Rear axle bearings

[Spook50]

When I do the rear disc conversion, I'm going to actually pull out the axle shafts so I can remove the backing plates without destroying them. I figure while I'm at it (don't they all start this way? ) I'll replace the oil seals and the bearings as well. Looking in my FSM, it looks like you have to pack the bearing, install it, then the oil seal goes in outboard of the bearing. Is this right? I would think that the gear oil would wash the grease away from the bearing in short order, or is that okay to happen with these bearings?

 

[2mbb]

On my '85 FJ60, starting from outboard working inward, it's wheel flange, oil seal, wheel bearing. The wheel bearing is lubricated with the differential oil. The wheel bearing doesn't get "packed" AFAIK, unless it some light grease inteneded to get washed away once the diff oil gets there. When I replaced mine, I didn't do any packing, I just pounded them in followed by the oil seal.

You probably know this, but getting the bearings out can be a real pain. There's a Toyota SST. I used a big slide hammer that I rented, but it was still a lot of work--the slide hammer was half-way broken/stripped. If you remove the third member (by that time it's just a few more bolts) you can push them out from the other side with a long piece of pipe through the axle housing. And there might be a trick that involves busting the bearing up and then running a welded bead around what's left of the outer race to contract it...do a search for that procedure.

 

[WHITCHCOCK]

I just got doing this with an Aussie Locker install.

No big deal getting them out (slide hammer), take out the inner bearing carrier and the bearings in pieces, then the race itself. Now keep in mind that I had my third out and everything apart so I could clean and search for any bearing bits and pieces.

Make sure you order the OEM bearing for a 62 b/c the Koyo brand ones are about 1/4" shorter. I checked on the 3fe list and one guy had run the Koyos for 100k with no problems so may be the height is not critical, but the Koyo ones will leave a gap btw the bearing and the oil seal. To set the bearing, a friend welded up a SST from the old race and we ground it down a bit so it wouldn't get stuck.

Last buy an extra oil seal just in case, because they are super easy to dimple on install, guaranteeing they will leak.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

When I do the rear disc conversion, I'm going to actually pull out the axle shafts so I can remove the backing plates without destroying them. I figure while I'm at it (don't they all start this way? ) I'll replace the oil seals and the bearings as well. Looking in my FSM, it looks like you have to pack the bearing, install it, then the oil seal goes in outboard of the bearing. Is this right? I would think that the gear oil would wash the grease away from the bearing in short order, or is that okay to happen with these bearings?

Spook-I may be reading your question wrong, but you know the rear bearing does not have grease, right? The bearing is bathed in gear oil and that provides the lubrication it needs.

Pulling out the old bearing is quite a job with a slide hammer. Unless they are bad, you might just keep using them. They last a long time! If you do decide to replace, I agree with the post above-get a TOyota specific bearing and seal.

 

[Spook50]

Spook-I may be reading your question wrong, but you know the rear bearing does not have grease, right? The bearing is bathed in gear oil and that provides the lubrication it needs.

Pulling out the old bearing is quite a job with a slide hammer. Unless they are bad, you might just keep using them. They last a long time! If you do decide to replace, I agree with the post above-get a TOyota specific bearing and seal.

Well I was hoping that I could just pull it out to inspect it and then put it back in, but I suppose I may as well just replace it if the dealer can get (or has) the bearings and seals, especially if they're going to be damaged on removal. I knew the oil seal would need to be replaced by a new one, but wasn't sure about the bearing. As for the grease, the FSM simply says "apply MP grease, then reinstall bearing" I took this to mean that it gets packed, but since now I know it gets an oil bath, I'm wondering if the FSM says that to just make installation a bit easier or something?

Another question as far as axle shaft removal: Do you need to remove the pinion shaft and spacer before removing the axle shaft? I'm assuming yes, but I just wanted to make double sure.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Another question as far as axle shaft removal: Do you need to remove the pinion shaft and spacer before removing the axle shaft? I'm assuming yes, but I just wanted to make double sure.

Yes-You can't get the shaft out without doing that.

For the bearings, the one time I took a set out, I squirted them full of gear oil just befor I drove in the seal. Grease would work too.