pktaske

Car rides OK but after about 20 min (especially after more aggressive braking and accelerating) i start hearing a 'wubby' noise and feeling as if you are riding on rough pavement. Braking also produces a slightly shaky steering wheel that is not present during the firs 20 min (rotors?). Sometimes it never shoes up if I drive real easy. Thinking its the hub bearing? Rotors? Axle/CV joint? Nothing gets overly bad when I turn the wheel but I do hear a clicking noise all the time like something is loose on the front right wheel when I hit bumps. I also hear the noise when I stop slowly. Maybe this is unrelated.

Also maybe unrelated - smellls like burning plastic after longer drives. Tires are newer and have no uneven wear. I did replace front struts end of last year. Front right started doing the clicking thing about 3 weeks later. Maybe all unrelated.

Thanks...

salimshah

Raise one wheel at a time and twist/shake by holding the wheel at 3-9oclock and 6-12oclock. Make sure you use proper support.

Swap front to back and see if the sound/wobble moves to the rear.

Visually examine the exhaust. Once I ran over a dead dear and portion of the skin stuck to my exhaust. One the pipe became hot, it created a stink. Stray plastic bag can do the same.

Salim

pktaske

My gas mileage has also dropped. Really thinking bearing here.

pktaske

I have no doubt its the bearing now. After a 20 ride I got out and the front driver wheel was HOT as the rotor. Changing this weekend. Saw a walkthrough on another forum for a Highlander which said its the same as the RX. I'm sure the burning smell was any plastic component attached to or near the hub.

salimshah

Heat, mpg are indicators only. The test is the run-out (play 12-6oclock). Heat is due to binding which could be due to brake/caliper. Do the complete diagnosis. Remember same symptoms do not mean that you have the same problem.

Salim

pktaske

Well I bought the bearing with the intent to replace but there was no play in the wheel . Upon removing the tire I found that the culprit was indeed faulty caliper. Replaced and problem solved. Thanks Salim.