Is it BEARINGS or BRAKES???? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

89_3SFE · 05-26-2005, 12:57 PM

Alright, I've got an 89 GT (3SFE) and it's having some problems. I figured I'd ask you guys because you're all smart mechanics and you know your stuff, especially about these celicas. Anyway, when I drive about 25-30 mph the car kind of bounces a little bit. it doesn't bounce really bad, but it seems like it's riding over a wave of bumps, and it really only happens when I'm drviing about 25-30 mph. I also can tell that when I brake sometimes, one (or both) of the wheels makes a hum-hum noise at the same point and it will repeat at that exact spot. If I brake when I'm going fast, the hum-hum noise obviously repeats faster because it happens with each full revolution of the wheel. I thought it was the brakes, but I had them checked by the guys who replaced my calipers recently and they said that everything is fine, so I'm thinking it's the wheel bearings. Is this a correct assumption, or do I need to find myself new brake specialists??

Insanity-74 · 05-26-2005, 01:23 PM

I get it checked by a specialist, brake obviously are very important and a guy thats done work on your car aint gonna admit to doing it wrong or a fuck up. As for the bouncing have you checked your shocks???? sit on the hood and jump off when the car has settled, it shouldnt bounce, it should just raise up to its normal level and stay there.

89_3SFE · 05-26-2005, 01:28 PM

Yeah, I hate when you can't find someone who'll just be honest about things. I just need to find someone who can sit in the car with me while I drive and hear the noises and feel the bumps. Anyways, thanks for your help. I'll check the shocks later today. What does it mean, though, if the car does bounce a little bit?? The reason I ask is 'cause I got the shocks replaced recently and so if it does bounce a little bit, does that mean the installation was wrong, or the shock itself is bad??

Insanity-74 · 05-26-2005, 05:34 PM

How much is `a little bit?` best off getting someone who knows to check it out aswell, Its quite hard judging something like that over the internet. I`d hate to say there were good or bad and for you to go out and purchase something you dont need. In my mind if shocks are good they will not bounce at all, down once (from your weight), up once, no more movement. At least thats what my`n does after numerous tests to check....

flex-appeal · 05-26-2005, 10:55 PM

By the way, bearings usually make a continuous rumbling kind of sound so its probably not the problem. If your brakes and rotors turn out find when checked with a dial indicator then theres the possibilty that your hub the problem. To separate the hub from the bearing isnt that easy so you should probably leave it with a mechanic to take it apart , a problem with the hub will be visually apparent, it will probably be just worn down, this wear only needs to be about half a mm deep to create a lot of noise. You cant repair them and since you are paying for labour its best to buy a new hub from toyota, leave it up to the mechanic to advise whether you should replace the bearing at the same time while its all in pieces anyway.

EggBeater59 · 05-27-2005, 04:44 AM

man i hate these types of questions. now's a good time to take a look at your cv boots.

89_3SFE · 05-27-2005, 10:40 AM

I checked the CV boots and they're fine. About the hub, though, how much would it cost for me to replace the hub??

flex-appeal · 05-27-2005, 01:41 PM

First you must be absolutely sure what the prob is. As for prices, in Australia the hub is around $115 trade so anything around that figure upwards. It would be one hour labour to replace the hub and repack the original wheel bearing and refit. So total of anything from $150 onwards. Prices will be different in the states though!

marcuslogsdon · 05-29-2005, 03:18 PM

sounds to me like you have a brake problem. im not exactly sure what you mean by a "humming" sound but usualy you will find that when a bearing is shot it vibrates quite a bit and only gets worse when you go faster. yes a bearing would make a noise but more like a "howling" sound. as for your humm, at thoes speeds, take it to a tranny shop and see how your tranny is doing!!!!! as for your shock problem i think insanity-74 gave you the best explination and advice as anyone could!! good luck