Some interesting observations and fix

I have never had a wheel bearing go bad in 58 years of driving a variety of vehicles. My 2008 Tacoma (hunting and fishing truck), 130,000 miles, just had this front right wheel bearing issue.

At first I thought the noise (actually a feeling coming up through the flood and noise of a thump, thump, thump) as I drove with the windows up and driving between 25 and 40 mph was a flat spot on one of the tires or maybe a tread separation. The noise would continue at higher speeds, but I was unable to hear because of the additional road noise. The noise was not a grind noise or squealing noise but a rhythmic thump, thump, thumping noise every time the tire/wheel rotated, and increased in rhythm as the speed increased. Over a period of a few weeks, the noise was more noticeable.

I Google this subject and found some information that at least headed me in the right direction.

I jacked up each wheel and carefully wiggled the wheel back and forth, and as I rotated the tire every 20 degrees, continued to wiggle, trying to determine and looseness, ie, a bad bearing. This is important--- I was surprised to find that the wheel only wiggled on one small area which I marked. I spun the bad wheel and could hear just a very slight bad bearing noise. None of the other three wheels seemed to be bad.

My local mechanic change out the bearing/hub for a cost of $495. Good fix. The Toyota dealership quoted over $650.

All is good. Hope this help someone else. Thump, thump, thump, (pay attention).

 

My left front bearing went out a 108K and the dealer quoted 850+ for the repair. Les Schwab did it for 450. Replaced the entire hub assembly. Mine started out as a slight rumble, then just got louder. Finally realized what it was as it would get worse in a right-hand turn and no noise in a left-hand turn. I took it in to diagnose the problem and they put it back together until they could get the parts and special wrench. It made and HORRIBLE screeching sound until I could get it back for the fix. Now all good.

 

Yea like yours but the opposite, mine got worse with a wide left hand turn ( indicating the right bearing) and no noise with a right hand turn.