PM Your Rig!

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

From time to time it is a good idea to do some PM (preventive maintenace) on your rig and check that everything is still OK. I am getting ready for a series of off road trips that will have me doing trails for 6 days straight so I am in the process of checking everything on the truck. Ya, I know its not a fun thing to do, but its also not so fun to be broke on the trail or the road to or from the trail!

Today, I found that my drivers side front wheel bearing is going bad. Unless I was doing this PM I would never have known. I will have it all fixed and back together in the morning, in time to start a Fabtech install this weekend ( http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12524 ) . Not how I planned on doing right now, but it would have sucked to have it happen far from home.

Just thought I would put it out there, as a lot of things that I have seen break on the trail could have been fixed before they caused the person to be stranded.

[4TACXOMA4]

Very good info. My driver's side wheel bearing was also going out, and the only reason I found it when I did was because I was getting new rims put on at Schwab, and they brought me out and showed me. Also, the only reason I was getting new rims was because I cracked one of my Weld alloys while wheelin'. Now I am paranoid and started checking stuff all the time. I would hate to have my wheel fly off the truck while cruising down the highway, or the trail.

[Dick Foster]

If it's still IFS you're gonna really hate that job. Want a tip or two if you haven't started already?

[ShowStop]

Today, I found that my drivers side front wheel bearing is going bad.
Didn't you install new wheel bearings with the Tuff Country lift? How many miles have you put on the truck since installing the lift?

[ShowStop]

If it's still IFS you're gonna really hate that job. Want a tip or two if you haven't started already?
Remember the install he did of the Tuff Country 5" lift?
http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/lift/tuff%20country/tuffcountry.htm
I think Peter has a pretty good grasp of what he has to deal with.

[Dick Foster]

Damn it. How do you expect me to keep up with everyone's mods at my age. As long as he's been there before it's all good. I just try to warn everyone before they go off all half cocked and then run into that nasty little problem with their truck all torn apart.

[Dick Foster]

I'm surprized that those big ass bearings would wear out that soon. Maybe the bearing or the spindle didn't get pressed in quite right. I used the temp trick and made up a press tool to get them pressed in all nice and purdy like. I put a little antisieze on them while I was at it. The design leaves a lot to be desired as far as serviceability goes.

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

Didn't you install new wheel bearings with the Tuff Country lift? How many miles have you put on the truck since installing the lift?

The Tuff Country lift came with new bearings that TC put in there. I just had to press the hubs in.

I was very curious about the cause of the failure, as the truck only just turned 40K and those bearings only have less than half of that mileage. When we took them apart they showed signes of mud/water intrusion (aka rust and gunk) and the guy asked me if I ever take my truck into the water or mud :rolleyes: Gee... what is he talking about, I dont go into the mud..... Oh well, you want to play, you have to pay.

[Dick Foster]

The Toyota bearings are sealed Timken units, they should not have gone out that fast. I swapped bearings from a Lousiana truck just because. That truck had seen pleanty of water. I won't say who's truck it was so as not to drag up bad old memories but it had had it's share of mud and water before I got the knuckles and stuff and the bearings were still sound when I changed them. I'm funny that way. I think something must have gone wrong with the install if your's went bad that fast and they are stock Toyta bearings. Either that or you got a bad bearing from the get go somehow. Those suckers should last for a long long time, Peter.

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

The Toyota bearings are sealed Timken units, they should not have gone out that fast. I swapped bearings from a Lousiana truck just because. That truck had seen pleanty of water. I won't say who's truck it was so as not to drag up bad old memories but it had had it's share of mud and water before I got the knuckles and stuff and the bearings were still sound when I changed them. I'm funny that way. I think something must have gone wrong with the install if your's went bad that fast and they are stock Toyta bearings. Either that or you got a bad bearing from the get go somehow. Those suckers should last for a long long time, Peter.

They were not Timkens, they were aftermarket whatevers that TC uses, as they were already in the TC knuckles. I play in the mud so much that I am not terribly suprised.

[Dick Foster]

Replace them with the Toyota Timken bearings this time. I think they were something like $50 each but it was a long time ago and I am foggy on prices after I've bought plus I get a little hook up at the dealership. When you put them in this time, especially the spindle, use the hot/cold trick and put a little antiseize in there too. They should slip right in that way with just a small shop press. Unfortunately getting the old ones out is the real bitch. If you still have the backing plates, it's helpful just to cut them in two places and make them two piece plates so you don't have to fight them in the press. One cut in the narrow front part beween the bolts and one cut across the wide rear part right in the middle again between the two bolts. Then make up some thin metal strips to attach the rear parts together if you put them back on. You're probably gonna need some new brass retention nuts so don't forget those and new seals too. I made a tool for that damn nut along with a seal install tool. The last I saw of it, I gave it to Chuck and AJ for safe keeping. Load only knows if it's around anymore. It could still be up at their mom's place in the garage.

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

Replace them with the Toyota Timken bearings this time. I think they were something like $50 each but it was a long time ago and I am foggy on prices after I've bought plus I get a little hook up at the dealership. When you put them in this time, especially the spindle, use the hot/cold trick and put a little antiseize in there too. They should slip right in that way with just a small shop press. Unfortunately getting the old ones out is the real bitch. If you still have the backing plates, it's helpful just to cut them in two places and make them two piece plates so you don't have to fight them in the press. One cut in the narrow front part beween the bolts and one cut across the wide rear part right in the middle again between the two bolts. Then make up some thin metal strips to attach the rear parts together if you put them back on. You're probably gonna need some new brass retention nuts so don't forget those and new seals too. I made a tool for that damn nut along with a seal install tool. The last I saw of it, I gave it to Chuck and AJ for safe keeping. Load only knows if it's around anymore. It could still be up at their mom's place in the garage.


Yes, I got a Timken bearing from Toyota and it is all done.

[Janster]

You guys/gals with trailers........

Don't forget to maintain your trailers too. When was the last time you repacked the bearings on your trailer??? Checked the brake shoes??
Charged your trailer battery?

My trailer axles are Dexter axles and I found some really good information on parts and service work ........

http://www.dexteraxle.com/

I just finished repacking my trailer bearings - after 3 years of usage. They're supposed to be done every year or 12,000 miles. They didn't look too bad - so I was really relieved.

Happy Wheelin!

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

You guys/gals with trailers........

Don't forget to maintain your trailers too. When was the last time you repacked the bearings on your trailer??? Checked the brake shoes??
Charged your trailer battery?

My trailer axles are Dexter axles and I found some really good information on parts and service work ........

http://www.dexteraxle.com/

I just finished repacking my trailer bearings - after 3 years of usage. They're supposed to be done every year or 12,000 miles. They didn't look too bad - so I was really relieved.

Happy Wheelin!

Yes, and dont forget the spare tire for the trailer. A few months back we had a person miss a run because he got a flat and had forgoten the spare all together.

[mr.trd]

Very good info. My driver's side wheel bearing was also going out, and the only reason I found it when I did was because I was getting new rims put on at Schwab, and they brought me out and showed me. Also, the only reason I was getting new rims was because I cracked one of my Weld alloys while wheelin'. Now I am paranoid and started checking stuff all the time. I would hate to have my wheel fly off the truck while cruising down the highway, or the trail.
Not to change the subject but, you cracked a Weld....what the hell did you hit. I have smacked my Welds so many time and sure that I bent or broke them quite a few times, but they are still straight, just really beat up around the edges, all four of them. I don't think that I will ever own another brand of wheels unless they are cheap steelies that you just get a new one to replace it with.....