96 2WD - Rep'l front wheel bearing assembly

[eight08]

Hello all,

This is my first post here, looks like a very helpful forum but I wasn't able to find any reference to this problem in my searches.

My girlfriend has a 96 Rav4 2WD no ABS. I had the wheels off this afternoon to investigate a brakes problem, and noticed the front-right wheel bearing was *way* loose. Took the retainer nut off and pulled the hub out, and the shards of metal that used to be the bearing fell out. Good times.

I looked up the bearing and seal part numbers on the AutoZone website and drove out to pick them up. Got them home and double checked for fit. I didn't have an old bearing to compare to, so I checked the fit of the inner race to the hub (okay) and the diameter of the bearing to the knuckle. Bad news: there is no way the bearing is going to fit in that knuckle. Crap. Double checked the old seal (still mostly intact) the the new seal and the new parts are definitely LARGER. Didn't get out the ruler but it's somewhere around 3/16 inch difference.

I double checked the part numbers against my other go-to, Rock Auto. Same part numbers and those parts with spec'd diameters are all the same. What? Well this little project is now quite out of control.

Has anybody else run into this problem? Seems very weird...

Just for reference the bearing part number (Timken) is 514002B and the seal part number (also Timken) is 4899.

[hd72m]

I would take other side apart just far enough to get the part number off the bearings,plus good chance they need replaced also.

[Ken Allistone]

Could it be that 2wd bearings are smaller than 4wd bearings? I know the tie rod links are smaller on the 2wd Rav.

[eight08]

Nope, turns out I'm daft. I wasn't expecting the bearing to be pressed in from behind, as I discovered it was after I pulled the whole knuckle off. Upon further inspection the knuckle and the hub are more damaged than I'm comfortable with to put it back on the vehicle, so the search is on for a used replacement assembly.

There is something to be said for having a repair manual or assembly diagram handy when you're unfamiliar with a particular model...

[vwvannut]

please avoid the chinese crap at autozone... autohausaz will sell you the bearing, hub, and seals for right around $100, free shipping.

[97Rav 4]

I did a 97 driver side front bearing awd,It was the hardest wheel bearing I have ever changed(got to use the harbor freight press)worked great