4X4 Front Axle Bearing Replacement

It sure is cold in the shop today. Crank up that space heater, and get the mercury to stop hiding in the bottom of the thermometer. Hard to believe your tools can get that cold, huh?

Well, let's dig into your first repair order. It's a 1995 4Runner with a loud howling or screeching noise coming from the front end, heard while driving at any speed in 2WD or 4WD. The customer says it really got bad when the temperature dropped down into the 30s.

NOTE: Applicable only for 4X4 Trucks, 4Runners and T-100 models produced after August 1989

That noise your customer hears may be from the front spindle bushings. A new needle roller bearing and thrust bushing are available for use in place of the original bushing. This is a viable upgrade anytime you need to replace the stock factory bushings.

Here are the details: INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1.Remove the front axle bushings.

2.Install the needle roller bearing using Toyota Special Service Tool # 09620-30010, tool # 5 or equivalent bearing driver.

3.Install the thrust bushing using the appropriate bushing driver/installer.

4.Apply grease, Toyota Part Number 08887-80219 or its equivalent, in the following locations:

• Thrust bushing inner bore and frontal surface.
• Oil seal.
• Drive shaft where contact will be made.
  

PART NUMBER INFORMATION

After you have re-assembled everything, put the wheels on and torque the lug nuts. Hop in and stomp the brake pedal a few times. Remember the last time you didn't do that after having the calipers off? The pedal went to the floor; the vehicle didn't stop, but your heart almost did! Test-drive the vehicle again to make sure the customer's complaint has been solved.

Isn't it great when you can provide the customer with a modification that can solve their problem now and avoid a future one as well?

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