels?
BrianSD_42
New member
Ummm I've been running aftermarket HEAVY BFG TA Load E tires for nearly 5 years then about 2 years ago I switched to General Grabber AT2 Load D tires.
What evidence is there that heavier tires make a wheel bearing go bad? (I guess maybe they make 5th gen wheel bearing go bad which could be legit)
Why isn't it happening to 3rd gens?
I've had my truck going on 12 years now since ~ 68K miles. I'm now at 231K miles.
Isn't it just as likely that the wheel bearings for a 5th gen CAN BE crap?
I only commented on this thread because I have literally never seen a wheel bearing thread in the 3rd gen section. I'm sure it has happened but I imagine its pretty rare.
[ EDIT : 8,000 posts horrrraaayyyYy! ]
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Jeremy556
New member
What sizes?
4th gen bearings are the same as 5th gens, perhaps they are not as oversized for the job as 3rd gens. I don't see too many failures with stock size wheels and tires.
Physics says that heavier tires will wear out bearings faster.
I'm running 33" MTRs (58lb) and more offset wheels than stock, just about 102K miles now on the original wheel bearings. I figure I'll be replacing them sometime soon, but no signs of failure, yet.
Jetboy
New member
My 3rd gen needed them at 210k. I had 35s on my 84 truck for 210k. Now have 39s on my land cruiser. Front wheel bearings are now unit bearings so they might be less durable. I think theare smallert too. The rears are the same. Big tires dont seem to be an issue. And imo 33s are not even close to big enough to be a problem. Possibly the weight is the problem? Id guess that the fronts might be setup loose for mpg and a percentage of them are failing as byproduct.
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Intruder
New member
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ guess they just don't make em like they used to. I've known 3rd gen drivers who've had to replace theirs and it seems to be an annual thing for Tacomas.
BrianSD_42
New member
The thing is I actually think I may have to replace mine soon but that will be at 230k plus.
For over 5 years I ran 31.5" BFG TA and now I'm running 33" Grabber AT2s.
I guess I was just shocked that this part is failing at 50k or less for some people.
For over 5 years I ran 31.5" BFG TA and now I'm running 33" Grabber AT2s.
I guess I was just shocked that this part is failing at 50k or less for some people.
Intruder
New member
I've had to replace my driver's side twice now at 110k km but I'm pretty sure it has a lot to do with what I do to my truck. Almost every trail around here has water crossings and/or large mud puddles that you can't avoid.
Jetboy
New member
They are sealed bearings. Unless you're letting it sit in water for long periods of time it should not be a big problem. Are you seeing effects of water in the old bearings? Considering what these go through in places like Africa every day, a few trips to the woods every month isn't outside the design parameters of this vehicle. Its actually pretty wet in much of Africa. Did you have the alignment set outside factory specs? Id guess something is funky like that or the preload is wrong.
