Front end noise

Ok, I searched for posts on this issue with no luck. Well I finally got my 2009 Tacoma Off-Road delivered from Massachssetts. Aside from a clunck noise I hear on the left rear side, I also noticed a noise that shows up at about 30mph and keeps on climing the frequency till about 45mph then stays on that frequency even if I go faster. I got smooth Toyo Tires, but it sounds like if I have swampers on the front. That is the best I can describe the noise. Does anyone knows what might be making that noise?

 

Have you checked the bearings?
Any vibration with the noise?

 

Is it a whistling sound? If so it might be the hood seal. Slide a piece of 1/4" inch poly tubing and it will reduce the noise.

 

Just about the same vibration you would get if you had super swamper tires in your tacoma.

 

No, no whisltling. Just a deep buzzing noise.

 

Are you sure the tires are okay?
I would check the tires and your wheel bearings.

 

Yes they look fairly new with no signs of uneven tread wear. It sounds like when kids, you would put poker cards on your bike rubbing agaist the wheel. It feels little bit heavy also. On another note; how hard is it to replace the bearings?
I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined.

 

It's a pretty good undertaking to replace the bearings, but it's not hard at all to check them. Just jack up the front end and "shake" the wheel back and forth on the top and bottom (not left to right). If there's any play, you more than likely have a bad bearing.

As for replacing them, it's really not too bad. You will have to have the 35mm socket to remove the axle nut, which requires about 150 ft-lbs of torque I believe (maybe more, I don't remember exactly). You will also need at least a 20 ton press and some sort of "adapter" to remove the bearing (I welded one up with flat plate and some angle). Of course you could remove the hub and just have a shop replace the bearing. I'm sure there's a thread on this around here somewhere...

 

Sounds like you're describing the buzzing sound I had on my '09 both times the wheel bearings went (the left when it was under warranty, the right started doing it a few months ago), except mine shows up between 90-100 KPH (56-62 MPH), loudest at 95. It's not very loud, the radio will drown it out, though I presume it gets louder if it's not taken care of.

 

Well everything seems to pointnto the bearings. Tomorrow morning is going to the dealership for a confirmation diagnosis, and also for the other ocasional clunk noise that seems to come from the rear driver side between the bed and the cabin. Suspected the loose bolt from the front of the leaf spring, but it seems pretty tight, but that is around the area I hear the clunck everytime I back on the driveway or Im taking off.