Wheel Bearing Going Bad: Sounds?

I've had an odd sound coming from my truck recently. I checked my u-joints, wheel bearings, alignment & tires. I checked the wheel bearings by jacking it up & trying to get it to move @ the 6 & 12 position. Also tried it @ the 3 & 9 position. The sound does get quieter when going 50+ mph around a long, sweeping curve. A mechanic thinks it's the tires that have 8K miles on them (I NEVER use mechanics, only got his opinion while he had the truck on the alignment rack), Discount Tire doesn't know & I'm leaning towards wheel bearing(s).
From other thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-tires-cupping.571195/

The sound is a rhythmic/cyclic wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wawawawaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
that increases w/speed starting @ 40mph until about 60 where it becomes a constant hum. It's a different sound than the normal hum of aggressive tires.

Question:
when your front wheel bearing(s) were going out, did they make this sound?

 

I would take it on a test drive and make slow S turns. If the sound goes away in one direction, the wheel bearing is bad on the opposite side because you’re transferring weight off of it.

Wheel bearing sounds are loud and usually have a pretty distinctive sound.

 

More than likely is hub bearings, you won’t “feel” it until they are really worn.
Pull wheel off then caliper and you’ll feel it when you turn by hand

 

The cyclic wa-wa-wa-wa is classic bearing noise. Try engaging 4WD and see if it goes away. Your post does not say whether you have done the front diff side bearing but that would be my first thought. If still there, take out of 4WD and go do some sweeping turns to left and then right. A bad bearing can often (but not always) be isolated based on the turns like raventaco above ^^^ said.

 

Check for play on the drivers side axle shaft by inner cv at the front diff.
I’m having this issue myself.
Find out Monday if the dealership is willing to do anything. I just had a frame job done, not blaming them but I didn’t notice it before.

 

im having the same issue its like a low pitch wa wa wa/ vibration thats more noticeable at low speed. i never thought wheel bearing cause i heard no grind or when turning there was no sound. any thoughts?

 

It doesn’t change the sound when put in 4wd.
Thanks.

 

does it change turning one way or another? wheel bearings generally make a constant hum or grind, not a wa wa wa wa wa from what ive seen. My wheel bearing had no play, but had hum above 60 that went away when I turned to the right.. Could not be noticed any slower than 60. it was the LEFT wheel bearing with the issue.. so, they all behave a little differently

 

Hi Jack apology. What if it went away when in 4W Hi?

 

Mine only happens 40+ mph. Zero sound before 40, that I can hear.

 

You need to replace a bushing in the front diff.
Google
Tacoma ECGS bushing

 

@05Taco4x4
Does this sound like something your hub assemblies will fix?
Thanks.

 

The wa wa wa sound is common for worn bearings. I though aI had loud tires when I bought my truck, turned out being bearings and my tires are silent haha

 

Just went on a wicked ride. The sound 100% goes away on right curves. It’s 100% still there in left curves.
So it’s the PS wheel bearing?!?

 

The noise I heard was a low growl at slow speeds.
The bearing did not wobble at all doing the wheel shake test.
I have owned my truck since 3/06 and knew at one point in time that there was an extra sound. Probably caught it early. The bearing just lacked grease I believe.

 

I have pretty aggressive tires so I can’t hear anything but the tires at low speeds.
Thanks.

 

THIS is the larger issue, there is no way to grease them without total disassembly, and the grease in them from the factory is minimal and usually pretty thin to begin with.

let them get submerged and there is an even greater likelihood of failure

 

I just had a front wheel bearing go bad, and making long sweeping corners at higher speeds, it sounded like a very very mild rumble strip. Fwiw.

 

Mine sounds like that from 40-60mph.

 

Very likely it's a wheel bearing. Just get a pair and do both sides. If one's gone, good chance the other is about shot too.