CV Axle Rotational Noise?

So I've been getting this droning, vibration noise that is continuing to get worse and worse. It's bad between 30 and 40mph and bad again at 60. Can feel it in the pedal and it pulsates around 70mph. My mechanic who is Toyota Certified believed it to be a driver side wheel bearing because when we steer hard to the driver side then jerk the wheel to the passenger side to relieve the load on the driver side wheel, the sound/feeling disappears for just second.

He replaced the DS wheel bearing and it was still there. He then suggested replacing the DS needle bearing with the ECGS bushing, which I have had done before. He's the one that did it and he didn't charge me since he's already done it before. The original one was a little worn but noise was still there after replacing it.

He tried about a 1inch diff drop which didn't help (my truck is lifted close to 3inches) and he didn't charge me for that either and actually apologized to me because he doesn't normally throw parts at stuff like this and didn't charge me in full or at all on some of this stuff.

All he can think now is that it's the DS CV axle. Thats about the only other rotational part he can replace. He's got one on order right now and the truck still has the same symptoms. Has anyone experienced this? I'm really hoping that it is the CV axle and it goes away when he replaces it, cause it's the worst noise and seems to be getting worse.

 

You turn the wheel slightly left or right and it stops?

 

So if I turn the wheel aggressively to the left (side making the noise) while going 30 or 40 then immediately jerk the wheel to the right (relieving the noisy side of the vehicle of weight) it gets quiet for a split second as the pressure comes off the driver side wheel until the vehicle is straight again and the load equalizes then noise comes back....does that make sense? Thats why we originally thought wheel bearing.

Also just realized I accidentally posted this in the 3rd gen section, I'm a second gen but I think most of the bones are the same.

 

You positive its not the RF wheel bearing...

 

Beats me, I'm not positive but sounds like the driver side and you would think a hard turn that increases load on the passenger side (RF) would make the noise worse but it goes away briefly while doing that, leading me to believe it's still something on the driver side. I will definitely bring that up to the mechanic, he's been working on 4x4 Toyotas most of his life I figure I can make the suggestion, I would be surprised if he missed that.

 

I just replaced one on my 09..i would have sworn it was the LF...i got chassis ears here at work ,so i decided to listen before i replaced either...it was the RF

 

For whats it worth most of wheel bearing issues Ive encountered you would have bet the farm that its THAT side! when in reality it was the opposite side. Sucks throwing parts at those problems.

 

Sure sounds like a wheel bearing. From my understanding, the side you load when the noise goes quiet is the bad side, seems kind of counterintuitive but that's what my Google Fu is telling me. My money is on the passenger side wheel bearing from your description. Could also jack the truck up after driving and spin both front wheels by hand to hear/feel any difference, and check to see if passenger side is warmer vs. driver side.

 

My symptoms still fall in line with this graphic. I'm thinking my mechanic checked the Right front bearing as well when my truck was on the lift but I will double check and bring it up to him.

 

Another thing you can do is just drive it for a bit then when you stop feel both rims for the hot one. Obviously if a brake is dragging this wouldn't work but otherwise if it's a cooked bearing it will be running hotter and transfer it's heat to the rim

 

In my experience it's impossible to tell LF vs RF from the driver's seat. Usually when you jack up the truck and spin each wheel individually, one wheel will sound louder than the other three. That's how you locate a bad wheel bearing when it hasn't worn to the point of being wobbly.

 

Part out ?

 

Dibs on the CV axle?

 

get outta hereee

 

Ha

 

Update: Had DS cv replaced....same noise/ symptoms. He claims the noise is gone and it's fixed but when I got in and drove away it was the exact thing. Think I'll seek out a second opinion...

Maybe it is the PS bearing...I jacked it up and spun the wheel, it makes a very slight noise but I think it's just brakes maybe? So now I'm not sure what to think, it's either that one or one of the rears if it's a bearing.

 

i got the same thing but i think it's the tires. getting new ones put on tomorrow. Got a lot worse after some emergency stops and i can see the tread on the rear tires looks uneven. the stock firestone destination le2s were good at first but after 20,000 miles they are awful. almost worn out, uneven wear, and noisy.

 

Out in left field with this thought but when you lifted did you compensate D.S. angles with a CB spacer or 3-4deg leaf pack wedges?
I had a driver side vibe from purchase. (If you counted in 4's. it would vibe 3 and skip the 4th. V-V-V-_ , V-V-V-_). Dealer blew it off. After lift it worsened.
long story short I had wedges already under the overload spring. I'm guessing was causing the vibe because of incorrect d.s. angle. I lifted and automatically put the cb spacer in.
vibe worsened.
Took cb spacer out and left wedges. vibe gone.
Truck was wedged when it shouldn't have been. The lift made it correct but adding the cb spacer made it wrong.
Idk why the wedges were already there unless the truck was lifted prior to resale.

 

Interesting. I hope not. These are Goodyear Wrangler Ultraterrain, a discount tire exclusive...they have been good despite throwing rocks like crazy and appear to be wearing fairly evenly I think I have at least 20 or 25k on em now.

Were you having droning/vibrations in the pedals/floorboard at different speeds kinda like I described?

 

I have a 2nd gen regular cab with a 1 piece shaft so no CB. I was getting vibes after the lift around 55mph so then we tried 2 degree axle shims to cancel out the drive shaft angles but that made it worse. I now have a custom double cardan shaft with the same 2 degree shims and it seems to have fixed it and my mechanic swears that it's not the drive shaft. Alll this seems to have happened somewhere during the time I had the driveline angles adjusted but it's like it keeps getting worse so I'm pretty sure it's not that.

Noise goes away briefly when swerving hard to the right which would indicate ds bearing according to everything I've seen but its not that so its gotta be one of the other 3 I would think?