Toyota rear axle bearing replacement 101

[SamiFlyer]

I saw Canadian Zuk`s birfield replacement thread and figured I`d contribute something too.

Here`s a way to replace the rear bearings in that Toyota rear axle of yours. By the time us Zuk guys get ahold of one of these, they have a bunch of miles on them and replacing the bearings and seals are a good idea. There are several different methods to doing this and while the manual will tell you to go get SST this and SST that (Special Service Tools) other people will just hammer the axle onto a hard surface (usualy the concrete floor in the garage) but I think my method is more middle of the road and can be done with tools usualy found in most decent DIY garages. I admit that SSTs are nice but they aren`t absolutely neccessary. However, smashing your axleshaft on concrete is downright bootyfab!

Start with an unwanted rear axle and cut the tubes off the center housing and weld them together to make your own SST. In this case I used a pre `86 rear axle as I tend to keep the wider `86 and up ones for my 4Runner but it doesn`t really matter which one you use. If you don`t have a spare axlehousing, steal one off your buddy. I would venture to guessthat if you are advanced enough to swap a Toy axle under your Zuk, you know at least two guys who have a spare sitting behind their garage/shop. If not, then stop now and rear the next thread.:thefinger Keep the center section. You can use it to make a 3rd member holder for setting up ring&pinions or maybe make your own Toy 8"/Dana 60 hybrid.

After removing the axle from your good axlehousing, mount it into your homemade tool just like it was in the original one.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/brng%20removal%20tool.jpg
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/removing%20rear%20brng%202.jpg

Just a simple puller will do the job.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/removing%20rear%20brng.jpg

No damage to anything whatsoever.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/brng%20removed.jpg

Make sure you clean the seal surface or else the seal will kink and not seat properly. (also a good time to free up your emergency brake levers if they are stiff)

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/clean%20seal%20surface.jpg

It should seat like this. Look for kinking that will fawk up the seal if you try and press a new bearing in.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/seating%20the%20seal%201.jpg
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/seating%20the%20seal%202.jpg


At this point you really need a press. I cannot stress the importance of not hammering the new bearing in with the biggest hammer you can find. Take it to a shop if you have to.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/new%20brng%20going%20in.jpg

You can use a big socket to start it only because a press will not transmit an impact force to push it in.......

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/new%20brng%20going%20in%202.jpg

...... but you should use the old bearing because obviously it is the proper size and who cares what happens to it anyways.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/new%20brng%20going%20in%203.jpg

Next step is to press the axle back in.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/pressing%20the%20axle%201.jpg
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/rear%20axle%20bearing%20replacement/pressing%20the%20axle%202.jpg

And once the axle is properly seated you`re ready to take it out of the tool and bolt it nack into your axlehousing. Of course the beer is optional if you`re alone but most likely mandatory if you get a friend to help you! :thefinger

Sean :D

[Canadian_zuk]

Good job!
Nice SST, I'm gonna have to make one. I remeber, are the splined ends on the rear axle tapped like the birf stubs? If they are, you could easily use that tool to pull the axle onto the new bearings as well.

[SamiFlyer]

Good job!
Nice SST, I'm gonna have to make one. I remeber, are the splined ends on the rear axle tapped like the birf stubs? If they are, you could easily use that tool to pull the axle onto the new bearings as well.

Unfortunately they aren`t. They do have a small beveled recess (probably when from when it was machined) but no threads. I suppose you could bring it to a machine shop and they might be able to drill and tap it but I would be worried about weakening the steel. That`s where most shafts snap in the first place so personaly I would just leave it alone.

Sean :)

[MLC]

so when u pressed the axle out did u press the bearing retainer off the same time ???....or maybe i missed that part

[SamiFlyer]

so when u pressed the axle out did u press the bearing retainer off the same time ???....or maybe i missed that part

Yes, the retaining clip has to be removed before the shaft will come out of the bearing.

I didn`t go into complete detail because I figure if you`re gonna attempt this repair, you most likely have a manual of some sort.

Sean :)

[MLC]

i realize the snap ring or retaining clip has to be removed ...i was woundering about the retainer that holds the bearing on the shaft ....the part the seal runs on ...did u remove it before u pushed the axle out or did it all come off together ...

[SamiFlyer]

i realize the snap ring or retaining clip has to be removed ...i was woundering about the retainer that holds the bearing on the shaft ....the part the seal runs on ...did u remove it before u pushed the axle out or did it all come off together ...


Ok I think I know what you`re asking. In the fourth picture, you can see the groove that the retaining clip rides in. That is the only thing that prevents the shaft from coming through the bearing. (that and the interference fit) In a way, that also prevents the bearing from riding out of the hub. The rubber seal you see there sits in the hole and has a lip on the inside. Picture 7 shows the backside of the seal and the lip that the bearing sits against. The presence of the bearing essentially holds that seal in place. There are no other retainers of any kind.

Sean :)

[MLC]

this is the part i was woundering about....did u press this piece of with the bearing......all at once

[MLC]

this is what u'r inner axle seal runs on

[Depot]

When I did my axel bearings, I pressed off the retainer with the bearing one shot. Never used any special tools or nuthing.. just a PA press and a long piece of sched 40 pipe to press it back on with..... again, pressed bearing and retainer on 1 shot. Mind u, I didnt have backing plates any more since I went rear disk and that makes life a lot easier.

if ur replacing the seals and bearing then a tad of heat on the retainer and it comes off like butter, no need for a press even since they are interference fit.

gl

D

[SamiFlyer]

this is what u'r inner axle seal runs on

Ok I`m late I know. Sorry bud, evidently I didn`t know what you meant. It`s not your fault, I`m on holidays! :thefinger LOL.

Anyway, like Depot said, it comes off in one shot.

Sean :)

[MLC]

thanxs thats all i wanted to know ...lol...now i got to build me on of those things