Humming Sound while driving that goes away while turning left

[ScooterMD]

2007 4Runner Sport here that has developed a medium-pitched humming sound while driving at all speeds. The sound has gotten slightly louder over the past year. I noticed just recently that the sound goes away when I am turning to the left or even just on a straight road that veers slightly to the left. It returns immediately after straightening the wheel.

The truck otherwise runs well. I have two sets of wheels/tires - highway and off-road, and the sound is the same with both sets. I have had 1.25" spacers since before the sound started.

The alignment seems fine. However, I had the alignment done at the dealer about a year and a half ago, and they had a really difficult time aligning it properly. I don't recall the issue, but I remember they had to adjust settings to the max to get it right.

Any thought on what this could be? I am stumped.

 

[LawmanIdaho208]

Could be a wheel bearing.

 

[radlynx]

yes, a wheel bearing for sure.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[Morphyne]

100% wheel bearing. I think when you turn left that means it the right bearing. But go ahead and replace both hub/bearings bc my experience is that when one bearing goes the other is close behind.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

2007 4Runner Sport here that has developed a medium-pitched humming sound while driving at all speeds. The sound has gotten slightly louder over the past year. I noticed just recently that the sound goes away when I am turning to the left or even just on a straight road that veers slightly to the left. It returns immediately after straightening the wheel.

The truck otherwise runs well. I have two sets of wheels/tires - highway and off-road, and the sound is the same with both sets. I have had 1.25" spacers since before the sound started.

The alignment seems fine. However, I had the alignment done at the dealer about a year and a half ago, and they had a really difficult time aligning it properly. I don't recall the issue, but I remember they had to adjust settings to the max to get it right.

Any thought on what this could be? I am stumped.

Its your wheel Bearings. How many miles do you have on your 4Runner? I just had mine replaced at 216k miles. I started hearing the humming sound around 180K miles.

 

[rumfoord]

Ya, wheel bearing... I believe the rule of thumb is the direction you turn that causes the sound to go away or lessen is the side that is going.

Sound lessens when turn left it's the left bearing.
Sound lessens when turn right it's the right bearing.

Going to have to do my left soon as well.

 

[07V8]

As others have said, bearing.

Might as well just replace both of them....

 

[07V8]

As others have said, bearing.

Might as well just replace both of them....

 

[foragg]

Ditto on bearings, same problem just fixed it. Buy the assemblies.

 

[gaber6]

Mine was a rear bearing, which is a bit of a PITA to change out compared to the bolt-in replacement for the front. If you can pull the axle yourself with basic tools, and find a shop to press a bearing, the price is reasonable.

 

[ScooterMD]

Many thanks for the replies. The 4Runner has 155k miles. I was suspecting wheel bearing after reading similar posts but feared maybe something with the differential. Is replacing the wheel bearing a "fix ASAP" issue or "let it ride until you get around to it" problem? I just moved cross-country and don't have my garage set up for any lind of projects yet. Like I said, the sound has been there for many months but is definitely getting louder.

 

[vonguido]

wheel bearing for dayyyyssssss - Marion Bumper 2 Bumper sells a great setup, buy 2 and do both of them since you're there.

I would get it fixed sooner than later, order the parts soon as you can and get them installed as soon as you can.

 

[AuSeeker]

Many thanks for the replies. The 4Runner has 155k miles. I was suspecting wheel bearing after reading similar posts but feared maybe something with the differential. Is replacing the wheel bearing a "fix ASAP" issue or "let it ride until you get around to it" problem? I just moved cross-country and don't have my garage set up for any lind of projects yet. Like I said, the sound has been there for many months but is definitely getting louder.

You speak as if you suspect the rear wheel bearing to be the one/s going bad, is there a reason you think that?

Usually when the sound goes away when turning it one of the front bearings, but I guess it coulds be a rear as well.

You can easily check the front bearing/s simply by jack up the wheel and grab it at 12 o'clock and at 6 o'clock and try to see if there's any play in the bearing by rocking it back and forth, if any play at all the bearing assembly needs to be replaced.

 

[ScooterMD]

You speak as if you suspect the rear wheel bearing to be the one/s going bad, is there a reason you think that?

Usually when the sound goes away when turning it one of the front bearings, but I guess it coulds be a rear as well.

You can easily check the front bearing/s simply by jack up the wheel and grab it at 12 o'clock and at 6 o'clock and try to see if there's any play in the bearing by rocking it back and forth, if any play at all the bearing assembly needs to be replaced.

I don't suspect it's the rear at all; I think that was another poster. Thanks for the tip about jacking up and checking for play. Just moved x-country and don't yet have access to my jack, stands, or tools so can't do that (what an awful time for this to happen). I may just take this to shop or stealer to get it addressed/fixed. Any idea what a wheel bearing replacement should cost?

 

[AuSeeker]

I don't suspect it's the rear at all; I think that was another poster. Thanks for the tip about jacking up and checking for play. Just moved x-country and don't yet have access to my jack, stands, or tools so can't do that (what an awful time for this to happen). I may just take this to shop or stealer to get it addressed/fixed. Any idea what a wheel bearing replacement should cost?

Are you saying you don't even have access to the original jack that came with your truck(?), if not what would you do if you have a flat?

If you can use the original jack or borrow one I would check the front bearings first yourself, it's going to cost you at least an hour labor to get a garage to do it which would be expensive, it would only take you a few minutes to check it yourself but a garage won't charge you for a few minutes, most charge for an hour even if it takes 10 minutes.

If you do check with just a basic jack and no jack stands you can check for play side to side by grabbing the tire at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock instead of top to bottom so you don't have your fingers under the tire in case it falls off the jack, but if you have any undue wear in the steering conponents it could also show up checking from side to side, if you find you only have a small amount of play in the bearing you could probably wait a bit longer before replacing the bearing but you still need to replace as soon as you can.

The price of the bearing/s itself is not all that much...but the amount of labor will be the big cost if you just buy the bearing/s because you have to remove the entire bearing assembly and unless you have a 20 press you will have to take the assembly to a machine shop to have them press out the old bearing and then press in the new bearing....or as most do for more $ buy the entire complete assembly and it's a job you can do yourself rather easily.

The cost of the bearing assembly depends on if you have a 2wd or 4wd, the 4wd are usually a quite bit cheaper than a 2wd, not sure why, a 4wd assembly usually sells for a very high quailty one around $180 each, a 2wd about a $100 more, you can get lesser quailty for a good bit less but I would get the best if at all financially possible as they will last for many, many years whereas the cheaper ones may only last for a few years at best.

The 4wd assemblies are a bit more labor to replace because you have to pull the front axle shaft/s out, the 2wd much easier because you don't have the axles to deal with, but either can be done with basic tools at home if you have some basic mechanical experience, which it seems you do since you mentioned setting up your shop.

 

[gaber6]

That was me saying mine was the rear left when I thought it was the front left. Even felt like it was coming through the steering.

 

[ScooterMD]

Are you saying you don't even have access to the original jack that came with your truck(?), if not what would you do if you have a flat?

Auseeker many thanks for the response and valuable info. This truck actually didn't have the original jack when I bought it, but I have since purchased a replacement, which is indeed in the truck.

But we moved into a smaller apartment in downtown philadelphia with a smaller garage, which is completely full of boxes, disassembled furniture, etc, including all of my tools that are still boxed up. If I were to explain to my wife that I wanted to dig out my tools and clear out space in the garage to replace a wheel bearing on our 4Runner before assembling our furniture, unpacking the rest of our belongings, and finishing everything necessary to make the new house livable, the failing wheel bearing would be the least of my worries.

Related to the cause of this, I mentioned that I noticed the sound several months ago (maybe about a year) and that it grew significantly worse after driving cross-country...it seems plausible that the long x-country drive brought the otherwise stable problem to a head...does that make sense?

 

[bob3dsf]

Many thanks for the replies. The 4Runner has 155k miles. I was suspecting wheel bearing after reading similar posts but feared maybe something with the differential. Is replacing the wheel bearing a "fix ASAP" issue or "let it ride until you get around to it" problem? I just moved cross-country and don't have my garage set up for any lind of projects yet. Like I said, the sound has been there for many months but is definitely getting louder.

It's been going on a year? Hard to say how critical the timing is at this point. Since it's been a year, I would lean towards get it done ASAP. How much louder is it now? Is it really annoying to hear it while driving? When it fails, it'll likely seize up. That won't be great if you're driving when it happens. You asked about cost.... I think I paid about $500 for both front wheels, and that includes a new hub as well. I think its a good deal. I used a set from Blue Pit Bearings. 1st rate person to deal with. I only wish it was as easy for the rear bearings, but oh well. I have 195k and they are doing fine. My fronts have been on since around 70k I think. I'd have to look at my files though....

Blue Pit Bearings | 2003-2017 Toyota 4runner 4x4

 

[ScooterMD]

It's been going on a year? Hard to say how critical the timing is at this point. Since it's been a year, I would lean towards get it done ASAP. How much louder is it now? Is it really annoying to hear it while driving?

Hi Bob, thanks for the bearings rec. Yeah, the sound is really annoying now. At first it just sounded like tire rub, which I attributed to the ATR's I had added. But then it didn't go away when I switched back to the highway tires and it definitely got louder after the 3000+ mile X-country drive. Will get this done ASAP.

 

[ScooterMD]

After extensive discussion w wife, I gave in and took it to the dealer for repair. Indeed it was the Passenger side wheel bearing...about $900 to replace...seems like a lot! All but 100 was covered by an aftermarket deductible, except the alignment for another 100. Is an alignment really necessary after replacing a bearing?
The experience reminded me of why I absolutely hate the dealership - will start another post about this...