Wheel bearings? Vibration higher speeds

[Crusher1122]

I have a 07 4runner SR5 2wd that is our family taxi. No Mods except adding the stock subwoofer enclousure and a Scion T1809. We got it a year ago with 32k miles and now we are at 50k. It had the steering shake when we bought it but I attributed that to poor wheel balancing and didn't worry since I was putting different tires on it right after purchase. The new tires are yoko ATS and Discount balances them fine. I still have a shake at 60-75 and sometimes have to chase the steering around 75mph. I have replaced the rotors and brakes cause I got toyota oem parts for $180. The pads were shot. So I'm thinking the problem is the bearings, I have done the 12/6 o'clock test and get no movement, but i'm not sure if i'm doing the test correctly. I do have a pulsation noise at lower speeds. Do these bearings really go out at such low miles? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[kris022]

I just got my driver side wheel bearing replaced 2 weeks ago at 48k miles. Since I bought the truck used certified, it was covered at no cost. However I had no vibrations. It was just an annoying whining 65+mph. This was my experience. Welcome to the boards.

 

[Sungod]

Probably not your wheel bearings. They typically will make noise when they are going. A rocking in the steering wheel is usually a tire related issue associated with wheel balancing. If what you are feelings is more like that ping you get from hitting a ball with an aluminum bat constantly, that is normal.

 

[satanos6668280]

a wheel bearing will not cause vibration unless its really bad. you still have a balance issue

 

[SureShot516]

the bearing just went on my 2005 at 117,000

i had a vibration and a cyclical hum start at 30mph - 40 mph
smoothed out until 60mph didnt make much of a digfference between turning left or right, drove me nuts

brought it to toyota, paid $76 for them to determine it was the front right side bearing, purchased the bearing/Hub assembly for member Bumper2Bumper

1.5 hrs to replace the HUB and CV seal, problem solved she is smooth as butter

 

[satanos6668280]

depends on the type of vibration were talking about a high frequency vibration that you can hear can be a bearing but a vibration that shakes the steering wheel about 2-8 times per second with no noise will be a bent rim bound axle or more likely an out of balance tire

 

[SureShot516]

I had the tight virbration felt at the top of the steering wheel, a cyclical HUM spaced apart by about 1 sec intervals, slight vibration in gas pedal, vibration was present during slight acceleration, and deceleration, was present in any gear and in neutral as well.

the replacement of the wheel bearing/hub assembly fixed all the above

 

[Crusher1122]

One wheel has a slight indentation on the lip. Discount is able to balance it fine, but that's on a machine and not real world driving. I'll put the spare on and see what happens