Front wheel bearing swap from 87?

[Tercel_jon]

Is it possible to swap the front wheel bearings from my 87 tercel hatch to my 83 wagon? I know they have to be pressed out, but is it possible?

[ARCHINSTL]

Check out the part numbers in the EPC link in the Parts Forum sticky. Gen I and Gen II info is available there.
Lots of good info there.
Tom M.

[xirdneh]

I'm betting you can.

[Jarf]

87 Hatchback is a totally different car, I had one, the engine mounts sideways.
The brakes are very similar but can't remember if the brgs are the same part numbers.
You will also likely destroy the bearing trying to remove it, they really aren't designed to be re&re'd.
If you do manage to get it out without any damage you will need new seals.

[Tercel_jon]

Ill need new seals? whys that? I looked it up at napa online and it seams to just be a press out, press in, kinda deal. And just to be sure that it is the bearing, its a growling noise when Im accelerating and turning to the right. Doesnt happen at any other time. That seam right?

[Jarf]

whl brgs can make all sorts of strange noises, when really bad they will sound like a set of bias-ply snow tires, sometimes louder when turning, sometimes not.
Yes the bearings do just press in and out, but first you have to get the wheel flange pressed out then flip the hub over and press the outer race out of the hub.
You will end up with 1/2 of the inner race firmly attached to the whl flange, I usually use a dremel with a cut-off wheel to remove it from the flange as there is very little to get a hold of to try to pull it off.
There are seals on both sides of the bearing, even when the seals are new it is just about impossible to get one out without destroying it.
Honestly, for what a bearing costs I wouldn't even bother trying to reuse one considering the amount of time and aggravation you will spend trying to salvage the used one and you will definitely need new seals.
They are not a lot of fun do to even with all new parts.

[Snax]

If you really want to reuse parts, you'd be better off just getting a used hub with intact bearings. I can't imagine that it would be easy to reuse the bearings from my hub even if I didn't intentionally destroy the carriers in trying to get them out. (I still need to get it to a shop to get them pressed out and the new ones in.)

If you shop around, you can get decent bearings for minimal cost. I paid $14 each (+shipping) for two sets of Beck-Arnley front bearings, and even less for the rears at Rock Auto. (Use the 5% discount code for this site. I forgot to!)

I can't imagine going to all of that effort only to risk junk parts going back into the hub.

[Tercel_jon]

A bearing for $14 bucks each? Heres what I found at autozone. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalo ... tid=885149

I dont have $69 bucks....thats why i was hoping to swap the ones off the old car to my new one.

And the main reason why I went there in the first place was cause they are in town...and I dont like waiting for parts. But if I can get them at rock auto for $14 bucks, I think thats worth the wait. Thanks guys!

[Snax]

FWIW, mine were a closeout deal, but that doesn't mean there aren't more.

[Tercel_jon]

Snax, they have one left for the closeout deal...I just wish I had some money. Its a little warmer and dryer here and surprisingly its quieted down a little bit.

[sdoan]

Ill need new seals? whys that? I looked it up at napa online and it seams to just be a press out, press in, kinda deal. And just to be sure that it is the bearing, its a growling noise when Im accelerating and turning to the right. Doesnt happen at any other time. That seam right?

Jon,

Mine made a similar noise, but it had a very slight thrumping with it too. Your description seems like wheel bearing to me if you're sure it's not a CV joint noise (CV joints click as you accelerate turning one way or the other). Grab the top and bottom of the wheel and rock it in and out. If you can feel an clicking or clunking it is probably the wheel bearing.

If you want to see what you're up against replacing a wheel bearing check out this thread:
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... f=7&t=5082

Given that you want to use used parts why not just pull the whole hub assembly? (instructions in the bearing thread.) You will have to make sure the two hubs are interchangeable, but if they are it shouldn't take too long and you don't need any special tools.

Wheel alignment: If you do the hub swap, mark the hub and strut so you can get your camber setting back (4th picture in thread). Then carefully check your toe-in with a tape measure. Or pay to have it re-aligned. (You can also search in the internet to find how to align your front wheels using straight sticks, string, measuring tape and a carpenter's level - but you gotta be patient, careful and double check yourself to make it work.)

If your donor car is an '87 hatch back with a transverse engine, be very certain the parts are the same. Even a very slight difference could screw up your alignment or braking.

[sdoan]

Jon,

I just looked at the catalog for '87 5door hatch and the '87 4wd wagon and they look different and the part numbers are different.

http://www.toyotapartszone.com/1987/48- ... uckle.html

http://www.toyotapartszone.com/1987/48- ... uckle.html

A wrecking yard is probably the cheapest bet. Or save up some money and have a shop press the new bearings for you.

[Tercel_jon]

Sdoan, thanks for that tip to wiggle it and listen. Its not a clicking, Im sure, its a growling. Ill double check that tomorrow while Im at my friends shop... Im gonna save up for the bearings, (hopefully have enough by this friday) and I was planning to press em out and in myself. Thanks for the link to the detailed instructions. Im gonna print them out when my bearing gets here.

Uh ok...I just took a nice detailed look at the instructions you provided and Im contemplating about just getting me a hub. Its my first time doing a press in wheel bearing so Im kinda lost and a little nervous cause I wont have the cash to mess this up. (what great circumstances to learn upon eh). The one Ill need is (on rockauto of course) BECK/ARNLEY Part # 0513897 correct? (Just triple checking to make sure.) Will this bearing be installed exactly like the one in the instructions? or is it just simple press it in? Cause I didnt read anything on rockauto about it being a 2 piece like in the instructions.


seriously thinking about just getting a hub so I CANT screw this up.

[xirdneh]

i recently bought two sets of front wheel bearings and the inner and outer seals at rock auto
i dissasembled the hubs and took the old bearings and seals out
getting the bearing race off the part that the tire attaches too can be difficult
i borrowed a bearing separator (large size) that is the easy way to do it
i cleaned everything up and took the parts to an auto machine shop
they did both hubs for 55.00 total

if i remember right
one bearing is made up of two race rings, one large double race main ring, two ball bearing sets (balls in plastic holders)
inner seal
outer seal (two parts)
grease needed too