Front-End Rolling Noise

[03 Sport]

Hi guys. Nice to meet you. I have an 03 Corolla S, love it, and I expect to be a pretty regular pariticpant here now that I've found this place.

I have an annoying issue that I've had since I bought the car used back four years ago. It's never caused me the slightest problem,but it is, as mentioned, annoying.

I get this sort of "growling" or speed-associated bearing-like sound from the front end. It has to be, in some way, associated with the front running gear because it increases in pitch as the speed of the car increases, and vice-versa. It's completely consistent at highway speeds, and never goes away. A KEY characteristic that I think may have gotten worse, is that the sound gets worse when I turn to the the right or left, especially the left, at speed. For example, when I exit the highway onto a circular ramp.

I got new tires early on, thinking it could be a loud-tread issue (as with Goodyear Eagles) no change at all. I replaced the front rotors and pads, no change. I have not changed the bearings yet. But in four years, I have noticed NO heat from either bearing, and have traveled many, many thousands of miles.

Any thoughts?

[mikered30]

I would jack up your car and see if any of the wheels have any play in them. Growling is often associated with a bad wheel bearing.

[JasonA]

Sounds like a dry bearing, especially given that the noise is now louder when you turn in one direction.

[03 Sport]

Ok, that's two. I'd better jack it up and check it out. I just couldn't imagine it going 60,000 miles without completely failing. Thank you. I'll check it tomorrow, and post my findings.

[03 Sport]

Well, I'm back to square one. I inspected the bearings and everything is completely fine. No play, not dry, no grinding, perfect. And still the growling noise.

Demons? Leprechauns, maybe? This is a stumper. It's probably something annoyingly simple, but I'll be damned if I can figure out what it is.

[JasonA]

It seems like it's GOT to be something in the driveline. What about CV shafts?

[03 Sport]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I believe there's probably a bearing about half way up the shaft. Thank you. I'll check it out and get back.

[JasonA]

There will be a bearing where the shaft interfaces to the transmission. On the passenger side half shaft, there's a rubber donut that has got to serve some purpose, but I'm not sure what it is. It's just sitting there. Maybe for balance or something. Check to see if your passenger side half shaft has a rubber donut about halfway up.

[tarbasd]

It could also be gear noise from the differential (or gearbox if it is a manual). Is is more like humming, or more like growling? If it's manual, have you checked the transmission oil? If automatic, is the differential lubricated separately from the transmission?

[JasonA]

Originally Posted by tarbasd

If automatic, is the differential lubricated separately from the transmission?

Negative. Everything in a FWD transaxle (manual or automatic) is lubricated by the one fluid.

[gideon1331]

My car has that same noise, and it is entirely tire related. It has gotten worse as the tires have worn down (I'm actually getting excited about having to pay for new tires soon...). The tire currently on the front right is the worst. I replaced it with the spare once and the noise coming from that corner stopped.

I believe my tires are Uniroyal Tiger Paws...they were put on right before the previous owner turned the car in (lease) so I assume they put on whatever was cheap.

[03 Sport]

Yeah, tried switching tires, absolutely no change.

Ok, so this morning I jacked it up, inspected everything from the tranny outward. Looks like it just came from the factory; perfectly clean, no spun-out grease or fluids, every bearing is firm with less than 1mm play. Not locked, just, you know, normal.

However, though there is absolutely NO play in either right or left wheel, when I shifted the transmission into neutral and rotated the passenger wheel as fast as I could, I could hear... something. Very slight... I don't know... call it maybe a low-freq rumble. Nothing gritty or crunchy. I hate to parts-diagnose (makes the parts stores a little too happy) but I'm gonna go to Toyota and get bearings for that wheel. As I recall, replacing a bearing in a front-drive is a PITA, especially without a bearing press, but I'm sure I can handle it given enough time. Should know immediately upon visual inspection if that's the culprit.

A bearing. At 87,000 miles. Just doesn't make sense to me. Unless maybe the wife hit a curb or something, and even then, you'd have to crack it just right to effect a bearing.

[balbrec2]

My 07 CE has a noise similar to what you are describing but I am pretty sure it is tires. most noticable between 30-40 mph, almost undetectable at highway speeds. These were cheap tires put on by the dealer where I bought after they got it. looking at the tread. It is nearly all crosscut except for a continous center rib. Should be great in the snow but loud on dry pavement.
Don't forget the CE is a very noise sensitive vehicle, you'll hear everything. You almost need to run tires that look as though they might be bad in foul weather, but as long as they are rated M+S should be ok. If it is a bearing it will be loud at all speeds with the only thing that changes is the pitch slightly as you drive faster. a bad bearing noise won't go away at higher speeds like a tire noise will. I had my mechanic check this out and he said he can find no drivetrain issues to worry about. I trust this guy fo many years now.

balbrec2

[03 Sport]

I'm 99% on the bearings theory. Quick note on the tires thing though, just for the public interest- definitely tire noise can be a hassle. I had a performance car that I put Goodyear Eagles on back in the 80s. Cornering was unparalleled, even over the venerable Pirelli P7s, but geeze, the dadgum noise! It was like having Monster Mudders at in-town speeds. Actually had to turn the system up to hear it. But you could snap your neck on take-off.

So yeah, for the ubiquitous Corolla "Sport" (chuckle), I get a tire with a high rating for noise suppression.

I think I've found a good resource for diagnosis, btw. Some of you guys may benefit. As much shade tree as I've done, I can't believe I never heard of this dude, but I ran across him on Youtube. scottykilmer.com. Has a prety good tutorial on front drive bearings changes. I'm definitely going to have to take the hub to a machine shop to press out the old one, press in the new one. (Bearing), or I could buy a bearing/adapter/presser-outer thingy from harborfreight.com. The adapter is like $80, but I can change the part with the hub still installed, so no alignment is necessary.

Any thoughts? Any experienced bearing changers in the house?

[balbrec2]

Not trying to be facetious but are you sure its a front end noise and not from the back . Rear bearings can be quite loud also making it hard to determine the source of the noise. good luck! let us know how it turns out.