2010 4Runner 4X4 front wheel bearing?

9

998cc

New member
All. My 2010 started making what sounds similar to tire noise. Like you would normally hear from a radical off road tire. My tires are street tread mud and snows:Nitto "Dura Grappler" "Highway Terrain" P265/70 R17. The tread is not aggressive, so I am wondering if this could be a front hub bearing. Does this seem reasonable?

If this is the case, is the bearing a press-fit?

Thanks.
998cc
 
Register to hide this ad
998cc said:
All. My 2010 started making what sounds similar to tire noise. Like you would normally hear from a radical off road tire. My tires are street tread mud and snows:Nitto "Dura Grappler" "Highway Terrain" P265/70 R17. The tread is not aggressive, so I am wondering if this could be a front hub bearing. Does this seem reasonable?

If this is the case, is the bearing a press-fit?

Thanks.
998cc
Click to expand...

Yes, very reasonable. I've been there and done that. Some guys have had to replace 2-3. In my case, the sound was most prominent around 20-35MPH and sounded just as you described. Jack the vehicle up and see if there is any play in the wheels themselves. My front driver went out around 120k, although when I put it on jack stands there was very little if any play.

Yes, they're press-fit.
 
If you gotta replace the wheel bearing, check out this website. He uses quality parts at a very reasonable price. Used one of his assemblies on my FJ Cruiser. Quick install as well since there was no need to press anything off or on.

Jersey Built Hubs
 
Thanks for the replies, folks. Parts are ordered and will be here Friday. Best regards to all on the list! :-)

Russ (Eleven Toyotas over 32 years)
 
Before you order, put the truck in 4-Hi and drive on a straight stretch of road. If the sound/vibration goes away, it ain't the wheel bearing.
 
vlad drac said:
Before you order, put the truck in 4-Hi and drive on a straight stretch of road. If the sound/vibration goes away, it ain't the wheel bearing.
Click to expand...


Not true at all.

Wheel bearings can make noise under all sorts of conditions- I learned this first hand.

Sometimes they make noise under load,

Sometimes they make noise under no load.

Sometimes they exhibit a lot of play/sloppiness.

Sometimes they have NO play/sloppiness.

Point is, you can't make a statement like the one above and expect it to apply to every circumstance because it most certainly will not.
 
vlad drac said:
Before you order, put the truck in 4-Hi and drive on a straight stretch of road. If the sound/vibration goes away, it ain't the wheel bearing.
Click to expand...

Antman said:
Not true at all.

Wheel bearings can make noise under all sorts of conditions- I learned this first hand.

Sometimes they make noise under load,

Sometimes they make noise under no load.

Sometimes they exhibit a lot of play/sloppiness.

Sometimes they have NO play/sloppiness.

Point is, you can't make a statement like the one above and expect it to apply to every circumstance because it most certainly will not.
Click to expand...
i think he's referring to the TSB that was issued for the front diff (carrier assembly), which would present as a similar symptom. it only affected the part-time 4WD models, and it would diminish/disappear if the vehicle was put in 4H. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/83296-humming-noise-front-end.html

OP doesn't indicate miles on either the vehicle or the tires themselves, which would probably help to make a better diagnosis. i've had worn tires (AT) that were causing vibrations that made me think it was bearings, etc. and it simply turned out to be the tires themselves.
 
sandcrawler said:
i think he's referring to the TSB that was issued for the front diff (carrier assembly), which would present as a similar symptom. it only affected the part-time 4WD models, and it would diminish/disappear if the vehicle was put in 4H. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/83296-humming-noise-front-end.html

OP doesn't indicate miles on either the vehicle or the tires themselves, which would probably help to make a better diagnosis. i've had worn tires (AT) that were causing vibrations that made me think it was bearings, etc. and it simply turned out to be the tires themselves.
Click to expand...


Thanks Sandcrawler. You are right Antman - maybe I was a bit too absolute in my post. I would check to see if the sound/vibration goes away when putting the truck in 4-HI. If it does, there is a good chance it is an issue with the needle bearing in the front left CV axle/diff area.

Video of the issue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLaX0YktJvGQuk-Xge30aZX-EXwvlKNUVK&time_continue=21&v=BOvoM5irtEc

East Coast Gear Supply makes a $60 clamshell bushing that will eliminate the noise/vibration - http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-85...bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html#videos

Obviously, it will cost more than $60 if you have someone else do the work. My '10 was doing it last winter, and then went away as the temps warmed up. As of last week with the sub-freezing temps, it's back (it seems to get worse in lower temps). Again, shifting to 4-HI immediately eliminates the "drone", which sounds like a bad tire or bad wheel bearing.

Here is the 155 page tacomaworld thread if you have a spare few hours - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...differential-bearing-vibration-thread.152173/
 
Last edited:
As a follow up. My hearing is not the best, and various passengers were certain the noise is emanating from the passenger side of the rig. Over the weekend, we drove to Reno, Nv. and back, and I noted the sound is worse at about 60 MPH.
The kicker is the noise stops on fairly hard right-hand sweeping turns on the freeway. Given all this, I replaced the passenger side bearing today. Noise is still there. Could this be a rear wheel bearing??

Thanks.
 
NEExpo said:
If you gotta replace the wheel bearing, check out this website. He uses quality parts at a very reasonable price. Used one of his assemblies on my FJ Cruiser. Quick install as well since there was no need to press anything off or on.

Jersey Built Hubs
Click to expand...

thanks for this - thats awesome. i don't have a press yet and this solves my issue
 
Antman said:
Not true at all.

Wheel bearings can make noise under all sorts of conditions- I learned this first hand.

Sometimes they make noise under load,

Sometimes they make noise under no load.

Sometimes they exhibit a lot of play/sloppiness.

Sometimes they have NO play/sloppiness.

Point is, you can't make a statement like the one above and expect it to apply to every circumstance because it most certainly will not.
Click to expand...

998cc said:
As a follow up. My hearing is not the best, and various passengers were certain the noise is emanating from the passenger side of the rig. Over the weekend, we drove to Reno, Nv. and back, and I noted the sound is worse at about 60 MPH.
The kicker is the noise stops on fairly hard right-hand sweeping turns on the freeway. Given all this, I replaced the passenger side bearing today. Noise is still there. Could this be a rear wheel bearing??

Thanks.
Click to expand...

In keeping with my last post...

I have replaced 3 wheel bearings on mine. 2 of them made noise under load and the noise went away under no-load. This supports your theory- Passenger bearing bad, turn right- unload the bearing, and the noise stops. But.......

My 3rd bearing exhibited the exact opposite behavior. This was the passenger side bearing, but the noise went away while turning left (bearing under load). There was ZERO play in the bearing and it spun freely when jacked up. I had to put the truck on 4 jackstands, put it in 4wd and let the truck idle in gear to find the bad bearing. While all 4 wheels were spinning, I had my neighbor stop each wheel by hand. When the right front was spinning I could hear the noise inside the truck.

Point is, it could still be your other front bearing!
 
Antman said:
In keeping with my last post...

I have replaced 3 wheel bearings on mine. 2 of them made noise under load and the noise went away under no-load. This supports your theory- Passenger bearing bad, turn right- unload the bearing, and the noise stops. But.......

My 3rd bearing exhibited the exact opposite behavior. This was the passenger side bearing, but the noise went away while turning left (bearing under load). There was ZERO play in the bearing and it spun freely when jacked up. I had to put the truck on 4 jackstands, put it in 4wd and let the truck idle in gear to find the bad bearing. While all 4 wheels were spinning, I had my neighbor stop each wheel by hand. When the right front was spinning I could hear the noise inside the truck.

Point is, it could still be your other front bearing!
Click to expand...

I will do the opposite bearing next. At any rate, doing all four myself with genuine Toyota parts will still be less than having one wheel done at the dealer.
 
What kind of bearings are these? Hub presses into the bearing and the half shaft is secured with a crown nut?
 
marshal said:
What kind of bearings are these? Hub presses into the bearing and the half shaft is secured with a crown nut?
Click to expand...

We are talking about replacing a hub assembly here.

The bearings are pressed into the hub, the hub is secured to the upright with 4 captured bolts and the half shaft goes through the hub and is secured with a crown nut/cotter key/locknut.

*******There is also a dust seal on the back of the upright that should be replaced!

If I had done that first time around my replacement driver's-side bearing probably would have lasted more than a year.:sad:

Live and learn!
 
marshal said:
What kind of bearings are these? Hub presses into the bearing and the half shaft is secured with a crown nut?
Click to expand...

The hub is the original on the truck. The new bearing/housing assembly, dust seal, O-ring and bolts are genuine OEM Toyota parts ordered from Olathe Toyota.

Being my first Toyota wheel bearing job, the quick trip to the machine shop for a press job was a surprise. ;-)
 
NEExpo said:
If you gotta replace the wheel bearing, check out this website. He uses quality parts at a very reasonable price. Used one of his assemblies on my FJ Cruiser. Quick install as well since there was no need to press anything off or on.

Jersey Built Hubs
Click to expand...

I almost went this route from these guys but I have a press so I saved over $100 just doing it myself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 579 (members: 1, guests: 578)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,105
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top