Rear axle shaft with bearinf assembly.

[avrguser]

Hi,

I need help to find assembled rear left axle shaft with bearing on it, maybe aftermarket. Found for GX and Tundra but not for my vehicle. I need for 2011 LX570. I bought wheel bearing and tried to change it but failed. I don't know what's wrong but I have pressed the new bearing on the axle shaft but c clip won't fit, only 1 mm needed and it won't go any further. Also, because of this I think I have over pressed the bearing and ruined everything. Thanks for any help.

 

[bloc]

Factory bearing or aftermarket?

There aren’t many of these things being parted out. In terms of getting yours back on the road soon I’m pretty sure you are better off just buying another bearing and trying again. Unless you’ve somehow damaged the axle shaft.. which a machine shop may be able to address.

If you need pics of the job and order of parts I documented mine from a while back:

Rear axle bearing change

Back again with something I hope will help some people eventually. I'll try not to make this too wordy, but there is a little background. I spent months tracking down a driveline noise and with the help of some board members and especially @CharlieS narrowed it down to a passenger side rear...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[avrguser]

Factory bearing or aftermarket?

There aren’t many of these things being parted out. In terms of getting yours back on the road soon I’m pretty sure you are better off just buying another bearing and trying again. Unless you’ve somehow damaged the axle shaft.. which a machine shop may be able to address.

If you need pics of the job and order of parts I documented mine from a while back:

Rear axle bearing change

Back again with something I hope will help some people eventually. I'll try not to make this too wordy, but there is a little background. I spent months tracking down a driveline noise and with the help of some board members and especially @CharlieS narrowed it down to a passenger side rear...

forum.ih8mud.com

It is factory bearing. How do I know if the axle shaft is damaged? I'm just afraid to ruin another bearing, those are not cheap. That's why I'd like to buy a whole thing ready to install.

 

[bloc]

It is factory bearing. How do I know if the axle shaft is damaged?

Thinking through this, the only way I think it could be damaged and cause your issue is if the shoulder the bearing stops against wasn’t flat. Or, your cone washer was too thick.. did you reuse that or get a new one? Original retaining collar? New?

Also spec of press are you using? (In tons)
Important: Did you press the bearing on first, then press the retaining collar on after? Or do it all at once?

 

[avrguser]

Thinking through this, the only way I think it could be damaged and cause your issue is if the shoulder the bearing stops against wasn’t flat. Or, your cone washer was too thick.. did you reuse that or get a new one? Original retaining collar? New?

Also spec of press are you using? (In tons)
Important: Did you press the bearing on first, then press the retaining collar on after? Or do it all at once?

Ok, so I will try to explain in detail and step by step. I got 20 ton brand new press from Harbor Freight. The bearing, retainer, washer and c clip are brand new and OEM. These are the part numbers according to the Lexus website:
42460-60030 bearing; 90208-A0001 washer, 42423-34040 retainer, c clip I can't find the part number right now but it's brand new and OEM, it just won't fit cause it literally needs like 0.5mm.

Before I started I cleaned the axle shaft with clean rag, used a little differential oil and then on the shiny part where the bearing goes used a red color wheel bearing grease from Valvoline. Pressed in the new bearing together with washer and retainer, it didn't go very snooth but I thought it's OK since the axle shaft isn't brand new.

At this point I have no clue how to tell if the bearing or axle shaft is damaged. When the bearing reached to the point where it is now I've pressed a couple of times more but it didn't move, just bent a metal bar that used on top of the wheel hub. I can spin the bearing but feels pretty tight to me, or maybe it's supposed to be like that, on top of the bearing everything looks OK to me. I don't know what to do. Can't put the c clip on it. Should I remove everything and try again? Should I buy a new bearing or even an axle shaft?

 

[avrguser]

I know it's hard to see, but there is the c clip on it and it won't go inside. It's enough room to fit fingernail but not the c clip.

 

[bloc]

Yeah, you’re supposed to press the bearing first then the retainer. Very likely your press is just stalling trying to handle all three components at once. You could try bringing it to a shop with a larger press.

Also when I said inspect for damage I meant with the bearing removed. I get that you’re trying to avoid that though.

My bearings were “firm” after assembly but not gritty at all.. very fluid/smooth like a new bearing should be.

 

[avrguser]

Yeah, you’re supposed to press the bearing first then the retainer. Very likely your press is just stalling trying to handle all three components at once. You could try bringing it to a shop with a larger press.

Also when I said inspect for damage I meant with the bearing removed. I get that you’re trying to avoid that though.

My bearings were “firm” after assembly but not gritty at all.. very fluid/smooth like a new bearing should be.

You wanna say that the press I got doesn't have enough power to press it all the way in? But in that case why it bent the metal bar but the bearing didn't move? So I didn't over pressed the bearing? I have inspected the axle shaft before I started, everything looked clean and smooth.

 

[bloc]

You wanna say that the press I got doesn't have enough power to press it all the way in? But in that case why it bent the metal bar but the bearing didn't move? So I didn't over pressed the bearing? I have inspected the axle shaft before I started, everything looked clean and smooth.

My HF 20-ton struggled with pushing just the bearings all the way on, and that was without the added load of the retaining collar.

So yes, with more info I suspect your press can’t handle the work, partly because it wasn’t assembled as specified. More press capacity could fix all of this. Or it might not. But easiest and cheapest thing to try at this point.

 

[avrguser]

My HF 20-ton struggled with pushing just the bearings all the way on, and that was without the added load of the retaining collar.

So yes, with more info I suspect your press can’t handle the work, partly because it wasn’t assembled as specified. More press capacity could fix all of this. Or it might not. But easiest and cheapest thing to try at this point.

I will definitely try if I will find the press somewhere. But how about the bearing itself? If it's stuck and you push it harder it may just bent the bearing? Isn't it too tight now? I cannot tell how it suppose to spin but it does spin and I there is no grinding sound or anything like that, it just feels tight.

 

[bloc]

I will definitely try if I will find the press somewhere. But how about the bearing itself? If it's stuck and you push it harder it may just bent the bearing? Isn't it too tight now? I cannot tell how it suppose to spin but it does spin and I there is no grinding sound or anything like that, it just feels tight.

As long as you are putting force on the inner race, not the outer, it shouldn’t impact the function of the bearing at all until you put enough force on the inner race to destroy it.

 

[avrguser]

As long as you are putting force on the inner race, not the outer, it shouldn’t impact the function of the bearing at all until you put enough force on the inner race to destroy it.

Well, in this case I think it's destroyed. I don't know how much force is enough to destroy it but I doubt it should be that tight. I have nothing to compare to but I remember with old bearing it spun easily. I think I will just buy another one but I'm afraid it will be the same situation. I'm gonna call dealer in my area, maybe they can press it in for me.

 

[bloc]

Well, in this case I think it's destroyed. I don't know how much force is enough to destroy it but I doubt it should be that tight. I have nothing to compare to but I remember with old bearing it spun easily. I think I will just buy another one but I'm afraid it will be the same situation. I'm gonna call dealer in my area, maybe they can press it in for me.

I really think as long as you install the bearing first, pressing on the inner race not the outer, then once that is fully seated, install the retaining collar, you’ll be good to go.

That is the factory recommended procedure and between my rig and helping others I’ve done it three times without issue.

Also yes a new bearing will be tighter than the old one.

 

[avrguser]

I really think as long as you install the bearing first, pressing on the inner race not the outer, then once that is fully seated, install the retaining collar, you’ll be good to go.

That is the factory recommended procedure and between my rig and helping others I’ve done it three times without issue.

Also yes a new bearing will be tighter than the old one.

Do you think I should get a new axle shaft? Can I reuse washer and retainer or better to buy new? In order to press in just bearing I will need some sort of pipe or a cylinder to put under the inner race, otherwise it won't reach or won't be even. I have spent so much time and money and just ruined everything. Why they can't just sell axle shaft with bearing on it like they do for some other cars.

 

[avrguser]

I did pretty much everything as in your guide and bunch of videos I found on YouTube. The only difference is in tool that I've used to pull the bearing (like on the picture). Probably I'm just stupid to fix my own car.

 

[bloc]

Do you think I should get a new axle shaft? Can I reuse washer and retainer or better to buy new? In order to press in just bearing I will need some sort of pipe or a cylinder to put under the inner race, otherwise it won't reach or won't be even. I have spent so much time and money and just ruined everything. Why they can't just sell axle shaft with bearing on it like they do for some other cars.

You have the tools to pull the bearing so there’s no reason to replace the shaft without at least pulling yours apart and inspecting it first.

I would recommend new spring washer and retaining collar, yes. You actually can use the current collar to press the new bearing in… just use a grinding stone to open up the inner diameter so it can slide freely over the larger area of the axle shaft. That way it a) doesn’t add to the force your press must produce, and b) can be removed once the bearing is pressed all the way in.