Possible Wheel Bearing/CV Issue, Help Me Diagnose (please)

Hey guys. Lots of knowledge around here, but my issue is so specific, searching isn't helping me much.

I have a 2008 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Off Road (if that makes a difference) with 147K miles. I recently noticed a very loud humming/droning type noise that was coming from my front end. I chocked it up to tire noise because I had some Wrangler Duratracs on there that were getting long in the tooth and cupping a bit in the front. The noise is most pronounced when going straight, but it goes away when I turn to the right. It doesn't go away when turning to the left. Again, I figured it was tire wear.

I just put new tires on the truck... the noise still acts the same way. Very loud when going in a straight line, gets silent when I turn right, stays loud when turning left.

Wheel bearing/CV issue? And if that's the issue... should I just jack it up and fix myself? Or is it real mechanic time? I'm reasonably mechanically inclined, but I certainly don't want to get in over my head and be stuck with a partially disassembled truck in my driveway.

TIA for any help.

 

Alignment Ok?

 

Alignment is 100% ok. That was checked today when the new tires were installed.

 

Are you lifted need more specifics

 

Most likely a wheel bearing. Jack up the truck. spin the wheels and listen. If you don't hear any noise pull back and forth on the tire to check for play.

 

I say it's the wheel bearing, you don't hear it loud noises at low speeds but as you speed up it gets louder and more obnoxious is this correct? and it also sounds like it's only coming from one side?

I've had to replace mine

 

No lift. The shocks are OEM replacements from about 30K miles ago. Everything on the truck is 100% stock.

 

@bigabe this^

 

Exactly this

 

Yep, louder at highway speed. It kinda seems like it's coming from the right side... which would make sense since the sound reduces when I turn right and take load of that corner.

 

Ok... jacking the truck up tonight.

Thanks for all the help folks!

 

Just replaced a wheel bearing on my wife's 2010 Rav4. Your description of the sound is almost identical to what we had. I did the repair myself, and I'm just barely mechanically inclined. The only part I had an issue with was getting off the axle nut, as Toyota saves a couple of pennies by crimping it rather than using a cotter pin.

 

Jacked it up, spun the wheel... did the shimmy test. Definitely a bad bearing in there.

A good friend is a local mechanic and he's fixing it up for me on Monday. I was going to do it myself this weekend, but I just don't have the time.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Definitely was a huge help and put my mind at ease.

 

Had same issue ... wheel bearing!

 

I just fixed EXACTLY the same problem. Glad you found it.

 

ok my noise goes away when I turn right but the only wheel that has any play is the driver's front. spinning the wheels is smooth all 4. I only get any unusual movement when I push or pull the top of the driver's tire. I do have Old Man Emu 3" lift with 285's. sound started as soon as I put tires on 13k miles ago. to get rid of the noise I will be 1 happy man.

 

Definitely sounds like you have a bad driver's side wheel bearing. It's just under $500 to fix it, lots of labor involved. $150 an an afternoon of work plus a couple trips to a machine shop to get your bearing unpressed and then have the new ones pressed in if you want to DIY.

The driver's side is apparently the one that typically wears out first. My truck's issue was on the passenger side for whatever reason, but I went ahead and had both replaced while the mechanics were at it.

 

Replacing front hubs is really easy, just takes a little bit of time. If your brake pads/ rotors are bad you can do it at the same time.
There are a couple TW members who sell a pre pressed hub assembly for a good price. I replaced both front hubs for around $ 350.

 

^this