Toyota Tacoma

[giant_mtb]

Do both fronts.

Yeah, I figured I should.  The bearings themselves are pretty cheap.  Don't think I'm gonna do this one myself, though.  It's that cold and rainy time of year where working on things outside isn't all that fun anymore.

This'll set me back a bit on the wheels and tires again, just like the few hundred I had to spend on the full brake job did. 

[Rupert]

This thing seems pretty unreliable and repair-prone for a Toyota...

[Eye of the Tiger]

This thing seems pretty unreliable and repair-prone for a Toyota...

Shoulda boughta Honda ... Ridgeline.

[Soup DeVille]

This thing seems pretty unreliable and repair-prone for a Toyota...

Wheel bearings are more or less a fixed lifetime thing. They're going to be replaced after x miles regardless. Lifts kits and oversized tires reduce that lifetime by like half.

[giant_mtb]

This thing seems pretty unreliable and repair-prone for a Toyota...

Brakes, p/s pump, a couple pulley wheels, wheel bearings, and a steering shaft after 130k+ miles...?  So unreliable.

An inconvenience, sure, like any repair...but certainly not abnormal.

[giant_mtb]

Wheel bearings are more or less a fixed lifetime thing. They're going to be replaced after x miles regardless. Lifts kits and oversized tires reduce that lifetime by like half.

I think I might rope the spacer delete into this repair if I can.  Mehhhhhh

[Rupert]

Brakes, p/s pump, a couple pulley wheels, wheel bearings, and a steering shaft after 130k+ miles...?  So unreliable.

An inconvenience, sure, like any repair...but certainly not abnormal.

Oh, it's got 130 kmiles? Nevermind then. 

[giant_mtb]

Oh, it's got 130 kmiles? Nevermind then. 

Yeah, it's kind of at that "second stage" of age.  I'm sure the brakes and a few other smaller things have been done once before, but now that she's at 130k, it's about time again for things to go. 

But!  It's still wonderful because the frame and all suspension components remain rust-free.  All the moving parts (engine, steering rack, tranny, etc.) are OG, so they are indeed showing age, but it's still a good foundation, and one I really don't mind throwing some money at to keep moving.

FWIW, it had right around 125k when I bought it.  So now I'm just the guy responsible for refreshing it.

[Rupert]

I did that with the Explorer (130k  and ten years old when I bought it) and the 944 (100k and 24 years). It worked for a few years and maybe 20 kmiles with the Explorer before things started to break again, but hopefully Toyota is better at making a truck than Ford.

The 944 isn't really comparable, but I think it's starting to show its mileage again, too.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah, only time will tell. I'm hoping I get lucky.

[Rupert]

You probably have a better chance at luck than I did. My Explorer was in pretty mediocre condition when I bought it.

I got tired of fixing stuff on it, and I might be getting there with the 944. BRZ kind of beckons.

[giant_mtb]

Is replacing a bearing as simple ("simple") as replacing the bearing/hub assembly?



From what I've seen on the YouTubes, it's a relatively simple process assuming you don't run into nasty bolts (gonna happen around here, but that's life).  As far as I can tell, no pressing is needed, etc.  Pretty much a bolt-off/bolt-on process...?  Kind of afraid I'll find something else wrong, and then my dick will be in a vice.

[Cookie Monster]

My hubs just bolt in but it was still seized in the carrier. And this is on a California car.

[giant_mtb]

I can't imagine it would be too 'spensive to have a shop do it...?  Seems like a relatively short job for any seasoned mechanic.

(Yeah, it's a 4Runner, but it's the same, AFAIK.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVuM8iVO6u8

[Soup DeVille]

I can't imagine it would be too 'spensive to have a shop do it...?  Seems like a relatively short job for any seasoned mechanic.

(Yeah, it's a 4Runner, but it's the same, AFAIK.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVuM8iVO6u8

Sealed bearing with no gobs of grease? Snazzy.

[Eye of the Tiger]

My hubs just bolt in but it was still seized in the carrier. And this is on a California car.

You overheated your shit doing ricer racing and welded the hub straight to the knuckle. You're lucky the floorboard didn't fall out.

[giant_mtb]

She goes to the shop Monday.  If I had a bigger garage (& heated), I'd tackle it myself.  Alas.

Half-considering getting a small salamander propane heater for cold-time work.  Could heat up parent's garage enough for light maintenance work (oil changes) or for detailing interiors.  It's not insulated, but one wall is shared with the house.  Doors are insulated.  Could probably get it into the 50's no problem if it was 30 degrees out.

[CaminoRacer]

Heater is a godsend.

[giant_mtb]

Heater is a godsend.

Browsed online and 40k BTU salamanders are around $120.  Could probably get one for 120-150 locally...never really looked at 'em at Menards.

[68_427]

We have a 180k BTU Salamander thing rocks

[giant_mtb]

Holy chit that's a lotta BTUs. 

[AutobahnSHO]

free electric bill FTW here

[68_427]

Holy chit that's a lotta BTUs. 

It sounds like a jet basically.

[giant_mtb]

Tacoma is fixed.  New FR wheel bearing, speed sensor, and a couple other little gaskets/seals/whatever.  Dunno if they just threw in a whole new bearing/hub assembly or if they just pressed the bearing, but I'm gonna guess they did the assembly since that includes the ABS/speed sensor I'm pretty sure.  They didn't call me before doing the work, so I didn't get a chance to say "just go ahead and do both fronts," but after he told me what my bill was...I ain't mad.  He said it was pretty rusted as fuck (go figure) and the speed sensor was chewed up and necessary...probably the main culprit of the crunchety crunch crunch I was hearing.  Avoided a big headache of trying to do it myself, but still.  $$$$$$

If I heard him right, $662.

[Eye of the Tiger]

No more crunchy Taco?

[CaminoRacer]

No more crunchy Taco?

I usually prefer soft tacos

[Eye of the Tiger]

I usually prefer soft tacos

I think soft tacos are dumb as hell. How about you finish rolling the burrito so half the shit doesn't fall out on the first bite.

[giant_mtb]

No more crunchy Taco?

No more crunchy Taco.  I hope.

Gonna go pick it up now.  Sat around all day today prolonging my walk or bike ride to the shop to fetch it.  I think I'll walk, 10 minutes or so.

She's smooth again. I was wrong, he did both fronts. Both hub assemblies.  And the speed sensor was like $110.

Tires next.

[Rupert]

I think soft tacos are dumb as hell. How about you finish rolling the burrito so half the shit doesn't fall out on the first bite.

Psh, learn to eat a taco, n00b.


...

[giant_mtb]

A part of me just wants to dump some cash into this thing before winter.

Lift delete.
Wheels/tires/alignment.
Shocks.

So like...2,000-2,500ish. 

Wheels/tires/alignment are a must before winter, and that would be about 1500 tops.  Might as well delete lift, get new shocks, and make my new bearings last longer...?