Front Wheel Bearing Replacement (3rd Gen Toyota 4runner & 1st Gen Toyota Tacoma)

Question....why cant this be done with the spindle on the truck?

Good video please wear safety glasses 👍

Should I replace as maintenance or wait until they go out? I'm at 385k, OG owner.

Nice!!! I love that you're teaching the kid some essential skills. 👍

No one seems to have asked the obvious question: Why not buy the whole assembly predone with all the bearings and races?I don't have a press and the associated press sleeves etc. It will be aftermarket and just getting all these tools to do just one bad bearing seems a bridge too far?

I had those Michelins. They were ok. Expensive. Quieter than the prior Bridgestones and Dunlops. Yoko Geo AT’s are equally quiet, better snow stopping, fewer dollars.

I just bought a 99 tacoma with attomatic transmission and manual hubs. I notice not many tacomas and 4 runners of this gen have manual hubs. Are the manual hubs more preferable and easier to work on?

Timmy, another awesome and helpful video! every time I need to work on my 4runner your page is my first stop! I have an 2001 2wd runner needing front bearing replacement. I cant seem to figure out if the 2wd needs inner and outer bearing seals. I've seen other vids for 2wd showing only 1 seal for the 2wd model. Any chance your familiar with the 2001 2wd runner front wheel bearing replacement ?

here is a good one for ya! does it mention anywhere in the FSM that the wheel hub NEEDS to be replaced with a new one along with the bearing? as in the Hub is a non-reusable part? This is what my local Yota dealer told me this past week and why the wheel on my taco has this minor wobbly knocking on the left front still. That the hub was not replaced along with the OEM bearing years ago after it had a china-made bearing fail in 5k miles after install. I think this shop put the OEM bearing in backwards is why it is still knocking like at the beginning of the video here. but IDK yet!
The dealer service dept said the hub on these has to be replaced with the bearing, this hub has an MSRP of over 200$ !! I've also been told by some other places (firestone and another yota specialty shop) that you have to replace the hub when you replace the bearing... its all very confusing!

great video as always, question though, I am trying to find a pipe or something to push the 3 and 3 quarters outter race after i get the snap ring out. What did you use and where do you suggest i get it? thanks in advance!

What is it cost if I take both spindles into a shop assembled and have them do the work there

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for your video. Very thorough and helped me tremendously with first time at a wheel bearing swap.

Good video. I feel like you are using a little too much grease. One problem with doing that is that you can have grease trapped between the bearing and the knuckle preventing the bearing from seating fully as grease does not compress.

Put the bearing and the hub in the freezer and you almost don’t need a shop press when installing.

Tim! I changed the wheel bearing last week on my 2004 Tacoma 4x4.
After watching your video about 5 times and a few others I decided it was doable for a DYI person like myself.
Had my PC on my work bench following every single step.
Picked up a used 12-ton press on Offer Up for $60.
It made the work so much easier rather than taking it to a shop risking it not having it done right.
I really appreciate all the details you talk about and then the write up with parts and tools you recommend.
Watching your videos got me into the Milwaukee ecosystem.
I’ve done a few jobs using your videos & purchased similar tools you recommend.
You are my wing-man mechanic when I work on my rig.
Is PayPal the only way to buy you a beer or do you have a different method?
THANKS AGAIN!!

Hey Tim, how would I get the complete bearing hub assembly for a 2004 Tacoma 4x4? I cant find it anywhere. Thanks!!

Great informative video, only NEVER use wood in a press!

Hey Tim thanks for the video. I just did this job on my 01 tacoma. Put it all back together and took it on a test drive and it went out of alignment?

What happens if i installed the bearing backwards silver side in?

Tim, I love these videos. The fact that you’re passing on knowledge to future generations is awesome! You rock brother! 4 runner is getting close to 400k, and I love working on my rig :)

I did everything to the t and my hub came out really stiff is that normal? Everything was brand new

For big azz tires i like to roll it on my feet and i can lift with my feet to alighn it WHEN IM WORKING ON THE GROUND

Also helps to line up everything before lifting lug stud at 12 o clock rim opening 12 o clock aswell

Damn them rotors look like they got a shimmy timmy

Link to the blue bolt and sleeve press kit at beginning of video?

You saved my life!! I was thinking toyota is easy car to work with but not front bearing job for Tacoma!! Thanks Tim!!

Thanks man, great video. What's a good rule of thumb for the life of front wheel bearings on these rigs? I have a 99 4runner 4x4 and an 03 tacoma pre-runner 2x4 with 228,000 and 215,000 miles respectively. No issues yet... fingers crossed. Thanks

I did it! I watched your video many times, purchase the Harbor Freight press (20Ton) and steel plates from IMS metal here in San Diego. I’m having it aligned now. Thank you very much for your step by step guidance, complete with torque specifications. Mark 02 Tacoma,4/4,3.4ltr. I forgot to mention I used my press to press in and remove it move upper ball joints. And I replace lower ball joints during this time. That’s why I had to get it aligned.

Hey Tim and Sean! Looking for some guidance here. Took my knuckle to a shop and had them replace the wheel bearing with oem parts I purchased. Truck is still whining from 40mph-70mph. Didn’t replace the hub only the wheel bearing and related parts. Where could this whining be coming from? Thanks in advance, cheers!

I remember doing this on my ‘01 Forester a couple years ago, quite the experience. Looks like I’ll have to do the same for my 4Runner. Thankfully Tim has a video for everything on these cars. Awesome job as always Tim!

The press gods love you I work in a automotive machine shop and they don’t like me lol

You talk to much

Great video! Question though does anyone know if the bearing has lettering facing in or out ? The one I received isn’t black on one’s side

Any issues with the grease and the abs sensor “reader”?

How are you supposed to get that snap ring out, stuck in i even tried leaving it in the press and getting it. Now the stupid ears in the snap ring broke off. Thank you toyota for this stupid design

Just completed this. Thanks to you my man!!!!!

I really enjoy your instruction. Clear voice, Good illustration. Thank you so much. You are sharp!!

Is this for a 4 or 2 wd Toyota 4 runner?

Thank you for your video great details. Better than the toyota manuel.

This video was extremely detailed and very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make it.

Remove broken studs and replace with new bolt, no zip ties should ever be used for any bolt application

Sorry for the typo

If the. Earring is just starting to go bad there won’t be any okay.

That’s the wrong way to check

Your the man very informative video’s me and my son getting it done thanks My friend.

Great information in this video... Reassembly: Toyota uses a thread locking material on the 4 bolts that mount from under lower ball joint.

thanks!!!!

where do you leave I need do its job

Fantastic video!! Takes me back to when I was turning wrenches.. got a basic question for you, how did the wheel speed sensors function with the greese on the teeth? Any errors or abs trouble codes? Thanks

If you own a Toyota 4x4 and put it in the mud regularly, this is a yearly or every two year job. I have a 97 Tacoma that has multiple wheel bearings, but with the right tires it will go almost anywhere. Great job Liam!!!!!!!!