Landcruiser Wheel Bearings - Two questions

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 16:21

ThreadID: 79723 Views:36475 Replies:9 FollowUps:4

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Charles Jenkinson

G'day all,

Two questions I wanted to ask, more as a survey of opinions.

Firstly, rear wheel bearings in Landcruisers... I've read a couple of threads about them, mostly related to the Landcruiser's tendency to shear hub studs, and have the hub fall apart at the odd occasion, especially touring the outback. However, I have not seen any mention of rear bearings in service guides/manuals/articles in relation to routine maintenance. Just wondering, how often do the members with Landcruisers (especially 80 Series) here service their rear wheel bearings?

Secondly, torques on the hub nuts... The Toyota Service Manual says 36 Nm, my Haynes guide says 31 Nm, my mechanic says that 24 Nm is a much better torque, and I have also had another mechanic say that two finger tight on a socket wrench is all that's needed, nay all that's desired with the cone washers pressing out.

This was after I had a very embarassing incident with a torque wrench, probably fuelled by fatigue and unfamiliarity with my brand new tool, in which I over-torqued the nuts holding the cap onto the hub (ie: NOT the wheel lug nuts), broke a couple, and stripped a couple, on the front left hub of my '91 HDJ80R. I've been down to Toyota, bought the replacement studs and bolts, each at $1.93 a piece, and taken it to an engine rebuilder who kindly changed them over for a carton.

Those of you who are getting to know me will know that I don't take blanket recommendations at absolute face value, especially when they tell me to torque an M12 nut to 36 Nm on the basis that Toyota made the car, therefore they should know. When there are differing opinions, in my experience, each one has their merit.

Given the percentage of time my vehicle spends on rough roads, I thought I'd find out how much torque other people put on their hub nuts, from people who do their own (or other people's) regularly, and then rely on them to take them through the bush safely. Any tips/tricks for ensuring that they are not overtightened?

Thanks for the input, guys!

Charles

_______________________________
Charles Jenkinson
Perth, Western Australia

Gracie "The Grey Ghost"
1991 Toyota Landcruiser GXL (HDJ80R)
4.2L 1HD-T Turbo Diesel
358,864 km and counting!

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Reply By: Glenndini - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 16:56

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 16:56

I can't be positive which nuts you are referring to. I think maybe the ones fixing the flange to the wheel hub (since you referred to the cone washers in some way).
The Toyota workshop manual I have gives 35 N-m. for tightening these.

I wouldn't be too keen on a mechanic who specs it as "two finger tight on a socket wrench". About all that indicates is that the torque might not be terribly critical.

Coincidentally enough I'm changing out my rear wheel bearings tomorrow (80 series HDJ80). They're probably OK but I drive in a lot of water and mud so I'm changing them as part of a grease repack before a long trip.

AnswerID: 422479

Follow Up By: Charles Jenkinson - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 17:03

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 17:03

Yes, those are exactly the nuts/studs I'm referring to. And 35 Nm is in accordance with 36 (from my workshop manual) and 31 (from the Haynes manual). Still, 35-ish Nm seems like a fairly excessive amount of torque for these fairly small nuts and thread.

Totally agree that it suggests that torque might not be critical, however before losing all of the nuts, and having the flange fly off in the middle of an isolated track, I thought I might gather a few opinions.

How often do you check/repack your rear bearings, if you don't mind me asking?

Charles

FollowupID: 692877

Follow Up By: Glenndini - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 17:19

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 17:19

I don't have a set period for replacement. I've been in some very deep and muddy water lately and leaving on a several thousand km. bush trip soon.
It's mainly for peace of mind, could even be bit paranoid.

I've heard of 80 series wheel bearings lasting hundreds of thousands of Ks.

I'm sure some will say every 100 thousand Ks. or so. Also depends on terrain covered, size of wheels (I've had 35" tyres on mine) etc...

Sorry I can't be more specific.

FollowupID: 692879

Reply By: Cruiser 2091 - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 18:25

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 18:25

H Charles.
My first cruiser was an FJ40 brought new in 1975. At the time I purchased it I was given a short course on how to maintain it by the Toyota dealer. 10 years later I traded it in on a HJ 60 which I proceeded to service in much the same manner.
What i didn't realise was the rear axle was different in the 2 vehicles. The later requiring that the rear wheel bearings be serviced the same as the front. I kept that vehicle for 11 years and 320000 ks without ever touching the rear bearings. It wasn't until I sold it to buy my current 80 series that I found out that it required service of the rear wheel bearings. I subsequently realised that the same applied to the 60 series.
I then spoke to a toyota mechanic about this big mistake of mine and asked how did the bearing of the 60 series survive. His answer was that many vehicles never have anything done to the rear bearings and they survive. He suggests that the oil seals leak after time allowing diff oil to help lubricate the bearings.
I don't know the answer but I do know that my poor old girl never ever had grease added to the rear wheel bearings.

AnswerID: 422490

Follow Up By: Cruiser 2091 - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 18:30

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 18:30

I should also add that I follow the Toyota service manual for torque settings. I believe that after market books would obtain their information from the manufacturer and any inconsistentcy would more than likely be a printing error rather than qualified info.

FollowupID: 692882

Reply By: Member - lyndon NT - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 19:07

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 19:07

Hi Charles

I have just replaced my bearings on my 78 series, front and back. It sat in water over night a year before and the bearings were rusty. What really surprised me was when we drove through some mud/ water for an hour recently and had water ingress to the rear bearings, so I greased them again. This gives you an idea of how long, ie, could be years or hours. Once you have it all sorted you will know what conditions you have driven in and maintain accordingly. The Torque sounds about right for the rear, no more though! I have a quality Torque wrench and have always followed manufactures specifications, I would strongly suggest you do the same, just make sure you have the manual for your model. Replace the oil seal when you do the rear bearings.
Cheers Lyndon

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AnswerID: 422499

Reply By: Outnabout.. - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 20:55

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 20:55

Did mine recently 24ft-lb or 32nm. These are an 8mm diam stud with a 12mm spanner size for the nut. This is not much at all and if you give it much more than that you will strp the threads. Make sure you tighten them in sequence a little bit at a time to make sure the flange pulls down easily.

In answer to how offten who knows. My fronts haqve done 70k but haven't done the rears as yet at 310K. If I was doing a big trip would definately replace them.

AnswerID: 422511

Reply By: get outmore - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 21:41

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 21:41

from memory bearings are a 40k service item, pretty sure its in the book

AnswerID: 422517

Follow Up By: tojofixa - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:34

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:34

Toyota recommend that front & rear bearings are serviced at 20,000km intervals. I personally service mine at between 40000 to 60000 km. & always replace the rear axle tube seals when I do the bearings. I normally check the wheel bearing end float whenever I have the wheels off the ground while servicing the the car & if any movement is obvious I readjust the bearings.

Cheers, DS

FollowupID: 692918

Reply By: pop2jocem - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:01

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:01

Hi Charles,
The genuineToyota manual that I have specs 21-25ft/lb or 2.8-3.5kg/m. In Nm 28-34Nm. Personally I would stick to the 28Nm as any higher seems a little excessive to me for a stud of this size. I would strongly recommend re-torquing after a short drive.
I can understand an experienced mechanic saying 2 fingers on a spanner but if you are not mechanically inclined stick to a torque wrench.
How often should you inspect/service wheel bearings? Depends on what you subject the vehicle to. Heavy loads, lots of corrugations, mud/water crossings fairly often maybe once a month. Mainly on road even towing probably annually. Jack up each wheel and see if there is any excessive movement in the bearings in between services. IMHO a little diff oil leaking into the bearing cavity does more good than harm.
My HZJ75 also of 1991 vintage is still on the original bearings and have been repacked twice in that time. Just a youngster mind you with only 260,000 klm.

Cheers Pop

AnswerID: 422521

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:04

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 22:04

I regrease the rears every 2 years which is about 40,000k. Same as the fronts.
A few years back we assisted a Troopie which was stuck in the desert with siezed rear wheel bearings which were rusty from lack of maintenance.

The studs you refer to were 8mm on the 75 and 80series and can easily break. Main cause of breakage is too much play in the rear bearings which can only be checked with the axles out.

Around 1999 they were upgraded to 10mm on the 105/76/78/79 series.

AnswerID: 422523

Reply By: Charles Jenkinson - Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 23:01

Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 at 23:01

Thanks for your input, everyone!

To give you more details, I have a service sheet I've put together from factory specs, taking into account the type of driving I do, and the frequency of longer trips. I have front bearings on every 50,000 km or two years for a re-pack, but I haven't seen rear bearings mentioned in service guides as a "routine service item".

As far as I know, the rear bearings in my vehicle have never seen the light of day, since being put onto the spindle at the Toyota Factory in Japan.

My front ones were in surprisingly good condition! I was expecting to pull out worn, rusted bearings, but instead, shiny pieces of metal were exhumed. I replaced them for new ones anyway, on the basis of kilometres and getting ready for some cross-country touring in the near future. Will keep the old ones as spares for the time being, until I get some new ones to add to the kit - after all, I had serious thoughts to just repacking them, and putting the new ones back in the spare parts box! Couldn't justify it in the end - figured that if I had bearing problems out at Rudall River in two years time, I'd be kicking myself for not replacing them.

On the basis of your advice, I'll certainly be doing the rear ones too!

Thanks also for the advice regarding torque. Hopefully with some more sleep, and not making idiotic mistakes on my torque wrench, I won't snap any more of those studs.

Oh, I tend to find that torques from my Haynes Service Manual tends to differ from the Toyota manual for my vehicle from time to time... Fairly sure it's not a typo!

Think I might split the difference, tighten to 28 nM, and retorque after driving a bit.

Always a pleasure, guys!

Charles

_______________________________
Charles Jenkinson
Perth, Western Australia

Gracie "The Grey Ghost"
1991 Toyota Landcruiser GXL (HDJ80R)
4.2L 1HD-T Turbo Diesel
358,864 km and counting!

AnswerID: 422528