My 2006 LS 430 recently started droning very loudly from what seemed to be the front left tire. It sounded very much like a bearing and I could feel it through the steering wheel. I ordered two new hub assemblies from Moog, which, by the way, no longer sources them from Koyo..so, let's hope they last longer than 500 miles, but I digress.

Since the car had just hit 160K miles, I went ahead and replaced the hubs, rotors and pads. My daughter is going to college this year and expressed interest in the LS, so I figured I would surprise her with the keys later this year. I want to make sure the car is in tip top condition.

So, new rotors, pads, hubs up front. Force balance all 4 tires on that fancy Hunter top of the line balancing machine. Get in the car and NO CHANGE. The drone is still there.

It gets loudest after about 5 minutes of highway driving. I can hear it and feel it to about 80mph, then when I take my foot off the gas and coast it gets very loud between 70 and 60. But it is present at all speeds. and I can feel it through the steering wheel.

My mechanic, who is very good and knows these cars fairly well, he's a Volvo, De Lorean (right?) and Lexus specialist, thinks the other thing it could be is something with a driveshaft. But he says that even though the tires are new with less than 5K miles on them, and they look fine, we might try two new tires up front to rule that out.

The only other thing I;m thinking it could be is some issue with the motor mounts. I stupidly agreed to have them replaced "because it was time" and despite using Lexus parts, it took my old mechanic three tries to get it "right" as the car felt like ti was going to vibrate itself apart after they installed them, obviously incorrectly, three times, before the vibration went away. I don't know what they did, but I suspect whatever it was may be in play here even though it's a drone that goes up and down with speed. Maybe the driveshaft is rubbing on something... I'm grasping at straws here....

 

Probably have done this, but if not rotate the tires and put the fronts in the back to see if its something simple like that?

 

Yeah...my gut would say to look at the tires. New or not they might have a bad spot. You would think the force balancing would find that but you never know.

 

Have you shifted to neutral when it’s making the noise? The driveshaft will stop spinning and the torque from the engine won’t be pushing on your motor mounts.

Secondly, have you physically moved the wheel assemblies(with vehicle on lift or stable jacks) to rule out that it’s not another bad wheel bearing or that it was a rear versus front bearing making the noise. Even new Lexus wheel bearings can be defective. I purchased my LS from a reputable dealer who replaced the front right wheel bearing with Lexus parts. I inspected it before purchasing and the new bearing had excessive play. The dealer warrantied the part and labor. So bottom line; check but verify. If the Moog assembly has Japanese bearings you should have a quality part. If the bearings are Chinese; they might last the warranty period; might!

 

Uh, the driveshaft doesn't stop spinning when you shift to neutral with the car moving. It stops spinning when the car stops.

 

I was gonna say!

Sometimes we should try the obvious.

When I got my car in 10/06, I immediately put on Michelin Xice Xi3's. My wife who often road in the back said what's that terrible sound? Huh? I rode in the back and thought wow, loud drone speed dependent. Google it and yep, either the bearing or rear diff is gone (not here but all day and night with Tundras). Depressing. Next April? All seasons back on and no sound. These tires are so loud they sound like a turbine. And no offense, those who don't hear it, I don't think their hearing is sensitive to the frequency. We've seen this in the office, a buzzing starts, it annoys 20 people, and 2 people straight goods do not hear it.

Also, just what I've heard over the years, road force balance is unnecessary unless there is a balancing issue. All dealerships have the machine, but they do not use it on most jobs. Only when there's an issue. I suppose once on the road, the tires and the rim lose their markings which assist the tech in knowing how to match up when mounting.

 

Unfortunately, the bearings are Chinese. Moog used to source the bearings from Japan, Koyo, I think, but I guess that ship has sailed. The Japanese bearings (hubs) are almost $500 each now and that’s too much. The rear bearings are still available from Koyo at a more reasonable price and I may just replace them anyway before they too disappear at good prices.

Thanks to everyone that commented so far. I’m pretty sure we did the tire swap already but just in case, I’m going to try again this weekend.

I know sounds can travel but the drone really sounds like it’s coming from the driver’s front. I’ll have my wife drive while I sit in the back and maybe get another perspective.

Wish me luck!

 

I had bad experience with Moog wheel bearings even though the part was recommended by local auto shop. Switched to Timken (available at 196 dollars per part on Rockauto), and this completely solved the noise issues.

I would recommend to check if retorqueing suspension, frame and shaft bolts is required in your case. I have a feeling something is not within specs which causes such a loud drone.

 

Timken hubs are built with KOYO bearings- $197 at Rockauto
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ing+&+hub,1636

 

I have the same problem. I have YOKOHAMA 245/45R18 XL YK740 GTX. The drone is terrible! I hope its the tires.

 

I actually was going to say on second thought, driveshaft, as I had that experience with Volvo. By coincidence, your mechanic deals with Volvo.

the sound was upon decel....with Volvo it's a carrier bearing. I don't know that we have that--I've seen my LS430 driveshaft out when the rear output shaft seal was replaced.