2022 needle bearing issues

Most YouTube videos show removing the axle from the hub. You don't have to do that. Scroll up in this thread in my comments and I listed out the process. I'm going to get a 4Runner in pretty soon and video what I consider to be the easiest and quickest way to do this job. I will link it on the thread when I'm done.

 

Hi friend, did you do this video yet? Would super appreciate your help. Don’t want to pull the hub to do the job.

 

I couldn’t find your comments on the process you mentioned here. Scanned all posts twice. Can you repost those please? Appreciate your help:

 

your more than welcome to use my 4Runner.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/needle-bearing-yes-replace-it-ecgs.716338/page-9#post-28357599

Lost it here but found it on TW
Haha

 

Thank you so much! Appreciate you.

 

Old thread but I have a newer 23 40th anniversary. Almost from new I have the pulsing vibration that goes away when placed in 4wd. Toyota installed a dynamic dampener on it and claims that's all that is needed. After 500 miles it feels like the dampener isn't even there. They say the TSB no longer calls for replacing the diff or bearing. Has anyone had luck pushing the dealership to replace the needle bearing? Thanks

 

Dampener worked to hide the vibration for 500 miles?

that may be preferable.. have them keep replacing the dampener.. without messing with the front diff. Then after warranty runs out, install the bushing

 

It seems that Toyota is just kicking the can down the road until the warranty is up. Interesting that they are saying they don't do the diff replacement/warranty anymore because the design has not changed. My "in" with the factory left Toyota so I don't have a way to verify the factory position right now. I would consider doing the bushing preventatively at your convenience. I just had a truck in that had significant damage from leaving it to long. The vibration caused some wear on the axle shaft, splines, and beat up diff. Going to have to replace the front diff at some point. First time I've seen one that was really beat up like that without spitting the needles into the diff.

 

What do they put the dampener on? Not heard of this.

 

They installed it on the front diff. I told them today that it's overpowering the dampener. Of course typical stealership told me not to believe the forums and that they would charge me to diagnose it if they saw nothing wrong. I am just frustrated that all this time and Toyota is just going to ignore an issue that should have been resolved years ago.

 

Completely agree. Things like this and the total fubar on the new Tundra motors start chipping away at the brand reputation.

 

Is this dealer the only one you have access to?

 

There is one other Toyota dealership but they don't have any better of a reputation. My 4runner only has about 14k miles so it's still under warranty.

 

The threat of charging you an hour of diagnostic work to have them consider warranty work sucks. The first time I ever experienced dealers doing warranty trick was when I bought my 4runner. Over the previous 25 years I’ve had two hondas, a toyota, a mazda, and a Kia that were bought new. Never had any them charge me for warranty complaints until the 4runner. The kicker is that it’s such a conflict of interest…all they have to do is say they “don’t hear it” and then they charge you. It’s doing the customer dirty if you ask me. In my case, they said my bearing noise was my “loud off-road tires” (stock size K02s All terrains at the time). It didn’t matter my tires magically stopped making noise when you put it in 4wd lol.

Regarding dealers with bad reputations, it’s a risk to try it, but I completely lucked out with a transmission replacement at a dealer I was not otherwise impressed with. It was a job I payed for since the car had about 140k miles , but they completed the job in two days, did it correctly the first time, and really cheaply. So if you have time to take it to another dealer, could be worth the risk.


this little warranty trick This little trick is the fi4 First time I ever experienced this little trick to keep customers away.

 

Shhh, you’re scaring me. I think I still know where my ECGS bushing is, but I’ve lent out my puller in the time that I’ve been putting off doing this.

So…at what point is does beat up splines and cv axle surfaces go from “work hardened” to “damaged”? Lol

 

Why would you replace a bad part with an identical one? You know Einstein's saying about insanity...

 

Reputation or not, at least they may tell you the fix is a new bearing or diff. All you have now is what the dealer you dealt with told you, which of course is nonsense.

 

The one I just dealt with had a lot of miles on it so as long as you replace it within a reasonable time you should be ok. I was scared to pull the axle on this on because I was 99% sure the needles would end up in the diff but luckily they all hung in there just long enough haha. There was SO much play in the axle.

 

I have heard others having the part replaced and never experiencing the issue again. It's also under warranty. I may have to look into the aftermarket or giving it a last resort at another dealership. Or I just drive it until it gets so bad it breaks . It's something that will only get worse with time.

 

We need @MyWyfsRnnr to set out on the Great 2024 Coast-to-Coast ECGS Bushing Installation Tour. Just think how much of the country you could see, and all the happy 4R owners you could leave in your wake...

 

I seem to have noticed a very significant reduction in bearing noise when my adjustable coils are set up at a ride height that results in zero cv angle. That’s maybe somewhere about 1 to 2 inches above typical factory ride height. My CV angles from the factory were negative. My guess is that a flat angle makes the axle lay completely flat across the surface of the needle bearings. It’s just a theory, but when I had flat CV angles, my bearing was quiet as a church mouse, even though it though the outside temps were in the range when my bearing tended to be noisiest.

So if you want a slighlty more expensive, less invasive, and less guaranteed way of solving the bearing sound, it might be worth a try . Side benefit is that you’ll have a cool new suspension. Although you could accomplish the same with a small tophat spacer on the stock front strut/coilover.

 

I like that idea.... except for all the work haha! A friend of mine is coming over soon with his wife's Runner for the bushing install so I will be able to film and post it for everyone's use soon! All the bushings I've done recently have been with the owners sitting in the shop waiting so I try to go as fast as I can to get them back on with their day.

 

I received the ECGS this past Friday, if I have time I’ll probably install it on Saturday.

 

Outdoor temp has been in the high 70s for the past couple of days. The increase in ambient temp (compared to 50-ish degrees) has tremendously reduced the occurrence of the rumble… hmmmm what could cause this?

 

My guess is that warmer temps make everything slightly bigger and changes how the whole all the parts resonate with each other as a system. In seem to hear mine between approximately 20F and 55F

 

From past experiences the groaning disappears in Spring/Summer.. then reappears Fall/Winter.

 

I have actually seen cold tire tread mistaken for the needle bearing issue. In cold temps, the rubber stiffens up and can make a significant humming/vibration, I've even had our KO2's stay out of round for a few miles in really cold temps

 

Is this a potential issue on all 5th gen years?

 

Yes, all runners and Tacomas (even the ones they are building now)