Wheel hub bearings or rotor problem?

[eliask08]

Hi guys,

I've searched this forums and glanced at some videos on you tube regarding the issue I am experiencing, where I am getting a sort-of roaring noise that changes with speed. The faster I go, the faster and more roar I get. It started happening with the heavy winter tires on, so I assumed it was just related to the large tread, though it persisted even with the summer tires. I get a vibration in the steering wheel, that gets faster with speed as well. What I do also notice is that the noise stops as I enter/leave a turn (~20-degree rotation of the wheel is when the noise stops).

These are the tall-tale symptoms of a failed wheel hub, but I just raised the front end and shook the crap of the wheels, and don't get any of the movement you see with a failed hub. Am I missing something?

When I try to spin the driver front wheel, it does not move freely and slows/speeds up as I attempt to turn it, so I am now assuming it could be a warped driver-side rotor (I am noticing a very rough surface on the rotor).

Could a wheel hub fail and cause the same noise, while not being loose as if the bearings are messed? Either way, I am looking at replacing front rotors and pads, or the entire wheel hub assembly (from blue pit bearings), so I don't want to accidentally replace the hub if it is not the issue. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[BootyFister]

Hey man, I spent a couple weeks with a similar problem. bad vibration in the steering wheel that would change with speed. I'm curious what your wheel does when you brake hard at like 50. I thought it was bearings, and the story was identical to yours. so I replaced both rotors, and calipers plus an alignment.; it now runs like a dream. I would look at the brakes i dont know how many miles you have on your calipers, or what you run in, but mine took a shit around 120,000 and i had been abusing them up to 150,000. That took care of my issue, also i had build up of clay on my rims, which added to the catastrophe. my point in all this is I felt it was the bearings and the mechanics though it was a bearing after i told them what it was doing and this is where my road led....:artist2:

 

[eliask08]

Hey man, I spent a couple weeks with a similar problem. bad vibration in the steering wheel that would change with speed. I'm curious what your wheel does when you brake hard at like 50. I thought it was bearings, and the story was identical to yours. so I replaced both rotors, and calipers plus an alignment.; it now runs like a dream. I would look at the brakes i dont know how many miles you have on your calipers, or what you run in, but mine took a shit around 120,000 and i had been abusing them up to 150,000. That took care of my issue, also i had build up of clay on my rims, which added to the catastrophe. my point in all this is I felt it was the bearings and the mechanics though it was a bearing after i told them what it was doing and this is where my road led....:artist2:

Bootyfister, never thought I would ever call anyone that (lol), I replaced the front calipers and rotors about 18 months ago, and certainly have no more than 20K (miles) on them. I have noticed that the rotors did not bed well, as the surface is rough (possibly the EBC pads did not like the OE rotor). Both the rotors and calipers are OE, as I discovered the EBC rotors I bought were for the limited and not the Sport, so they didn't fit. Also, both calipers had a seized piston, so were also replaced at that time.

I'll probably remove the rotor from the hub and see if it spins freely, before I go out and order anything. Didn't want to go to that level of troubleshooting, but I guess I have to just to be certain.

The sound it makes is making me second guess what I am seeing...

 

[Ian]

Fixed?

Mind sharing what fixed it? I have the exact same symptoms, including the roar going away when I turn about 20 degrees.
Thanks,
Ian

 

[eliask08]

Hey Ian,

It's not fixed. I did my CV's in the fall, and went to do my brakes but couldn't as both inner/lower pistons were seized again (sent a complain to Toyota Canada regarding this, as it is the second set to go in under 2 years). I've been asked to go back to the dealer to swap out the calipers (and install my new rotors) but never got to that. I did notice that when I did my CV's, the oil seals were disintegrated, and inner side of the hubs appeared quite dry.

I will be taking in the truck towards the end of the month to do the brakes, hoping that this issue will now go away. If they indicate I need new hubs, I'll do these on my own time.

 

[nevada]

These are the tall-tale symptoms of a failed wheel hub, but I just raised the front end and shook the crap of the wheels, and don't get any of the movement you see with a failed hub. Am I missing something?

When I try to spin the driver front wheel, it does not move freely and slows/speeds up as I attempt to turn it, so I am now assuming it could be a warped driver-side rotor (I am noticing a very rough surface on the rotor).

Could a wheel hub fail and cause the same noise, while not being loose as if the bearings are messed? Either way, I am looking at replacing front rotors and pads, or the entire wheel hub assembly (from blue pit bearings), so I don't want to accidentally replace the hub if it is not the issue. Any help is greatly appreciated.

yes, I see it often. it definitely sound like you have a bad wheel bearing.

 

[Ian]

Wheel bearing

The dealer confirmed it was the bearing. Replaced the bearing assembly, hub assembly, o-ring, and seal. I did the passenger side in October with the help of friend and his press -- sure was cheaper!

eliask08: Based on your similar symptoms, I'd say it's a wheel bearing.

 

[Magiriano]

The dealer confirmed it was the bearing. Replaced the bearing assembly, hub assembly, o-ring, and seal. I did the passenger side in October with the help of friend and his press -- sure was cheaper!

eliask08: Based on your similar symptoms, I'd say it's a wheel bearing.

Do you happen to have the part numbers for the parts you used to DYI ?
Please?

 

[Hungryhawk]

Front noise

What is status of your front diff?
I believe the RH wheel spins the spyders inside the diff in 2WD.
If this is the case poor maintenance could make it noisey?
Try fresh gear lube and check old gear lube for dark color, metal bits and low lube level below fill plug. Which is supposed to be opened before draining as procedure.