Roller/Needle bearing question

Yes, I did a bit of searching before posting this. I’m aware of the left front roller/needle bearing issues that Tacomas and 4Runners have. I’ve got an ‘06 Tacoma TRD.
I’ve been considering getting a pair of Bilstein 5100s for the front, and preloading up 1. I’m trying to get rid of the front end dive when braking.
With my Tacoma, I was informed to not go over 3/4” lift and I should be ok. I’ve done the front with Bilstein 5100s set at the 1st up, and have had no issues.
Can the same recommendation of a 3/4” limit without affecting the bearing also be made for the 5th Gen 4Runner?
Mine’s a 2020 TRD Off Road Premium, if that makes a difference.

 

Seems to me that the bearing problem isnt necessarily caused by lift. Mine was making noise by the time I got it home from the dealer, less than 100 miles on the clock, bone stock. Plenty of others here have experienced similar.

 

Having seen the problem 1st hand, totally agree with McSpaztron. The real culprit is the amount of 'slop' where the bearing is mounted on the axle shaft, very loose. We could move the bearing quite a bit on the axle compared to the ECGS bushing. I imagine lift, suspension travel and temp. may all have something to do with the noise/feeling the bearing under the 'right' conditions, but the machining on the axle compared to the bearing diameter is just..... wrong. After installation of the bushing no more vibration/noise at all, that's with a 3/2 lift. But like McSpaztron said, it happens to totally stock vehicles too, and there is no telling at what mileage.. 50.. 2000.. 10000.

 

Makes no difference.

There are reports with a lift, and reports without a lift.

A lift probably exacerbates it though.

 

+1 to everything above.

My needle bearing had issues almost right off the showroom floor. I had the differential replaced around 29,000 mi, then I lifted it. I've been lifted for about 56,000 miles now, and the issue has not returned.

When mine was stock, the CV axles rode at a slight angle, due to the differential being slightly lower than the hubs. Now, they are at about the same angle, but the differential is slightly higher than the hubs.

 

To add to my first comment, even though I had a sound early and stock, there’s no difference in how frequently I hear the bearing noise after lifting the front 2.5 inches. My bearing is quiet as a mouse during summer time, but starts to make noise when temps drop into the 40s. Interestingly, it gets quiet again if it’s really cold in the dead of winter.

 

Just go to ECGS & buy 2 replacement bearings. Their the same & get 2 gaskets. That’s what I did. I used one for my Tacoma Toytec lift & it’s smart to just do it when your lifting it. Plan on using the other for my 4Runner lift soonish