Growling cyclical noise from front end

bbodenstein · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2008, 07:33 PM

growling noise appears at about 30 to 40 MPH and on up to high speeds. Definitely cyclical or rotating perhaps is one way to put it. Sort of like "UUURRRuuurrrrUUURRRRuuurrrrUUURRRRR" is the only way I can describe. Not high pitched, sort of average pitch. Not really scary grinding but clearly a new sound in the last several thousand miles. My ears are pretty good but I can't pinpoint to left or right sides.
One mechanic replaced the front brakes as a solution (he said needed them) and apparently never test drove afterward because the noise did not change or go away. Went to Toyota shop and they scratched their head, admitting they heard it but couldn't definitely pin down prob. but "suggested a wheel bearing" may be it. I wasn't willing to pay the $500+ as an experiment. They said may have to wait till it gets worse.
It has been several thousand miles now and I am losing patience with a truck that used to be quieter than any car I ever owned.
Anybody have any suggestions?

NuMb_FiNgErS · #2 (**permalink**) 04-08-2008, 11:35 PM

I don't have any because I'm going through the same thing. Let me know if you find out before I do

matrix-t · #3 (**permalink**) 04-15-2008, 11:59 AM

I believe to check a wheel bearing you need to jack up the truck on the suspect side and check for free play on the wheel.

I just went through this same thing on my subaru, horrible noise only made it when the car was moving, neutral in gear it did not matter. Making turns was worse as it put more stress on the bearing, that metal to metal sound

I took my car to a local mechanic and had them look at it, once they got to the bearing it turned out that it needed grease!!

I dont know about driving it till something bad happens as it may cause damage to the hub.

I would call some local shops that you can trust, could save you $$$'s

flashbangm4 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 12:09 AM

I have the same problem with my '03 Sequoia and '01 Tundra. I thought bearings too, but dealer said the tires were causing it. I was skeptical, but the tires are wearing uneaven, slight feathering on inside of front drivers side. This happened even after a dealer aligned it. After a 2500 mi road trip for spring break, they have a noticeable flat spot wore in them. Mileage on the Sequoia is 100k, started noticing the noise around 93k. The tundra has 131k and started the noise about 10k ago. Had the tires flipped on the wheels Tues, and am having my friend do an alignment later today. The tires are beyond repair but I will wait till fall to replace. Plan on doing the same procedure with the Tundra next week.

My mechanic friend also went on vacation with us and I had him test drive the Sequoia once we arrived in 'bama. He also thought bearings at first, until he felt the feathering on the tire. I have pulled the disc brake pads, remounted the tires and spun them. To my untrained ears the wheel bearings seemed dry and I thought I felt a slight tick. This could be gears meshing in the differential I guess.

Oh, my friends wife drives a tahoe. He says the Sequoia has way more pick up than the tahoe. He is a gm mechanic, and says we should be happy to have 100k on the original wheel bearings, he's replaced them up to twice on sierra's with the same mileage.

HOGWILD · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2008, 01:07 AM

I had a growling noise coming from front suspension but seemed my Rear LSD Diff did not like the Mobil 1 75W90 Synthetic and dealer found this and drained and installed 80-W90 Valvoline and added modifier treatment and the growling went away. It was really loud like power steering pump low on fluid when ya turned wheel? Just a thought? It ison LSD application!