GX470 wheel bearing/CV axle/lift question

[Swoopreme]

Hello all,

Longtime lurker, spent some time trying to find an answer to this question on here and somehow couldn’t get it. Here it is-

I lifted my 2006 GX470 about 2 years ago with a stage 2 Ironman 2” lift kit. Since then the wheel bearings have gone bad twice. I’m thinking (based on threads here) that it might be the CV axle that needs to be replaced due to the lift. Would a CVJ moderate lift axle allow for a better angle and stop my wheel bearings from going bad every year?

My fuel economy went from about 17-18 (directly after I went with the Ironman 2” lift and 33s) to about 10-12 now. I’m not sure if that is entirely due to this wheel bearing/cv axle issue or if there is something else going on? Thought I’d add that in, in case it helps diagnose these issues.

Sorry if this has already been answered or posted but have been have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what’s going on and would LOVE to find an answer from you good people

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rednexus]

The wheel bearings in these should last around 100K and should not be affected by the lift. If they are going out more frequently than that it could be a combination of cheap Chinese wheel bearings and over-torquing the axle nut. You should be using a legit Koyo/NSK bearing and torquing the axle nut to 173 ft lbs. If it's getting torqued more than that (like putting an impact on the axle nut and going to town), it can cause the wheel bearing to live a shortened life, particularly if it's a generic bearing.

The CV axles should also have no effect on the wheel bearings or the MPG. My rig is up close to 3" above stock in the front and I run stock CVs with All-Pro high-angle boots. So, you really don't need aftermarket CVs in these rigs.

Regarding the MPG, note that 33s will make your speedometer and odometer around 7-8% off after lifting; this will also affect the MPG computer and will show the MPG being worse than it actually is (as you will have gone 7-8% further than the computer thinks). If you put on heavy 33s (C or E rated), and if they are an aggressive 33 (like a mud terrain), they can also knock off a few more MPGs. But it should get better than 10-12 - my rig with reasonably light 33s can get 17-18 on non-interstate speeds with a corrected speedometer.

 

[Swoopreme]

The wheel bearings in these should last around 100K and should not be affected by the lift. If they are going out more frequently than that it could be a combination of cheap Chinese wheel bearings and over-torquing the axle nut. You should be using a legit Koyo/NSK bearing and torquing the axle nut to 173 ft lbs. If it's getting torqued more than that (like putting an impact on the axle nut and going to town), it can cause the wheel bearing to live a shortened life, particularly if it's a generic bearing.

The CV axles should also have no effect on the wheel bearings or the MPG. My rig is up close to 3" above stock in the front and I run stock CVs with All-Pro high-angle boots. So, you really don't need aftermarket CVs in these rigs.

Regarding the MPG, note that 33s will make your speedometer and odometer around 7-8% off after lifting; this will also affect the MPG computer and will show the MPG being worse than it actually is (as you will have gone 7-8% further than the computer thinks). If you put on heavy 33s (C or E rated), and if they are an aggressive 33 (like a mud terrain), they can also knock off a few more MPGs. But it should get better than 10-12 - my rig with reasonably light 33s can get 17-18 on non-interstate speeds with a corrected speedometer.

Thank you do the info! Exactly what I was hoping for, I’m pretty good with motorcycle repair/maintenance but new to the world of cars and trucks. I’ll rethink the upgraded CV axle and stick to new wheel bearings, making sure it’s done right this time.

As for the MPG I’m using just the basic math (miles traveled/gallons filled) when I refill because I know the computer gets wonky with the lift/tires. I do have heavier 33s- C rated KO2s, but even so the 17-18 I was getting was after the lift and tires. Guess I gotta figure out what else is going on.

Thanks again for the response, highly appreciated!