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From: ccrse@ucdavis.UUCP (Steve Ehrhardt)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Toyota problems
Message-ID: <204@ucdavis.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 17:42:22 EST
Article-I.D.: ucdavis.204
Posted: Tue Oct 29 17:42:22 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 01:24:16 EST
References: <2427@sunybcs.UUCP>
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Organization: University of California, Davis
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>       1)  Approx. how much would it cost me to have a complete bearing 
>           replacement in the transmission of my 1980 Toyota Corolla SR-5
>           liftback w/5-speed?  I was quoted approx. $300 for the job.  Any
>           suggestions out there?  Is this a little steep?

Looks about right for what amounts to a full rebuild on a manual trans.
The previous comparison to a Datsun 310 really isn't a good one, since
the 310 is a FWD vehicle, if my memory serves me correctly.  Work on FWD
transaxles always seems to cost more.
 
>       2)  The bearings in the rear end have started to hum.  How much damage
>           can I expect if I wait a few months to replace them?

Depends on which bearings are making the noise.  If they're your rear wheel
bearings, probably none.  If the noise is coming from a differential bearing,
(or you're not sure which) you should look into getting it fixed ASAP or
risk replacing the entire unit.  (Replacing the entire unit with one from a
wrecking yard *may* be cheaper anyway - you might want to check into that if
a differential repair is indicated.)

Wheel bearings usually just keep getting noisier until they get so loud
that you have to replace them just to keep your sanity.  I favor milking all 
the mileage out of the original equipment bearings as possible, since they
frequently last longer *after* they start to make noise than the replacements
will after you install them.  Wheel bearings get *real* noisy before they
will freeze up, and the replacement bearings I've gotten have often been of
rather poor quality.