Bad Wheel bearing?
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Kentucky
Bad Wheel bearing?
At highway speeds I hear and can feel a very slight harmonic pulse vibration. This is not a wheel balance vibration. Typically hear/feel it @ 60+ mph. At first I thought it was an exhaust drone due to the fact that the noise ceases when I let my foot off gas. Would a wheel bearing continue to make noise when foot is not applied to gas? Wheel bearing, exhaust, or a front diff whine? I dont hear it at lower speeds.
Driver
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 135
Likes: 21
From: NY
I had the same issue not too long ago. When I drive the truck above 30mph I would hear what seemed like an exhaust leak. The best way to determine if the wheel bearing is bad is to lift up the truck and shake the wheel. The wheel that wobbles and shakes is the one with the bad bearing. My Stealership wanted $1700 + tax to get it done. I ended up doing it myself. I bought this bearing https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-2015-4...y/151386954892 and it took me about 2-3 hours to get it done.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: CO
Since your issue only happens at higher speeds this will make it tougher but one of the easiest ways to test for a bad wheel bearing is to get it up to the speed it makes noise and then make a sharp turn in each direction. If the noise goes away in one of the directions that a good sign you have a bad wheel bearing. That's how I was able to diagnose mine. Granted, mine was absolutely shot when I bought it and would only have to go about 20 mph when it would start to make noise.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Kentucky
I had the same issue not too long ago. When I drive the truck above 30mph I would hear what seemed like an exhaust leak. The best way to determine if the wheel bearing is bad is to lift up the truck and shake the wheel. The wheel that wobbles and shakes is the one with the bad bearing. My Stealership wanted $1700 + tax to get it done. I ended up doing it myself. I bought this bearing https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-2015-4...y/151386954892 and it took me about 2-3 hours to get it done.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 126
From: Illinois
I had this "drone" type of noise.
Lexus has a TSB out for my problem.
Dont know if this applies to you but here is the bulletin:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...-vibration.pdf
Lexux did mine and my issue was solved.
Lexus has a TSB out for my problem.
Dont know if this applies to you but here is the bulletin:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...-vibration.pdf
Lexux did mine and my issue was solved.
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Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Kentucky
I had this "drone" type of noise.
Lexus has a TSB out for my problem.
Dont know if this applies to you but here is the bulletin:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...-vibration.pdf
Lexux did mine and my issue was solved.
Lexus has a TSB out for my problem.
Dont know if this applies to you but here is the bulletin:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...-vibration.pdf
Lexux did mine and my issue was solved.
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Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Kentucky
Not typically how it works. TSBs are usually a free repair. You are correct that a TSB is not part of a recall campaign, but is done on a vehicle by vehicle basis if owner has that issue. Typically the fix is covered at no charge to the owner.
Thats false. TSBs are never a free repair unless specifically stated in the TSB, the vehicle is in the warranty period, or they are "goodwilled" by the manufacturer if out of warranty. Most of the time they do end up being free because almost all TSBs come within 1-2 years after a vehicle is released and thus vehicles are still in the warranty period. TSBs are at their core, just a bulletin with instructions on how to repair a specific common complaint. Google it
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 126
From: Illinois
I just looked at my records at i had the TSB done back in 2009.
I was still under powertrain warranty so it was covered.
As Muff mentioned, TSB is not the same as a Recall.
Recall's are a safety issue and for i know, doesnt have an expiration.
TSB's for the most part only last till your vehicle is still under warranty.
Unless there was a warranty extension on a known issue.
That could last a certain date and/or mileage. ( i missed out on the dash crack extension :-( )
Fast forward 2015.
My T-case started chattering upon stop light hard accel.
Took it to the dealer to hear some bad news since im way out of warranty.
To my surprise, Lexus Goodwilled the whole bill. Woohoo...!
You really need to get your issue properly diagnosed first and go from there.
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