wheel bearing and hub replacement w/o machine shop? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***plyr503*** · 11-23-2010, 06:42 PM

Anyone ever replaced their wheel bearings (front) at home without a press? I've got some pullers that look similar to the SST's in my FSM but since this is my daily driver I'd like to be as prepared as possible before I dive in on a weekend when the machine shops aren't open to bail me out

, so any advice would be awesome!

Donald · 11-23-2010, 08:56 PM

I have done it a few times using a rivet gun and some large impact sockets.
I now have a cheap press and, BOY!!.........what a difference. (Harbour Freight 12 ton press, bought on sale for $80)

Harbour Freight have a front wheel bearing puller kit that says you can pull the bearings without removing the steering knuckle. That is about $80 regular price, I think.
I have never tried that one.

You could probably find a complete steering knuckle with good bearings at your local salvage yard for a decent price.

eage8 · 11-23-2010, 09:35 PM

+1 I love my harbor freight press

I actually have their wheel bearing changing kit too, but I've never used it as designed, I just use the different sized pieces with the press.

you'll also need a race puller thing... to get the race off the actual hub.

If I were you I would take both the hubs off and take it somewhere with a press to have them pressed in and out. most of the cost is them removing the knuckle from the car.

rdyzz · 11-23-2010, 10:07 PM

i would not attempt it without a press. i'm sure you can make it work if your creative enough. any shop with a press should be able to do it not just a machine shop. transmission shops, dealerships. i remember it was somthing around $60 for the bearing $10-20 per seal. look to spend around $70-100 per side. i think you can buy a brand new spindle with a bearing installed for somthing like $200.

its good practice to change out the hub when replacing the bearing. if the hub is worn it could lead to vibration and cause premature bearing wear again.

eage8 · 11-24-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdyzz

i would not attempt it without a press. i'm sure you can make it work if your creative enough. any shop with a press should be able to do it not just a machine shop. transmission shops, dealerships. i remember it was somthing around $60 for the bearing $10-20 per seal. look to spend around $70-100 per side. i think you can buy a brand new spindle with a bearing installed for somthing like $200.

its good practice to change out the hub when replacing the bearing. if the hub is worn it could lead to vibration and cause premature bearing wear again.

are you talking about the hub (where the wheel bolts on) or the knuckle? I've never had either go bad on me... but I have heard of people having back knuckles, but I don't think it's nearly frequent enough to warrant replacing the knuckle every time.

***plyr503*** · 11-24-2010, 09:14 AM

Might just have to look into buying a press then........

eage8 · 11-24-2010, 09:24 AM

$130

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-...ess-33497.html

or you could get this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-fro...ers-66829.html

I use it with my press, but it's designed up be used by itself.

4doorGTS · 11-24-2010, 02:30 PM

I am lucky enough to have a few different size presses available to me and it makes life so much easier than trying to beat them in/out with a hammer and a race driver, so +3 for the press. just make sure you have the proper size adapters to drive the new bearing into the knuckle, and then for the hub into the bearing.