RTH-Front Right Wheel Bearing-need help

[bfree]

Please help,

This morning we took my Wife's DD to the shop.

Our longtime mechanic says the front right wheel bearing has gone bad on our 97 Cruiser. Because of that, the axle spindle (knuckle) and all the parts behind it are damaged. He recommends:

-replace front right brakes
-replace rotor
-replace from rotor up/rotor in front of spindle -lockwasher, thruster, 2 lock nuts, 2 gaskets/seals, etc
-inner and outer bearings need to be replaced

On top of this, the EGR switching valve is bad and we need to replace the valve cover gasket.

Now to my question(s):

1. Does $1650 (less-10% on labor) seem resonable for all this work ? The quote to replace the EGR valve was $350 due to having to remove the upper intake to get to it.(so we can subtract that from the $1650)

2. This happened while my wife was on the highway. She said that all of the sudden she heard a metallic grinding noise and she felt a loss of control. When she slowed from 75mph to 55mph, the noise went away, so she drove home. We did not hear/fell any warnings prior to this episode yesterday. What type of PM can prevent something like this from happening?

 

[Tools R Us]

... What type of PM can prevent something like this from happening?

Pack the wheel bearings more often, check preload at each tire rotation. On a cruiser, properly maintained wheel bearings should last the life of the rig.

 

[Beowulf]

What type of PM can prevent something like this from happening?

Taking your best question first. F&R wheel bearings on our trucks should be serviced every 30k miles. Full front axle service should be done every 60k miles. If this is done per Toyota's recommendations, the wheel bearings should last the life of the truck; perhaps 300k miles or more.

The quote to replace the EGR valve was $350 due to having to remove the upper intake to get to it.

First, the EGR issue is not incapacitating your vehicle. You might not pass emissions but 99% probability you can still drive it indefinitely. Secondly, you don't have to remove the intake to replace the EGR valve so they are probably talking about the VSV for EGR which the FSM suggests removing the intake but searching here will give you a method to replace it without removing the intake. 30 min job. The valve cover should be another 30 min job and it is also not causing your truck to be down.

1. Does $1650 (less-10% on labor) seem resonable for all this work ?

I won't comment on the labour rate but pulling both rotors and doing a complete front brake job is a fairly big project. Probably 10 hours for a trained mechanic. If you damaged some parts like the spindle then they are spendy too. Most will strongly recommend that you do both rotors since one side is bad.

2. This happened while my wife was on the highway. She said that all of the sudden she heard a metallic grinding noise and she felt a loss of control. When she slowed from 75mph to 55mph, the noise went away, so she drove home. We did not hear/fell any warnings prior to this episode yesterday.

Not uncommon. You were probably getting symptoms but you didn't notice them. Read Landtank's description on diagnosing front end issues; especially the part about how to check front wheel bearing play.

You don't mention the mileage on the truck but I am guessing it is 120-150k and this is the first time the front end will be serviced so you should do a full front axle service at this time. If you don't then you should plan to do it soon. I am pretty sure you will find that the knuckles are low on grease, your knuckle bearings are worn, and your inner axle tube seals are leaking.

-B-

 

[john_eckels]

The EGR VSV can easily be replaced without removing the intake. Remove the bolt from the bracket that is attached to the intake. Losen the bolt underneath on the other end of the bracket. Move Bracket to side. There are 2 bolts holding the VSV onto the intake. Since the bracket has been pushed aside, one can be removed from the top. I think it is a 12 mm and I used a ratchet wrench. The second bolt can removed from underneath with about 3' of extensions on a socket. It took me about 45 minutes to replace my VSV using this method. There is a thread that has more detail. You may want to try searching for P0401 or VSV.

 

[concretejungle]

b,

jason and i can do the valve cover gasket and egr at another time. Let's see if we can get greg and the NC cruiser boys to pitch in some labor for your front axle. Since cdan is at rubicon, i suggest calling kurt at cruiseroutfitters.com and order a rebuild kit. if you can wait, j and i can also come down and help in that.

just my 2cent

 

[Beowulf]

Since cdan is at rubicon, ...

Dan is working Friday and Saturday; Jun 13-14.
-B-

 

[jfz80]

Who's got the hot deal on an axle rebuild kit right now??? I think Kurt had the best package and price but CruiserOutfitters is closed all this weekend We need some parts ASAP.

 

[alkaline747trio]

I ordered parts for 5.29s from Kurt today...great package, great price, great guy....Jason, you or Alex want to help me throw this thing back together next weekend? I'm down for helping this weekend once I get mine all torn down.

 

[Sarmajor]

Front Wheel bearings

My truck failed its Warrant of Fitness and so my wife took it to the morons (I was away working) and they tightened the front wheel bearings after she told them how to get at them.

1 month later while we were on hoilday in the South Island of New Zealand i can here a squeeking noise from the front end somewhere. Stopped and jacked up each front wheel and spun them and things seemed OK. I already new that even if the locknuts come loose and work there way right out to the drive flange the wheel will not fall off thanks to the brake caliper keeping the disk captive. 120km later I arrive at afreinds house and have another look at things.

The right front wheel bearing is TOAST.

I managed to get it all apart in my freinds driveway and was able to purchase a wheel bearing kit the next morning. All fixed before lunch.

BUT if they had checked things properly when the did the tighten they would have seen that the bearings were probably toast even back then. After all they only get loose because they wear.

You should replace both front disks at the same time and fit new pads at the same time.

WHY do they want to replace the thrust washer and the locknuts???? Are they damaged??

The spindle should be in OK condition unless the bearings have seized and spun the inner races and damaged the journals.

New lock washer will come in wheel bearing kit!

Cheers

Hedley

 

[jfz80]

I ordered parts for 5.29s from Kurt today...great package, great price, great guy....Jason, you or Alex want to help me throw this thing back together next weekend? I'm down for helping this weekend once I get mine all torn down.

yeah but he was open yesterday.... site says hes closed this weekend but ill give a call anyways. Next weekend ive planned to be out of town, but keep in touch.

 

[concretejungle]

alky, i don't mind helping, but i can't set-up gears.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Yea, I'm trying to find someone local to do them cheap, Galloways probably if I talk to the right people (aka keep Lester's nose out of it)