A "wa" "wa" wa" sound when turning left!!

I have a 2004 SR 5 Tacoma 4x4. Just bought it used with 129,000 miles. Solid truck except for a groan that is coming from the front right wheel when I turn left. I don't notice any vibration or noise when traveling down the highway...just with gradual left hand turns. Took it to a so called "mechanic" today...he said that he didn't hear anything but noticed that the backplate was rubbing my rotor...sounds hoaky to me. I'm guessing that the noise is a bad wheel bearing...mechanic states that the wheel is tight and doesn't think that the bearing is the problem...any suggestions?

 

cv?

 

265 70 16...just rotated when I heard the noise..thought it may have been a cupped tire??

 

What should I be looking for when hunting a bad cv??

 

sounds like a wheel bearing. when you turn left, you throw the weight of the truck on the front right and it would get louder. quieter if you turn right

Justin

 

could be worse, my beater car has needed both front wheel bearings for at least a year now..... it makes that noise all the time

Justin

 

That's what I was thinking...

 

CVs typically click when they are wearing, and alot of the time only when turning

wa wa wa noises are typically some sort of bearing noise

Justin

 

The thing is...I bought the truck from a local used dealer...I initially took it to a guy that I know is good. He put it on the rack and gave the front wheel a spin...it made an obvious grinding noise.. which made him think automatically that it was the bearing. I told the dealer that I bought it off of what the problem was...since I have only had it for about a month..they agreed to take care of the cost of repair..only if it was done at their local shop. They said that they didn't hear anything but noticed the backplate was "riding" the rotor...seems like an easy cure for a possibly major problem.

 

Check the air intake. Made a wierd rattle when I turned and it was because the hose for the intake was loose.

 

a dragging dust shield wouldnt give you that WA WA WA sound

if it only does it when turning one direction and is coming from the right front, I would put money on a wheel bearing. The wheel wont always wiggle for it make that noise.

Take the mechanic for a ride and show him

on an older truck i would say repack it, but the Tacomas are sealed bearings ( I am pretty sure)

Justin

 

Air intake is fine...no doubt it is coming from front wheel area

 

Sealed bearings...got a quote from Toyota dealer for $575 and local guy for $340...when I removed the the dust cover in front of the castle nut the other day...it looked awfully rusty which reconfirmed my thoughts of a blown bearing..should I be surprised to see rust??

 

lets make a bet on a wheel bearing....

I have replaces many, and mostly due to large tires and wide wheels. they are hell on a bearing.

being out of alignment can also amplify the noise, but it wont fix it completely

Justin

 

yeah my moneys on the wheel bearing, mine did the same thing and i replaced it and poof the noise was gone.

 

When I had my 99, I replaced CVs a few times and I dont remember seeing rust. but it could happen. the dust cap should keep things pretty dry in there. you can always put some grease in there just to keep it from rusting.

ask them the price to only do the press work if you can take the spindle off and bring it to them

should save you some coin

Justin

 

How tough are they to change on your own...I did one on my 02 4runner..didn't seem too bad but it also only had about 60k on it at the time. My biggest concern would be getting everything loose without breaking off bolts..especially the antilock brake mechanism..any special tools needed??? Anyone know where to get a step by step manual online??

 

The bearings on those trucks are pressed in, so you would either need a press or have someone press out the old bearing, and press in the new one.

shoot me a PM with your email and Ill send you the pages from the repair manual to decide if you want to tackle it.

Justin