I have an 85 4Runner that I'll be swapping rear disks into in the next few days, just waiting on parts.

The problem is that my bearings are destroyed and have killed the axle seels so now my rear brakes are shot. I need this truck to get to work on Monday.

My thought is to replace the bearings, seels and forget about getting new brake shoes cause I'm doing disks within a week (I hope, depending on my parts). Yes my fronts will be workig twice as hard with no rears, and I'll have to go slower alowing for more stopping distance.

What are your thoughts?
Can't be much different than oil soaked brake shoes.

:shaking:

What, no opinions?

I did the same thing (minus the disk conversion) two months back.

Replaced toasted bearings with Timken ones from JToutfitters, got new retaining collars from NAPA and while I was at it I rebuilt the rear brakes, which was a good idea. Also swapped in a V6 third in back with 5.29s and a Detroit.

Make sure you get new retaining rings, as you'll most likely have to destroy them to get them off. You will definitely need a good shop press, and a piece of steel sized to fit over the axle shaft so you can use the press to drive the bearing & ring in place. And also, of course, new bearings and inner & outer seals.

This is going to be one long, sucky weekend worth of work. Just FYI. It will take about two hours just to clean the grit/gear oil mixture out of the brakes. A good wheel cleaner, a brush, and a hose seems to work the best, but make sure you have a bunch of brake parts cleaner around, too.

Also, after I got all of this crap installed, I cross threaded the hard line as I was installing a braided stainless brake hose back there. I had to crimp the rear brakes off and drive around with fronts only for 4 days. As long as you don't leave any air in the rear line when you crimp it, it will be okay. I had a nice hard pedal, but the truck didn't stop all that well, of course. Didn't feel outright dangerous though, even in the rain.

The bearrings are done, I have a 20 ton press at work I used on a spare set of axles. I'm just needing brakes, I don't want to spend money on fixing the drums cause I'm going to toss them. I'm going to try running just the fronts untill '350 TOY' gets me my rear disks.

Is this a bad idea?

I guess I'll find out tomorow.

I'm not crimping the lines, I disconnected the rear and bled the lines.