http://4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/rear_axle/wheel_bearing/

Thanks to Eric Bibelheimer, and Joe Micciche for writing the above tech article. I finished replacing my rear wheel bearings this afternoon. No more grinding noise.

My driver side bearing was on its last leg and about to grenade any minute. Driver side took 3 tries to pound out the bearing and retainer. Passenger side took 2. It took me 1 1/2 hours to finish both sides. This is my first time replacing the rear wheel bearings and the procedure is not hard at all. No press for me, just basic hand tools and two 2"x2"x3/16" piece of square tube.

Congratulations! It's been a while since I did a rear wheel bearing replacement. In fact the last time I did it I was also a resident of the Bay Area and my truck was rust free. Now I live in the rust belt where all kinds of complications can pop up during a job like this all having to do with rusted parts. Consider yourself lucky to live where you do. -- Matt

I rebuilt my rear axle a few weeks ago and those outer axle bearings were a !@#$%.

I made my own SST to hold the bearing retainer plate and push the axle through the bearing. I used a peice of 2" DOM tube and a 1/4" thick plate to bolt to the bearing retainer....all a waste of time. My 12-ton press bent the 1/4" steel plate!!

I ended up having to cut the bearings off with an angle grinder (very craefully cut them off, I might add).

I'm not sure why they were so tough to get out. I don't live in the rust belt...and there was really no corrosion on the shafts.....they were just stuck.

What Erik does not tell you in that article is that neither of us does it that way anymore. The pictures were taken at my house and in the background there is a 20-ton press and Erik has since bought a press. That method works great and especially good to know if you blow a bearing on the trail. However, in the comfort of your own garage the press is so much eaiser. Erik made his SST from an old rear-end housing, I made mine from scrap steel and tubing I had laying around.

Idaho bearings dont come out the easy way either...i too have since made a SST with pre 85 rear housing.

The gentleman in this pic looks familiar....is this you OOP'S?



I went up to Slick Rock trail this weekend with my brother and a friend -3 vehicles in all. The 4Runner is a dream to drive now, smooth as butter. The only bad thing is my palm are still sore from the shock of pounding out the bearings.

Yep, in my younger years!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />