Replacing rear wheel bearings after some unplanned swimming

[Sifu-Lux]

So, this weekend I ended up dumping the Lux in the river after slipping off the bank on the clay while riding parallel to it. Luckily I managed to point the nose inland first...

There was no way to recover it with the other Hilux single cab we had with us because of the 30m or so uneven river bank, even after several attempts, so it had to sleep in the river all night until we got some long cables from the neighbouring farmer. The next morning, out she came !

After draining 6 liters of water out the rear axle, I have replaced the rear diff oil, but am thinking the rear wheel bearings should be done to. I will search the forum just now, but if anybody has a good easy method from memory or a link, that would be great.

[519franco]

ouch good luck

[OOOOMS]

Must say, nice pic

Sorry, but I see the funny side of this.....WegRY back page

[Mud Dog]

Hi Andrew, it really is a nice pic (in a way). Don't see the need to replace the bearings though unless they have become noisy. The overnight bath is not long enough for pitting to occur and you did immediately drain the diff and replace the oil. I would just take it on a long run to work the moisture out of the bearings .... all of them, not just the wheel ones.

[MOFASA]

Nice pic....

Shame she must have felt abandoned over night......

I carry over 30m of strapping with me and some people ask me why....
Well for unplanned events that catch you unaware like this......

Glad you got her out.....

[Keiler]

hi Andrew
stunning pic, looks like filler cap - fuel- was under water aswell and maybe the vent, if so and if water colder than tank and fuel you might sit with water in the tank,

[OOOOMS]

Re the bearings, they might be fine now but I would be worried about the long term outcome.

If you decide not to replace them, just carry a spare kit in your tool-box, for peace of mind

[CasKru]

I'm with Andy on this one. Wheel bearings will usually give you ample warning when they need changing

[Keiler]

I'm with Andy on this one. Wheel bearings will usually give you ample warning when they need changing

cassie as daai bearing meer raas as daai tyres dink ek is dit te laat
die koste om die bearings te vervang is laer as wanner dit probleme gee en die remme vol olie is na die seels gewoontlik ook maar gaan wanner bearing gaan , nie altyd die geval maar gewoontlik.
dit kos jou meer om dit te doen as jy in nood is en nie jou normale ou om die hoek gebruik nie.
dit mors jou kosbare tyd as jy op vakansie is
as dit nog die oorspronklikke bearings is en seker oor 200000km gedoen het sou ek dit vervang maar as hulle 20000km oud is sal ek die risiko vat

mark,
dit is goed om die bearing in jou toolbox te ry en as jy gelukkig is kan jy hulle warm maak en oor die as gooi maar om die oues af te kry is nie n leatherman se werk nie

[CasKru]

Ek hoor wat julle se maar daai lyk nie vir my na sy overlanding voertuig nie. En met so een dag se staan en water sal als surface rust wees.

[OOOOMS]

mark,
dit is goed om die bearing in jou toolbox te ry en as jy gelukkig is kan jy hulle warm maak en oor die as gooi maar om die oues af te kry is nie n leatherman se werk nie

Feit daai :wink2:

[CasKru]

Op die ou einde van die dag gaan jy wel meer gemoedsrus hê as jy dit uitsort. Jy kan dit self by die huis doen met bietjie geduld. Nie so moeilik nie

[Keiler]

Ek hoor wat julle se maar daai lyk nie vir my na sy overlanding voertuig nie. En met so een dag se staan en water sal als surface rust wees.

cassie
point taken , kar lyk so goed dat ek kon dink dit sou kon gebruik word vir overland.
gelukkig nie soutwater

[CasKru]

Ek hoor wat julle se maar daai lyk nie vir my na sy overlanding voertuig nie. En met so een dag se staan en water sal als surface rust wees.

cassie
point taken , kar lyk so goed dat ek kon dink dit sou kon gebruik word vir overland.
gelukkig nie soutwater

Ja nee kyk.. as dit die geval was nê.... :shifty: :shifty:

[OOOOMS]

Andrew, ever seen the rusk add on TV?

Says....." Dip a Ouma...Dip a Ouma..... "

Pic reminds me of this.....

[CasKru]

Andrew, ever seen the rusk add on TV?

Says....." Dip a Ouma...Dip a Ouma..... "

Pic reminds me of this.....

Jy gaan hom net baie langer in die water moet los om hom so sag te kry

[Mountain Man]

I don't think you will have to change the wheel bearings, if you do, where do you stop? What about the prop shaft, internal diff bearings, and the like. I would simply drain, flush and replace the oils. I have ridden through water many times (although the vehicle never spent the night in it) and had no problems with proper maintenance. The cost of the diff bearings will make you so I would clean and take a chance. Ilke it was mentioned, bearings will give you plenty notice that they need replacing.

[519franco]

Sifu guess your ex updrade woud be a winch or boat

[mushroom]

Ilke it was mentioned, bearings will give you plenty notice that they need replacing.

......okay, scuse the dof question, but I'm still learning.... what "notice" do they guive - squeling, coughing, shouting etc... please advise...

[CasKru]

Ilke it was mentioned, bearings will give you plenty notice that they need replacing.

......okay, scuse the dof question, but I'm still learning.... what "notice" do they guive - squeling, coughing, shouting etc... please advise...

you get a woooo sound which comes and goes when driving at about 100km/h.

[MOFASA]

One thing you all missing is the fact that the bearings were still covered in a layer of oil......
The water would not be able to get all the oil off over night as it was stationary, if the diff was spinning all night different story.....

Oil is funny stuff and i dont think there would be ANY damage to ANY of the bearings in such a short time.....

[smokintyres]

Glad you your trokkie out of there, and did not convert it to a submarine!

Ilke it was mentioned, bearings will give you plenty notice that they need replacing.

......okay, scuse the dof question, but I'm still learning.... what "notice" do they guive - squeling, coughing, shouting etc... please advise...

you get a woooo sound which comes and goes when driving at about 100km/h.

I can second that.
Would also like to add that I drove from Windhoek to Cape Town, went on a lekker tour in the western cape (including "Die Hell") and back, plus at least another few 100s of kilometers in Windhoek, hearing a feint woooo sound all along. I did not take the sound seriously, since it had started couple of kilometers south of Windhoek, but never got any worse.
The sound did however change from a wooo to a very unhealthy grinding sound very quickly. Fortunately I was not too far away from home and nursed the Bakkie home, where I noticed substantial oil leakage on one of the rear wheel brake drums and wheels.
It took us (a second pair of hands is very useful) about an hour to get the sideshaft out. Getting the brakes loosened took the longest; was the first time for me, you have to turn the tensioner wheel inside the brake drum in the correct direction for the brake shoes to provide sufficient clearance on the drum. I can't remember which way to turn, perhaps someone can just add the direction?

Getting the old tapered cup of the shaft was another story

maar om die oues af te kry is nie n leatherman se werk nie

I took the shaft to a machine shop to get the cup off and press the new one onto the shaft. At this point I would also like to mention that it is not worthwhile fitting an aftermarket bearing assembly! Spoke to my mechanic afterwards and he was glad I had installed original Toyota bearings. He had had a couple of customers complaining about new seals that leak, after the customers had replaced the bearings themselves. All of them used "cheap" aftermarket parts...

Even though I was referring to one shaft all along, I did replace both sides' bearings and seals, as well as the diff oil.

[ThysdJ]

Oil is funny stuff and i dont think there would be ANY damage to ANY of the bearings in such a short time.....

Ask any penguin that got caught in an oil spill..

[Mr_B]

Just a thought, what about draining the watery oil, leaving the drain plug out and applying some form of gradual constant heat to the diff pumpkin... this to release/reduce the amount of moisture that would remain in the diff housing??

[Scorpion]

Just a thought, what about draining the watery oil, leaving the drain plug out and applying some form of gradual constant heat to the diff pumpkin... this to release/reduce the amount of moisture that would remain in the diff housing??

Like a plasma cutter?

[Mr_B]

Just a thought, what about draining the watery oil, leaving the drain plug out and applying some form of gradual constant heat to the diff pumpkin... this to release/reduce the amount of moisture that would remain in the diff housing??

Like a plasma cutter?

No no... angle grinder... seriously maybe a gas cooker on low heat, or a plumbers gas gun... not sure if it's neccesary...

[Mud Dog]

Not necessary at all Bretton ...... there will be a few water droplets left behind after draining, but these will eventually emulsify with the oil and is really insignificant IMO.

[Sifu-Lux]

Thanks all for the input. Busy costing all the wheel bearing, seals, retaining rings etc at Toyota. Will see how it goes. So far running fine.