Wheel Hub/ Bearing issues

I have been driving a 2012 Tacoma OR for about a year and have been putting up with what I originally thought was just wheel noise. This noise is more of a roar that builds with speed and quickly overtakes the engine noise. I have also had a bit of a steering shake that comes and goes in severity. I have rotated the tires and tried the ole shake the wheel as its in the air trick to see if the bearing had any give and it seemed solid but all of the other symptoms that I've looked into (wheel shake, roaring noise, etc..) seemed indicative of a bearing issue that I think is coming from the front. I would like to replace the front pair of hubs and bearings and I think the deal from 05Taco4x4 (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-bearings-hubs-press-service-4x4-6-lug-2wd.537080/) is the way I am leaning. Is there anyone out there with similar experiences or with advice that can maybe better diagnose the issue without taking it apart? I'd like to have a good idea of how much of a difference new hubs and bearings would help before I spend the money and a weekend potentially making things worse or not fixing the actual issue. All help is appreciated!

 

My 09 started making a little noise at about 105k....i put chassis ears on it...it was the LF.
So i went to toyota and bought just the bearing....we have a Big press here and i thought
i was never going to be able to push the Hub out....it was in there

 

Lift the front wheels off the ground, spin each wheel with one hand while holding the knuckle with the other hand. If the bearing is bad there will be roughness felt through knuckle. Like a bad Rollerskate bearing. Compare side to side. If one side is smooth and the other side is rough, the rough side is your problem

 

My experience for what it’s worth. 2010 4wd, 100,000 miles or so. While driving, humming noise similar to tread noise from tires. Swerve momentarily to left, that particular noise went away. Swerve to right, noise still there. Having worked at an independent repair shop, and diagnosing that type of noise on other brands, the right front is going bad. Yep, no slack in wheel bearing, up or down , side to side. Rotated tire while feeling spring, knuckle, etc, no noise. But! Right side is curb side while driving streets, and there is more debris and water, snow, or ice for that wheel. Removed wheel, bearing assembly. Pulled apart bearings from hub. Yuck! And yuck again. Grease, which is white lithium from factory, was red dirt color, and sparse. Cleaned up the bearings best I could, and yep…there it was. One roller bearing scarred. Didn’t need to inspect any further. Went to dealer, purchased new bearings, seals, and bolts, for both sides. Learned long ago…one side bad, other side getting ready to go bad too. Sorry, parts knew who I was, as I said, having worked the line and ordered parts from them when needed. $$ discount, and since I’m retired, was welcome. I have a press, so, no big deal to do what I needed to do. Anyway, noise gone, barely hear the Korean tires on pavement .

 

It can be difficult to test the wheel bearing as you did with the calipers/brakes installed. Additionally, roaring wheel bearing noise is not always indicative of loose/worn bearings. The noise can be cause by dry bearings and/or water getting inside causing corrosion. The steering wheel shake may not be related to the wheel bearings. You may need a new needle bearing and/or CV shaft(s). I would replace the bearings first than re-evaluate the steering wheel shake.

 

What he said

 

If you get movement with the old grab the wheel and shake method, the bearing super bad.
These trucks don’t respond well to that method. You have to do as @b_r_o said, feel the knuckle.

 

Its kind of a weird trick but it works