Droning noise only in 6th gear (MT)

Gentleman,

I have a weird noise issue with my Tacoma lately. I had it at the dealership and all they said were my tires are causing road noise…..

The car: 2005 access cab, 4ltr, 4WD, 6” suspension lift, 35’s, 6 speed MT

The problem: I have a horrible drone in 6th gear lately (woooaaawoooaawoooaa something like that). It starts right around 68 to 70 mph. I had it at the dealership for a couple recalls and had them check on it as well. They keep saying it comes from the tires and there is nothing wrong with the car. But if the tires are causing it, the noise should be there in all gears or am I wrong? I rotated the tires for giggles and it didn’t change anything.

They also stated that the front wheel bearings are about to go out. I have some on order and will replace them as soon as they get here. But same thing, it can’t be caused by the bearing since then it would be there in all gears correct?

I looked at/inspected all bearings and everything visible, but I can’t see anything obvious wrong with the car. Also checked the fluids and they are all full (changed the transmission fluid around 6 month ago).


Searched through the forum, a couple people had similar issues, but they are all complaining about a whining sound and not a droning sound.


Anybody any ideas or any leads what to look for?


The sound is driving me nuts….

 

Not to sound stupid, and I have no mechanical knowledge to contribute, but when going 68-70 have you tried dropping it into 5th gear? You hear it in 6th, but not 5th at the same speed? If this is the case it should be quite easy to replicate for the dealership.

 

Wheel bearings

 

It is, the foreman refused to go that fast since the speed limit was 65

I can replicate it all day long, but they kept blaming it on the tires.

But if the wheel bearings are the problem, wouldn't it be in different gears as well?

 

so have you tried dropping it into 5th gear while still doing 70 mph and what does it do?

 

Yup 75 in 5th and no noise!

 

I'm gonna say wheel bearings or tires as well. I have MT's on the back of the truck (long story, don't worry about it lol) and I get that Mud terrain buzz at about 65-70 or so. The reason you hear it the most in 6th is because engine RPMs are lower in 6th. In 4th/5th at that speed you can barely even hear it over the engine. Then again, I'm usually speeding through 65 to another speed, and I can't hear shit over the whine

 

Thanks all. To be honest, it doesn't make sense to me that the bearing should cause it only in 6th gear and not in 5th.

BUT the bearings are on it's way, we will know more soon

 

They can't do 70 in a 65 to diagnose your issue because of many reasons.

It isn't crazy.

 

I'm guessing that the noise is just quiet enough that you don't hear it over the higher RPMs of 5th gear. Also that the bearings aren't bad enough to hear at slower speeds. The gear box isn't known to have any problems on these. It'll be interesting to hear if the new bearings solve the problem. It could be the tires, too... but a harmonic wawawawa is likely the bearings.

 

Hey Spansfelder I have the same problem with my Tacoma, did you ever get it figured out?

 

Actually I know this thread is old, but I have the same thing, and I was hoping OP has an update/outcome/solution or something?

 

I have this same issue on my 2012 TRD Sport 6-speed. I just bought it a couple weeks ago.. no driveability issues but that droning is very annoying on the highway. Anyone here have an answer to this?