Huge problem with driver's side rear wheel. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Andrew Liu · 12-20-2008, 04:40 PM

A couple days ago, my car slid into a small ditch on the side of the road after a snow storm. There was no damage to the car at all, but I had to get it towed out. It was towed out by the driver's side rear wheel.

Now, as I was driving, There is a strong pulsation/knocking effect coming from that wheel, as well as a STRONG smell of something burning, that isn't exactly rubber.

The pulsation gets faster and faster as speed increases, and something heats up extremely. The heat may have caused the tire to blow out, as the tire turned brown. I put on the spare tire, and drove super slow the rest of the way home, and saw smoke coming from that area.

However, when looking at the disc (4-wheel disk, I-4 w/ abs), it looks just as it did before it started making that noise. No blueing or anything.

What could be wrong? As of right now the car is not driveable.

***ASG14*** · 12-20-2008, 05:03 PM

Suspension parts are bent most likely.

Andrew Liu · 12-20-2008, 05:07 PM

Would that explain the burning smell though? It doesn't smell like tires burning, it's "sweeter". That's about the best I could describe the smell.

Could it be that the parking brake is dragging? I use it a lot, so I wouldn't be surprised if something broke in there.

***ASG14*** · 12-20-2008, 05:12 PM

Brakes could be rubbingm 2 metal pieces may be rubbing. You need to have a mechanic look at it. whenever you run off the road and actually need to be pulled out, there is a good chance of suspension damage. So it;s best to have it all checked, and get an alignment if nothing os broken.

dixonL2 · 12-20-2008, 07:37 PM

May be a bearing, I tore through one pretty fast after tagging a curb while e-brake turning... quite a lot of years ago... if the tire was brown that can be about anything from dragging brakes to a bad bearing to a rubbing frammis valve. Oh, it's probably not the frammis valve, that's only on the 3 cylinder.

Andrew Liu · 12-20-2008, 07:48 PM

how would I test for a damaged wheel bearing?

It sounds like it knocks once per revolution.

I looked under the car, and all the suspension components look fine and undamaged/bent. It wasn't a high-speed skid into a ditch, it was sorta like.."sliding in gracefully and slowly"

Larzzzz · 12-21-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonL2

May be a bearing, I tore through one pretty fast after tagging a curb while e-brake turning... quite a lot of years ago... if the tire was brown that can be about anything from dragging brakes to a bad bearing to a rubbing frammis valve. Oh, it's probably not the frammis valve, that's only on the 3 cylinder.

Good thing too, those frammis valves are almost as hard to remove& replace as kunuter bearings.

Andrew Liu · 01-07-2009, 04:21 PM

UPDATE:

Got the car fixed a while ago. Turns out the tow truck driver was being dumb and hooked the winch up to my trailing arm, and bent the hell out of it.

They replaced it, and the tire for free, and now it's back on the road.

The thing survived two slides into ditches, as of now. One at 45mph on a frozen off ramp without damage.
These camry's are tanks.

Troyboy · 01-07-2009, 04:40 PM

And so the smell was in fact the tyre...

scrubbing out thru alignment problem.
from bent component.

Andrew Liu · 01-07-2009, 04:43 PM

Yes it was, in fact the sidewall of the tire was burning up, it was rubbing on the bent trailing arm.

Troyboy · 01-07-2009, 04:59 PM

And so why Andrew, not that it matters all that much...
were you not able to see that just by looking yoursel, with naked eye or with say torch
and certainly by jacking the wheel up and spinning , then removing and just looking???
The bent arm, the shiny rubbing on the tyre even the close up smell.

What would be your reason??

Forum members are far away and u are right there...
Why did u not just have a look for yourself, at your car, before posting question
that denied rubber was involved...

At least easy to fix, since u will be able to bill the Towing company
for damage caused...

Andrew Liu · 01-07-2009, 05:05 PM

I didn't deny that rubber was involved, I just said the it didn't smell like burning rubber. The smell was sweet.

When I looked while changing out the tire for a spare, I did a quick peek around. The trailing arm didn't catch my eye, maybe because it was below freezing, and I couldn't feel my fingers after taking the tire off. Also since I was concentrating on the brakes/hub.

I did peek under, and the control arms looked fine, so I assumed the suspension was fine.

Doesn't really matter anymore, I just overlooked something I didn't think would be the culprit.

Troyboy · 01-07-2009, 05:18 PM

Yeah I know what you mean, A good mechanic is a bit of a detective...
We allways look for clues and we look very seriously and with keen intention,
otherewise we miss something obvious and the drama snowballs...

Your old tyre would have had a shiny mark and possible smell...
and the trailing arm also marked and well bent..
cold does not stop vision, it's esay to say such things and cold fingers are not good...

Mechanics I like because it is so honest... it's tight or loose and usually seen or envisioned
unlike electics that can be very tricky... (especially software)

Anyway... all's well