Tamiya The Frog Bearing Placement Guide: All 12 Bearing Locations (58354)
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The Tamiya The Frog is a classic 1/10-scale rear-wheel-drive RC buggy with a compact rear gearbox and trailing-arm suspension. This guide covers the 12 sealed bearings in the FastEddy Bearings TFE831 complete kit, with locations taken from Tamiya's The Frog assembly instructions for model 58354.
Tamiya The Frog Complete Bearing Kit
FastEddy Bearings TFE831 — Tamiya Frog Sealed Bearing Kit (12 Bearings)
All 12 bearings in this kit are the same size: 5x11x4 mm rubber-sealed bearing (MR115-2RS). This makes a complete bearing upgrade straightforward, even though the bearings fit several different assemblies.
Tamiya The Frog Bearing Location Chart
| Assembly / Location | Bearing Size | Qty | Tamiya Manual Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front wheels: inner and outer wheel supports, left and right | 5x11x4 | 4 | Step 24 |
| Rear trailing arms / rear drive axles: inner and outer axle supports, left and right | 5x11x4 | 4 | Step 12 |
| Spur / intermediate gear shaft: one bearing on each side of the gear | 5x11x4 | 2 | Step 7 |
| Differential / gearbox: two gearcase support bearings | 5x11x4 | 2 | Step 8 |
| TOTAL | FastEddy TFE831 bearing kit | 12 | 12 × 5x11x4 |
Front Wheel Bearings — 4 Bearings
Each front wheel has an inner and an outer 5x11x4 mm bearing, for two bearings per wheel and four across the front axle. The Tamiya manual shows these bearings on both sides of each front wheel in Step 24. During installation, seat the bearings squarely and make sure the wheel spins freely after the axle nut is secured.
Rear Trailing Arm and Drive Axle Bearings — 4 Bearings
Each rear trailing arm uses two 5x11x4 mm bearings around its drive axle. With one inner and one outer support on each side, the two rear assemblies use four bearings total. See Step 12 in Tamiya's assembly manual for the left and right trailing-arm arrangements. Check the drive axle for wear and clean dirt from the bearing seats before reassembly.
Spur and Intermediate Gear Bearings — 2 Bearings
Two 5x11x4 mm bearings support the intermediate gear shaft, one on each side of the gear assembly. Tamiya shows their placement in Step 7, alongside the optional spur-gear ratio choices. Replace both bearings together when servicing the spur gear, and check the gear teeth before closing the transmission.
Differential and Gearbox Bearings — 2 Bearings
Two 5x11x4 mm bearings support the gear components inside the sealed gearbox. Tamiya identifies these bearings in Step 8 during the gearbox assembly sequence. Check for roughness or looseness before closing the gearbox halves, and use the recommended grease on the gears rather than packing the bearing cavity with excess grease.
Official Tamiya Exploded Assembly Instructions
Use the official Tamiya The Frog (58354) Assembly Manual — PDF for component diagrams and assembly order. The most useful bearing pages are the manual's printed pages 6 (steps 7–8), 8 (step 12), and 12 (step 24).
When Should The Frog Bearings Be Replaced?
Inspect the front wheels and rear axles whenever you remove the wheels, and inspect the gearbox bearings during transmission service. Bearings that feel gritty, bind, have visible corrosion, or develop excessive play should be replaced. Clean the bearing seats before fitting replacements and avoid pressing against the inner race when installing a bearing into a housing.
Complete Kit or Individual Replacement Bearings?
For a full upgrade, the FastEddy TFE831 Tamiya Frog Sealed Bearing Kit supplies all 12 bearings. If you only need to service one assembly, individual 5x11x4 rubber-sealed bearings are also available separately.
Model and Version Notes
This guide uses the official assembly drawings for Tamiya The Frog 58354. The original Frog was sold as model 58041. Check your specific model, replacement gearbox parts, and any aftermarket modifications before ordering bearings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bearings are in the Tamiya Frog bearing kit?
The FastEddy TFE831 kit contains 12 sealed 5x11x4 mm bearings.
Are all 12 bearings the same size?
Yes. The FastEddy TFE831 kit uses 5x11x4 mm bearings in all four bearing locations listed above.
Where are the four front wheel bearings?
There are two bearings per front wheel: one on the inner side and one on the outer side of the wheel hub.
Where can I find the factory installation drawings?
The official Tamiya The Frog assembly manual includes all four bearing assembly steps.
Ready to Rebuild Your Frog?
Shop the complete FastEddy TFE831 Tamiya Frog bearing kit for a convenient model-specific replacement set.