need help from some front end gurus

[keakar]

2006 sport with 4.7 v8 and completely stock with stock size tires.

here is what has been going on:

i cant seem to find anything wrong with the front end but ever since i bought it in 2015 it has had a slight to moderate steering wheel vibration between 60-65 mph, when it gets to 68-70 mph it smooths out again and anything under 60 there is no noticeable vibration.

i didnt notice exactly when it happened but sometime this year the vibration in the steering wheel stopped and changed to an electric motor like hum that is loud enough to make you turn the radio up louder and the steering wheel you can feel a motor like hum being transferred into it.

its not engine rpm related and is still there if i put it in neutral while doing 70mph to coast a bit. now here is the part that i think should indicate something, when im in a moderate right hand turn on the freeway the electric motor like steering vibration is gone and so is all the hum noise. the vehicle even seems to be more at ease as though its under less load. the condition does not change when going in a left hand turn or driving straight up or down bridges.

i have done some checking and cant find any loose or worn front end components and the tire tread patterns, as best as i can eyeball and measure by seat of pants, seem to be even on both the inner and outside edges of the tires on the front and rear.

the alignment "seems" ok since no abnormal tread wear is visible and the vehicle drives perfectly straight for a good 1/4 mile or more if you let go of the wheel on a straight and level road.

im thinking this has to be a front end alignment issue but every time i ever went get an alignment with past vehicles it always farther out of alignment then beforee i brought it in. they seem to feel if done correctly then it should pull to one side or the other after they "so called" fixed the alignment on it so im afraid to bring it in to a bunch of shade tree mechanics that believe cars are supposed to pull to one side when aligned properly.

i have a feeling this is a worn part that needs replacing but im not sure how to diagnose which part is bad since its not obvious at this point

 

[having fun]

Dont hurt to check. Jack the front up off the ground. Grab tire 12 n 6 see if any movement.
9 to 3 also.

 

[unevolved]

How many miles?

Sounds like it's either tires out of balance, or a bearing going bad. I agree with having fun, check the wheel bearings for play. Should be zero.

 

[alia176]

If this is a bearing issue, checking for play is not the end all to be all type of check. A tight bearing can still have pits on the races and exhibit noise and vibes while under load. If you can free spin the wheel, that'd be an easy to listen for the noise but this isn't easy to do for a full time 4x4 rig.

It does sound like a right hand turn makes the sound decrease which points to the left front wheel bearing as a possible culprit. If one bearing is bad, chances are that the other one isn't too far behind.

 

[cooper30]

I always get my alignments done at a place that only does alignments, not a tire place. An alignment place sells alignments. A tire place sells tires and does alignments. The "green" range is exactly that...a range. You want someone who will align your truck for the longest tire wear, not just in the "green".

I had a 98 lifted Tahoe that I had aligned at an alignment shop that didn't sell tires. Sometimes when you looked at the front, it looked like there was a bit of positive camber.....but I got 40k miles on a set of all terrains.

...but I digress....

My initial thought is tires. Full time can be rough on them sometimes, especially if the alignment isn't dead on. Rotate them front to back and see how it drives. Cross the two front when you put them on the back and bring the rears straight up.

FWIW, I have an '08 Limited 4.7. I rotate at every oil change.

 

[keakar]

I always get my alignments done at a place that only does alignments, not a tire place. An alignment place sells alignments. A tire place sells tires and does alignments. The "green" range is exactly that...a range. You want someone who will align your truck for the longest tire wear, not just in the "green".

I had a 98 lifted Tahoe that I had aligned at an alignment shop that didn't sell tires. Sometimes when you looked at the front, it looked like there was a bit of positive camber.....but I got 40k miles on a set of all terrains.

...but I digress....

My initial thought is tires. Full time can be rough on them sometimes, especially if the alignment isn't dead on. Rotate them front to back and see how it drives. Cross the two front when you put them on the back and bring the rears straight up.

FWIW, I have an '08 Limited 4.7. I rotate at every oil change.

more info: vehicle has 190k miles and its a 2wd and its completely 100% oem stock so nothing was altered or changed on it.


i did jack it up and checked the front brearings 3-9 & 6-12, i also checked for tie rods and front end or bushing movement and couldnt detect any.

when i had a shake but not the hum noise i did a 4 wheel brake job with rotors all around as well as a front to back tire rotation and had the tires re-balanced and nothing changed with all of this was done. tires are cheap wranglers but the tire rotation changing nothing suggests that its not a tire related issue even though they are not the best tires but they were brand new when i got the truck so im stuck with them until they wear out.

i could feel nothing unusual from the bearings when spinning the tires with the wheels off, but there is not much you can tell by doing that unless its really bad to the point of being loose.

 

[keakar]

If this is a bearing issue, checking for play is not the end all to be all type of check. A tight bearing can still have pits on the races and exhibit noise and vibes while under load. If you can free spin the wheel, that'd be an easy to listen for the noise but this isn't easy to do for a full time 4x4 rig.

It does sound like a right hand turn makes the sound decrease which points to the left front wheel bearing as a possible culprit. If one bearing is bad, chances are that the other one isn't too far behind.

ok so if it gets quiet when turning right that indicates the drivers left side is where something is amiss?

this is what i was hoping for, some semblance of where/which side to look at

i have the 2006 2wd sport, so do i have regular bearings or is it those pressed in bearings i heard about where you just change the whole thing?

with 190k miles im guessing its still due for new bearings to be installed even if those arent the issue correct?

 

[cooper30]

Totally my bad...I was thinking full-time 4wd. Sorry.

I've never pulled apart a 2wd, so I can't tell you whether it's a unit bearing or not.


edited to add....My AllData sub is only for 4wd, but a quick lookup on Napa shows a hub/bearing unit assy.

 

[keakar]

Totally my bad...I was thinking full-time 4wd. Sorry.

I've never pulled apart a 2wd, so I can't tell you whether it's a unit bearing or not.


edited to add....My AllData sub is only for 4wd, but a quick lookup on Napa shows a hub/bearing unit assy.

ya i just saw a youtube for it and its an assembly unit you replace or you can buy bearings and press out and press in new bearings but im not gonna do all that just to save a few dollars when its such a critical component.

this is a video of how its replaced if anyone is interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVuM8iVO6u8

im thinking about buying these and they include the o-ring seal for the back as well unless someone has a better suggestion on which parts to buy https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-WHEE...TACOMA-FJ-CRUISER-4RUNNER-2WD-LR/123123124186

i noticed the 4wd ones are cheaper by almost half price of the 2wd ones for whatever reason

 

[metramm]

I just did both of mine on my 06 4wd 4runner v6.

Ordered from Jersey built hubs (just search on google). I ordered the seals but didn't end up needing them so now they are spares.

Build and ship time took about 2 weeks so order ahead of time.

I installed both hub assemblies even though only my passenger side was bad since the drivers side was likely to go out.

My passenger side had about a half inch of play left and right when grabbing at 9 and 3.

Very smooth and quiet now.

 

[cooper30]

Cross the part number on Amazon. I find a lot of things cheaper there.

I do try to patronize local businesses, but once the price difference is >$25, I start looking.

 

[radlynx]

just drive faster, should resolve your issue.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[alia176]

ok so if it gets quiet when turning right that indicates the drivers left side is where something is amiss?

this is what i was hoping for, some semblance of where/which side to look at

i have the 2006 2wd sport, so do i have regular bearings or is it those pressed in bearings i heard about where you just change the whole thing?

with 190k miles im guessing its still due for new bearings to be installed even if those arent the issue correct?

Ok, you have a 2WD so spinning the tires off the ground *may* indicate a bad bearing. It should sound rough or feel rough as the wheel goes round and round. Still, you may not hear/feel anything since the wheel isn't supporting the weight of the vehicle.

On a 2WD, it's an easy job to undo the four nuts/bolts and one large nut then everything comes off. You can go to a local NAPA/AutoZone type place and order a new hub+bearing combo unit. No press work is needed here.

Just replace both sides and be done with it. Plenty of help on this board if you need it.

 

[AuSeeker]

im thinking about buying these and they include the o-ring seal for the back as well unless someone has a better suggestion on which parts to buy https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-WHEE...TACOMA-FJ-CRUISER-4RUNNER-2WD-LR/123123124186

i noticed the 4wd ones are cheaper by almost half price of the 2wd ones for whatever reason

Buying those would all depend on how long you plan on keeping your T4R, if you plan on keeping for as long as possible those "cheap" 3 year 50,000 miles bearings may have to be replaced again in 3 years or less, but if you plan on only keeping for a couple of years then selling then that may be the way to go, but for me I keeping mine until it's ready for the junk yard which maybe 10 more years or more so when I replace mine I will be with the best I can buy.

Edit: I just looked again to see if they specified what brand bearing it is but they just say high quality, doesn't say much to me, they also contradict themselves because they say 3 year 50,000 mile warranty in some areas of the discription but in other areas they say 5 years 50,000 miles, I would get the correct warranty in writing just so you know exactly which is correct and what is actually covered by that warranty!!

You probally won't get a better warranty than that even with a very high quality bearing but the high quality bearing will most likely last as long as the original OEM bearing which will be much, much longer than the warranty.

 

[keakar]

Buying those would all depend on how long you plan on keeping your T4R, if you plan on keeping for as long as possible those "cheap" 3 year 50,000 miles bearings may have to be replaced again in 3 years or less, but if you plan on only keeping for a couple of years then selling then that may be the way to go, but for me I keeping mine until it's ready for the junk yard which maybe 10 more years or more so when I replace mine I will be with the best I can buy.

Edit: I just looked again to see if they specified what brand bearing it is but they just say high quality, doesn't say much to me, they also contradict themselves because they say 3 year 50,000 mile warranty in some areas of the discription but in other areas they say 5 years 50,000 miles, I would get the correct warranty in writing just so you know exactly which is correct and what is actually covered by that warranty!!

i "plan" on having 10-15 more years and another 100-200k miles minimum out of it

what brand would you recommend is best? i dont mind spending money for quality when it matters like with this

 

[AuSeeker]

i "plan" on having 10-15 more years and another 100-200k miles minimum out of it

what brand would you recommend is best? i dont mind spending money for quality when it matters like with this

Jerseybuilt hubs does a great job and uses Koyo bearings, but lead time can be an issue, 2 to 4 weeks sometimes, Marion Bumper2Bumper also does the same but his lead time can take sometimes even longer, and both also seems to sometimes take a long time with communication.

But there's a guy on TocomaWorld forum that has a great product and a very fast turn around, when I replace mine if he's still producing I will buy from him, his username is 05Taco4x4, here's a link to his topic where he sell his hub/bearing assemblies, you want the "prerunner" hubs/bearings, but just send him a PM letting him know exactly what your T4R is and he will get you exactly what you need, also post in his topic that you sent him a PM, he usually keeps a couple of sets in stock so he can ship within a day or so after you order at the most but if it takes longer he will let you know ASAP.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-4x4-prerunner-165-ea.537080/

 

[keakar]

Jerseybuilt hubs does a great job and uses Koyo bearings, but lead time can be an issue, 2 to 4 weeks sometimes, Marion Bumper2Bumper also does the same but his lead time can take sometimes even longer, and both also seems to sometimes take a long time with communication.

But there's a guy on TocomaWorld forum that has a great product and a very fast turn around, when I replace mine if he's still producing I will buy from him, his username is 05Taco4x4, here's a link to his topic where he sell his hub/bearing assemblies, you want the "prerunner" hubs/bearings, but just send him a PM letting him know exactly what your T4R is and he will get you exactly what you need, also post in his topic that you sent him a PM, he usually keeps a couple of sets in stock so he can ship within a day or so after you order at the most but if it takes longer he will let you know ASAP.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-4x4-prerunner-165-ea.537080/

so i gather these guys just install new bearings in used hubs and then sell complete recondition hub units?

 

[AuSeeker]

so i gather these guys just install new bearings in used hubs and then sell complete recondition hub units?

No all parts that are used in these hub/bearing assemblies are all new parts, new hub, bearing, hub bolts, lug studs, and depending on which hub is ordered seals, O-rings spindle nuts, etc.

 

[metramm]

From my understanding, Koyo (made in Japan) is the oem from Toyota.

That's what mine came with when I purchased them.

 

[keakar]

installed the new bearings and was shocked that everything came apart and went back in easy, i literally never have a proverbial 5 minute job like this go so trouble and pain free lol.

only drivers side was grumbling but changed both sides out so im good for another 200k hopefully.

still never found my issue causing wheel shake at 65-70 mph, im just going to have to let it get worse until it lets me find the bad part