Front End Humming

Good morning all,

I recently had new tires installed on my rig (Yoko geolanders) that replaced my toyo open country R/Ts. Since getting them installed I am noticing a hum that gets progressively louder as the truck speeds up, and goes away completely on a right turn. I know all indications point towards a bad front left wheel bearing - but recently replaced my front right and the noise that it was making had more of a rotational noise and not a constant hum like I'm hearing now. Anybody have any further insight or ideas? Or am I looking at another wheel bearing replacement.

Truck has 210K miles, 6 speed 4.0.

Thanks,

 

Sounds like a wheel bearing to me.
If you bought the hub assembly from a box box store, they are good for about 30k. 60k if you are lucky.

 

Had a shop do the last bearing - been reading about the pre assembled bearing assemblies, any brand recommendations? Would love to not have to deal with a press.

 

Blue pit bearings
Yota bearings
I'm sure there's more. There's a user on here that assembles hubs and bearings but I cannot remember who. I picked up a pair from blue pit.

-J

 

You can buy the complete assembly (NAPA has them) it's far easier. Mine failed around 25K the other side hasn't been touched in 150K or more.

 

Great - Thank you all!

Was hoping it would be a much easier and simpler project but it'll be a good experience to take on.

Brand wise for the complete assembly I'm gathering it is much more ~luck~ based on how long they will last rather than brand (for the bearings you can pick up from autozone, napa, etc.). Obviously the blue pit and yota bearings will be much better and have a longer life but at a much higher cost.

 

Well the first one I replaced was at 15K, the one on the other side is original at 155K go figure.

 

It's more fun when it doesn't make sense right?

 

You could swap bearing to other side and see if noise changes. Or just replace the other one. I had one go but it did opposite of expected, like stopped humming when turned left instead of right.

 

I've always heard that the bearing needing replacing is opposite of the direction you turn when it goes silent... but that might just be tacoma folklore.

In your circumstance was it your front right bearing that you replaced?

 

I forget which it was. Was long time ago on a 2005 tacoma. I remember i changed one side because of how it sounded thats the side people said was the problem but humming didnt stop. Swapped bearing to other side noise stopped.
Mine was 2 wheel drive so not a hard job.

 

shops usually put in store brands. I would recommend getting a toyota. Also, if you have to change one then the other will probably be close behind. I find it best to bite the bullet and do both sides at the same time

 

Kicking myself because I had front right replaced 5k-10k miles ago and decided to be cheap and not replace the other side while I was at it.

 

it happens man. How do you think i learned the lesson haha Just go toyota prepressed bearings and its a nice sunday in the driveway

 

If youre comfortable doing the install, personally I'd recommend a set from here. Lots of satisfied customers including myself recently. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-press-service-oe-nsk.537080/

Fwiw my recent noise exactly as you described was my front passenger bearing but it got quiet when turning left. Sounds like directionality can be a crap shoot depending on failure mode and how bad it is. I did the wobble test on both wheels, both felt solid, but once I got them off I noticed the passenger side was a lot looser and more free spinning. Much longer and I'm sure it would have worked up some slack and started wobbling.

 

you do both with good quality parts.

Already did mine so any issue I had was hoping it’s not from wear such as from off roading and started with getting rotate and balance that seems to have addressed it.

I like to rotate as often as every 5k.
Truck tires go out of balance quick.

speaking of which guess what great story. Went to a tire shop not gonna name names. Guy says all this great shit they’re gonna do. Well, folks in the back aren’t the same person.
I come to pick up, and see the same tires in the same spot. Oops.
Not sure what the deal is.

At this point I might need to pay have them moved left to right or do it myself.
Kinda tricky considering average person doesn’t own a Hunter balancer.

you’d think something simple can’t be fucked up. It’s not timing an S4 4.2. But here we are.

 

You can't go wrong with the ones in the link above.
He uses NSK bearings. Which are some of the best. (OEM)
The 2nd Gen is hard on bearings. Buy the best hub assembly you can with either NSK or Koyo bearings.
YES, the price difference is worth it.

Axle nut torque is critical too.
Do NOT get then too tight or too loose.
The axle nut helps maintain preload on the assembly. USE A TORQUE WRENCH.

Blasting them on tight with an impact gun works.
But it isn't right, and can/will lead to premature failure.

 

...or a couple of weeks if you did not torque the axle nut to spec. and used guess-a-torque.

 

Following up for any future people with same symptoms -

Replaced the front left wheel bearing this past weekend and completely solved all issues, truck drives like a Bentley now!

Tools Used
-35 mm socket (axel nut)
-17 mm socket (brake caliper nuts)
-12 mm socket (brake caliper supporting bracket)
-Rubber Mallet
-Pry Bars of varying sizes to assist with getting old hub and dust cover off
-PB Blaster or any other penetrating spray

I replaced the whole assembly - TRQ has a video on youtube that will walk you through the whole process.

Thank you all for the tips above.

 

I am about to do the same thing to my son's truck. Going to replace them while I have it.