Front Wheel Bearings, Which is Best and Where to Buy

I have been searching and reading topics and posts here about front wheel bearings.

My truck is a 2010 Prerunner, so 2wd, 6 lug setup.

I have the special socket, a press, and the torque wrench, so current plan is to buy bearings and reuse my oem hubs.

So what is the current best bearing available? Where is the best place to purchase the bearings from?

Need seals and O rings, also, any info on where is best to get those?

Thanks

 

Koyo is reported to be the best by someone who built a lot of bearing/hub assemblies: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...front-bearing-assemblies.292490/#post-7346033

For seal and O-ring, Rock Auto if they have them.

 

NSK or Koyo bearings are OEM, seals are available aftermarket, but the hub o-ring is only availabe from dealer.

 

Supposedly, Timken and Koyo are the same company now. Any comments regarding Timken brand bearings and seals?

 

Here ya go many happy customers.



https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-press-service-4x4-prerunner.537080/

 

Not exactly what I was asking about, yes, he does sell complete assemblies. Fine for those unable to accomplish rebuilding the hubs themselves.

So I ask, what is the better bearings to buy and where is a good source for them that is reasonably priced.

Currently leaning towards Rock Auto and Timken bearings. Saves about $200 doing the task myself.

 

Timken or nsk off rocksuto. I’m in the same boat as you.

 

Thanks for the reply. Kind of surprised so few replies. Guessing many owners here now are merely parts changers and do not really work on their vehicles themselves. Oh well, Timken it will be.

 

lol

 

On 4x4's the savings isn't as big compared to prerunners, especially if you don't already own a press. And there is the risk that the housing is scored/damaged.

 

I pressed mine myself and bought OE bearings online from a dealer. I did this because I wanted to guarantee I wouldn't get counterfeits. OE is the best bet IMO.

 

So you don't consider doing our own repairs,maintenance or installs working on our own vehicles? You are basically "part changers" when you do your own repairs. For the convenience and lack of access to required tools, I prefer swapping whole assembles. Nothing wrong with either route for the same end result except that warranty likely better with a whole assembly bought from one vendor.

 

When I asked specifically about which bearings and a guy replies to buy complete assemblies, that to me indicates a person that merely changes parts. As I searched before starting this topic, quite often, that was the direction people took. Someone asks and they get the answer to buy assemblies. Add to this, there was one guy who ripped off a bunch of people after being highly recommended here.

There is a difference between doing repairs, maintenance and modifications. I hold no grudge that you bought and installed assemblies based on the reasons you mentioned. Sometimes that is just how it is. If a person has the tools needed, and the ability to replace the bearings themselves, there is no shame in that either.

Honestly, adding to replacing the bearings, I plan to repack them with Mobil 1 grease and believe they will go for ten years. I would like to install grease ports, but fear the grease may weep onto the discs and cause other issues.

As for warranty, pretty certain, but would need to double check but seem to recall it was one year for the bearings.

Yes, there are some here that are merely parts changers. Part A fits Part B and they tighten it up. No troubleshooting, no real technical merit, that is fine too. Downside is they try and offer up technical advice.

 

If you really did do the research like you say you did then all your question have been asked before and answered. Even in that link above for the complete assembly, the guy use OE bearings and his reasons. Use the same bearings and seals that he use.

*im a parts changer and proud of it*

 

On a prerunner, what is this special socket that you mention?

I did my front wheel bearings and didn’t need a special socket.

 

I *think* the special socket is for the 4x4. The 35mm socket.

I believe PreRunners dont have that 35mm nut. Only the 4 bolts that hold hub assembly to spindle.

 

Yeah that’s what I thought but OP has a prerunner and seeing as OP seems to be bashing people on this thread that he knows more about repairs with his passive-aggressive responses, I figured he’d enlighten us

 

On a prerunner, there's a giant nut that holds the bearing and hub together, since there's no CV stub shaft to hold it together. The special socket has 4 pegs that go in these 4 holes. You only need it if you are going to reuse your old hub. Since the OP lives in Florida, there shouldn't be an issue with rust and there's nothing wrong with pressing things apart and reusing his old hubs. For the average Joe that doesn't own a press or the special socket, it's more practical to buy complete assemblies. I own a 4WD and have a press. My truck came from Canada where they salt the roads. I bought complete assemblies because I knew my hubs would be rusty from the salt and it would be better to just put in everything new.




Here is the hub from my failed bearing. After I swapped assemblies, I pressed apart the bad one. The seal surface was rusty. I polished it up, but you can see it’s still not great. Installing complete assemblies was a wise choice for me.

 

Just keep in mind, unless you are fabricating new items every repair on a car is a part replacement. Every single one. So press a new bearing is the same parts changer as hub replacement. Jump down from the pedestal, you are a parts changer.

 

Yeah, I guess I'm a parts changer too. BUT I charge myself a lot less to do it than a professional mechanic would. With the money I save, I buy alcohol, tobacco and ammo.