I lost a wheel yesterday

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Mon May 16, 2005 3:27 pm

Yeah, the whole axle came out, leaving the left rear end dragging on the shock mount on the axle, making sparks and igniting the gear oil that was then dripping out of the axle.

Though I lost an axle and $300 for towing, I have the following to be thankful for:
-It was a rear wheel, not a front wheel
-Being the left side, the drag caused by the axle still protruding from the wheel caused the assembly to go to the right, rather than to the left and into traffic
-I remained under control all the way from 100 to 0
-Some nice people stopped in a reasonable amount of time and put out the fire coming from my rear end with some water they had
-The wheel and bent axle ended up only 10 feet from where the car stopped
-I found a nice tow truck driver who charged a fair price

The rear wheel bearing is no good, but evidently it needed to be replaced anyways, otherwise it would have kept on doing its job of keeping the axle in place.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon May 16, 2005 4:57 pm

Are you ok? :blink:

brianp · Post by **brianp** » Mon May 16, 2005 6:36 pm

Wow, that's quite something! Glad your safe.

What were you doing going 100?? or is that in kilos?

Hope it isn't too hard of a repair.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:05 am

Whoa!! :blink: Glad you are ok! That must have been really scary. Glad your car didn't burn to the ground either. Crazy.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:24 am

I'm back on 4 wheels now, after pulling an axle out of my other car. It was only 100 kilometers an hour, the speed I usually drive. The bearing is in rough shape. The balls aren't even round anymore and the races are gouged and there's no sign of any grease. I'm surprised it didn't put up more of a fuss before it let go. From now on if a bearing sounds like it's on its way out, I'll change it right away.

tercel4wdrules · Post by **tercel4wdrules** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:12 pm

Oh man! :blink: I'm going to make replacing the rear bearings on my 83 a #1 priority. We are lucky this didn't happen to us after driving it with bad bearing for one or two years. I hope you're okay.

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:46 pm

We're beginning to worry about you...

I'll be listening for bearing noise myself...best bet might be to check for play in the bearing by moving the tire/wheel with the weight off of it?

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:57 pm

You can detect axial play easily with the rear wheel off the ground - there shouldn't be any. Any bearing wear will result in this kind of play. When it gets bad, it starts making a grinding or rumbling noise.

shogun · Post by **shogun** » Tue May 17, 2005 4:48 pm

just today i changer my rear bearings, because the noise was killing me, thanks god that didn{t happen to me

good thing youre ok

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:56 pm

Well you haven't said whether you are ok or broke something.
I'll have to check my bearing, especially after the stunt I pulled today, and how I corner most of the time.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:59 am

I'm not hurt. The axle bent and the bearing is obviously shot (if it wasn't, the wheel would have stayed on). In addition to that, when I went to fix it I discovered I'd lost a wheel cylinder piston while trying to brake still under the impression that there was a brake drum in place, and while the road was functioning as a giant grinding wheel towards my axle, it took out part of the brake backing plate before it got to the slower wearing metal at the mounting end of the rear shock. It didn't get as far as the part where the shoes mount, so the brakes are okay except that the drum scrapes on the backing plate. I'll probably just change the plate tonight. And having learned my lesson, I'll make it first priority to fix the front end up before the same thing happens there.

Nugget · Post by **Nugget** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:48 pm

Exact! same thing happened to me about 6 years ago. was going into a turn at 115 or so and then Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... WONK! axel ground down enough that it had to be replaced. Vowed to replace ANY wheel bearings as soon as there is ANY noise. For the rear its a DIY job that took me about 4 hours for both sides along with some brake maintiance/ replacements. if you can help it DON"T get the bearing from the dealer or even an autoparts store. Get the bearing # from the guy at the parts counter and buy the bearing at an industreal Bearing supply store. dealer $$73.99 and had none in stock(2 week order time). supply store $19.99 each and I had them on the car the same day.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:35 am

I tried to find wheel bearings through industrial suppliers with no luck. They all say it's automotive so I have to go to an automotive store. That was the front though, which are more specialized. Do you have the NSK or Koyo part # for the rear by any chance?

Nugget · Post by **Nugget** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 3:52 pm

not off hand but the local toyota dealer part guy should be able to give it to you. he should have it

jpkeels · Post by **jpkeels** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:10 pm

OH geez, thats a scary story. The 85 White 4WD automatic wagon thats been on loan to me (and soon to be returned) has been making pretty bad rumbling/bearing noise in the rear of it. Well, that will have to be fixed. It has been making noise for a long time. I suppose I am lucky that I didn't have a similar incident as i have had it up to 85 a couple times LOL even 90 one time (surprised it could even do it).