[braydis05]

Hey all,

I have a 2005 Camry XLE V6 with 115,000 miles. Recently it has began making some strange noises when driving at higher speeds.

When I hit about 25 mph, an oscillating type noise from the front right wheel area starts, and gets faster with speed. (wheel issue?) In addition, when I’m going about 40+mph and driving on a curve, a more violent noise similar to the other one begins from the front left side, as well as shaking the steering wheel. Both of these noises are louder and faster on the freeway.

Since these noises have started, I have:
Checked the wheel well area, which is all in tact and not going anywhere
Got my tires checked at an auto shop
Got an alignment
Rotated my tires

The noises remain. I fear for a major mechanical issue, but to start I would really love to know what’s making the noise. Please let me know of any insight you may have and anything i can check. Thank you all in advance.

Here’s a video of the noises in city driving conditions.

 

[guyslp]

From what I can hear I suspect a wheel bearing has gone bad.

 

[braydis05]

Brakemasters is taking a look at it right now, and that’s what they are suspecting before they’ve even taken a look at it.

 

[braydis05]

From what I can hear I suspect a wheel bearing has gone bad.

It’s confirmed the passenger front press wheel bearing. They’re gonna change it out. I would, but you need a press 😛. thank you for the suggestion, now i have a video that shows the sound of a bad wheel bearing!

 

[guyslp]

That video (the audio part, actually) is but one example of "the characteristic drone" that changes with speed (always, in my experience, and it's sometimes worse at low speed than high) and degree to which the steering is turned (often) that are the hallmarks of a wheel bearing gone bad.

Were one to wish to diagnose this definitively (or as close to it as you can get, and this is what shops do) at home, and you have a floor jack that can be safely used to elevate wheels slightly off the ground, once in the air grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and/or the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and attempt to gently wiggle it. If you can get back and forth action, it's a wheel bearing gone bad. The wheels should not be able to pivot in that way at all.

 

[braydis05]

That video (the audio part, actually) is but one example of "the characteristic drone" that changes with speed (always, in my experience, and it's sometimes worse at low speed than high) and degree to which the steering is turned (often) that are the hallmarks of a wheel bearing gone bad.

Were one to wish to diagnose this definitively (or as close to it as you can get, and this is what shops do) at home, and you have a floor jack that can be safely used to elevate wheels slightly off the ground, once in the air grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and/or the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and attempt to gently wiggle it. If you can get back and forth action, it's a wheel bearing gone bad. The wheels should not be able to pivot in that way at all.

Thanks for the insight! I was going to jack it up and see if i could see or hear anything this morning but I decided to take it for a drive and see if Brakemasters had any idea about it, since they just aligned the car. Luckily they were able to diagnose it for free for me. The more you know. I'm learning a lot about the 5th gen Camry!

 

[guyslp]

Just to be clear, those diagnostic indicators are not, in any way, specific to any single make or model. They're universal and you'll hear things that fit the same characteristics in any motor vehicle with failed wheel bearings.