Wheel Bearing?

[devinlamothe]

So for the past few weeks I have been hearing a weird resonating or growling noise coming from my front end. Last night I was driving on the highway and heard this god-awful vibrating noise coming from one of my tires. I pulled over to see if there was something wrong but everything looked OK.

So my question is does this sound like a bad wheel bearing? I just had tires changed out today and it's still happening.

Also, how dangerous is it to drive with a bad bearing? I probably won't be able to get it changed out for about a week if it is the problem.

[Black_griffin6]

It could be a wheel bearing, a wheel bearing will sound like a humming noise.
Does it get louder when you go faster?

I would say go have it checked out as soon as you can.

[devinlamothe]

It could be a wheel bearing, a wheel bearing will sound like a humming noise.
Does it get louder when you go faster?

I would say go have it checked out as soon as you can.

Yeah it's kind of a pitched hum that changes tones with how fast I am going.

Also last night, it felt like I was going over a rumble strip on the highway but I was driving on smooth pavement.

If this is a bearing issue, what am I looking at cost wise from a garage (no stealership pricing)?

[devinlamothe]

Forgot to mention that the noise disappears if I make a right turn but comes back going straight or turning left.

[Black_griffin6]

I'm not sure on the cost, i've never had a wheel bearing replaced...nor am I a mechanic. :laugh:

It sounds like it's probably your front right side wheel bearing.

Bear in mind, i'm just making a guess based on what I know. Even some of the more experienced people will be just guessing, it's almost impossible to tell without actually being there to see/hear/smell/feel it.

[devinlamothe]

I'm not sure on the cost, i've never had a wheel bearing replaced...nor am I a mechanic. :laugh:

It sounds like it's probably your front right side wheel bearing.

Bear in mind, i'm just making a guess based on what I know. Even some of the more experienced people will be just guessing, it's almost impossible to tell without actually being there to see/hear/smell/feel it.

Indeed. I'm wondering if there is any simple test I can do to see if it is indeed the wheel bearing? I would take it in but I am working tomorrow.

[Black_griffin6]

Indeed. I'm wondering if there is any simple test I can do to see if it is indeed the wheel bearing? I would take it in but I am working tomorrow.
I dunno how brave you are but you could try this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdRpnK5MGQ8)
Seems a bit dangerous but it looks like it works.

[YarisSedan]

One way to test a wheel bearing is load it and unload it and see if there is a change in pitch. Like swerve left and see if it gets louder or right and see if it gets quieter IE like how you mentioned it went away turning right. So more than likely its going to be a left side wheel bearing. If you take a floor jack or dont own one you can use the one in the car. Lift up the left side of the car and firmly grasp the upper and lower portion of the wheel. And see if it will wobble up and down as well as left and right. If there is any play at all its safe to say this is the culprit. You can try spinning the wheel you may hear some rumbling noise as well. It is a safety issue as the wheel bearing becomes worse and totally destroyed it can cause the wheel to full lock up or worse fall off in worst case. But you would have to be totally ignorant and drive the car at high speeds with the loud humming for that to happen.

[devinlamothe]

One way to test a wheel bearing is load it and unload it and see if there is a change in pitch. Like swerve left and see if it gets louder or right and see if it gets quieter IE like how you mentioned it went away turning right. So more than likely its going to be a left side wheel bearing. If you take a floor jack or dont own one you can use the one in the car. Lift up the left side of the car and firmly grasp the upper and lower portion of the wheel. And see if it will wobble up and down as well as left and right. If there is any play at all its safe to say this is the culprit. You can try spinning the wheel you may hear some rumbling noise as well. It is a safety issue as the wheel bearing becomes worse and totally destroyed it can cause the wheel to full lock up or worse fall off in worst case. But you would have to be totally ignorant and drive the car at high speeds with the loud humming for that to happen.

Yeah I tried that you can move it a bit from all angles. Looks like I will be bringing it in tomorrow to see if they can do this.

EDIT: I really don't want my wheel to fall off lol so I will be paying $$ to have this fixed ASAP as this is our only car at the moment.

[devinlamothe]

So yeah turns out it IS the drivers side front wheel bearing. I jacked up all my wheels individually and checked for play, and that was the one that was loose.

Toyota wants $300+tax to fix it, with the part.

I'm guessing that is expensive since I can get the part for $60 and it looks fairly easy to do, I just need a press. But since I have no time at the moment, I'm going to let them do it.

Any reason this would fail? Or just normal wear and tear?

[thepartsmancometh]

So yeah turns out it IS the drivers side front wheel bearing. I jacked up all my wheels individually and checked for play, and that was the one that was loose.

Toyota wants $300+tax to fix it, with the part.

I'm guessing that is expensive since I can get the part for $60 and it looks fairly easy to do, I just need a press. But since I have no time at the moment, I'm going to let them do it.

Any reason this would fail? Or just normal wear and tear?

normal wear and tear, impact, or severe balance issue with wheel/tire assembly.

[bzinn 1]

whats your milage on the car,bad roads,pothole,salty winter roads even can reduce life of the bearings if it gets past the seals.

Honestly $300 is not too bad a price to have someone else do it.

Dont drive if you can help it,wheels can old over if it goes too wobbly and then it gets spendy as it can take out drive shaft,tranny input location,suspension,body panels...etc.

[devinlamothe]

Well I have 215,000 KM on it ... and yeah our roads are terrible. Not as much salt in the winter, though.

Yeah I have no choice driving on it since it's our only car, but it's going in tomorrow morning and 23km to the dealership from my house. :P

[MUSKOKA800]

Could be a CV joint.
Either way, get ye to a mechanic if you can't diagnose and wrench yourself.

[devinlamothe]

Could be a CV joint.
Either way, get ye to a mechanic if you can't diagnose and wrench yourself.

I'll find out 100% tomorrow, but I don't think it's the CV. I checked the boot and everything looks tight and no grease showing.

Pretty sure it's the wheel bearing as I can move the wheel when it's jacked up, and only from that one side.

I'll update tomorrow after I'm back from the garage. :P

[Kazimodo]

I'll update tomorrow after I'm back from the garage. :P
.
2011 , too bad , no update ... I am having a sound when turning left
"Tac Tac Tac ", the more weight put in the curve ; the louder the
"Tac Tac Tac" ,nothing in a straight line , just quiet as can be ,
it does it equally under load or breaking , or just coasting thru the curves
was wondering if it was a half shaft , or wheel bearing .....
sounds like it is coming from front right side
but that can be deceiving , sometimes other rattles sounded like
they were coming from the front ,and turned out it was something
in the back of the car ...
any expert opinions ??
2007 from May 2006
190,000 KM

[CTScott]

.
2011 , too bad , no update ... I am having a sound when turning left
"Tac Tac Tac ", the more weight put in the curve ; the louder the
"Tac Tac Tac" ,nothing in a straight line , just quiet as can be ,
it does it equally under load or breaking , or just coasting thru the curves
was wondering if it was a half shaft , or wheel bearing .....
sounds like it is coming from front right side
but that can be deceiving , sometimes other rattles sounded like
they were coming from the front ,and turned out it was something
in the back of the car ...
any expert opinions ??
2007 from May 2006
190,000 KM

That type of sound when turning is most likely a CV joint going bad. Check for a ripped boot, which is typically what starts the sequence of failure.

[Kazimodo]

no ripped boot , all looks good down there
low speed, high speed ; = "ta ka ta ka ta ".....
the more weight applied to the wheel , in the curve ,
the louder the "ta ka ta ka ta "
in the past I have had cv joints go bad
and there was a difference in the loudness of the
sound when you accelarated compared to just coasting thru a curve
that is why I was hoping someone else had the same
behavior described .
I'll look into this during the next weeks and report results.
Thanks for reply CTScott:thumbsup:

[kou]

I have the same noise coming from drivers side front. I believe it is the wheel bearing starting to go bad and sticking a little it is annoying but not in a rush to fix.

[Kazimodo]

Thanks Kou , I was thinking the same thing
ANNOYING , tolerable for now , too busy .:wub:

[kou]

I am going to purchase a used spindle then install a new hub and bearing in that so it will be an easy job when I feel the need to change out the bad one.

[Kazimodo]

Found my problem ..
sort of thread jacking ... but it is the same subject :redface:
.
I knew my sound was not the same as described by the
original poster , he described very well with his words
' a growling and resonating noise'' and that sounds like a wheel bearing.
. my '' scratch , scratch ,scratch '' noise was different ,
and only when turning left .
turns out it was a brake part , sorry I did not take a picture , but
it is the part of the Caliper that does not move , the part that is held
by 2 17mm bolts , where the rotor almost touches at the bottom ,
when turning , well mine touched just a bit , and it was enough to
make of huge sound , when the brake pads leave a lip on the outer
part of the rotor , that lip gets rusted and creates a crust , that crust
rubbed on the caliper part , took the grinder and removed the lip all
around the rotor , then removed the part held by 2 17mm bolts ,
the brake pads stay attached to that part , so no need to remove
them , and I grounded off some metal , sort of a defect in the
molding of that cast Iron part , a crest in the metal , no more noise .
.
Hopes this helps someone else some day :thumbup:

[bairjo]

I have the same noise coming from drivers side front. I believe it is the wheel bearing starting to go bad and sticking a little it is annoying but not in a rush to fix.


If they are available...go wth a Timken bearing.