1998 Camry - Load Road Noise above 50 MPH

[Danandfamily]

I have scanned the web and noone talks about my problem. We have a 1998 Camry with 4 Cyl engine and 109K miles. The car has had it's 90K Maintenance done. We put new tires on the car in 2003. Over the last year, the noise level has increased when speeds get above 50 MPH. There is no vibration in the steering. The noise stays if the car is put in Neutral and coasting above 50 MPH. We had the tires rotated and balanced with no impact? Any ideas what to do next?

[DFBonnett]

My first guess would be noisy tires. Some are just noisier than others.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by Danandfamily

I have scanned the web and noone talks about my problem. We have a 1998 Camry with 4 Cyl engine and 109K miles. The car has had it's 90K Maintenance done. We put new tires on the car in 2003. Over the last year, the noise level has increased when speeds get above 50 MPH. There is no vibration in the steering. The noise stays if the car is put in Neutral and coasting above 50 MPH. We had the tires rotated and balanced with no impact? Any ideas what to do next?

Hi Danandfamily,

from what you said (in red ink) the noise you are hearing has been getting louder over the past year. If it was the tires making all this noise I would think they would have been noisy right from the get go when you first had them installed.

You might want to check the wheel bearings for excessive wear and play as they can be very noisy when they wear out.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

[Danandfamily]

Hi guys,
I replaced the tires just to make sure that was not the issue and noise continued. The car was taken in and it's confirmed - rear axle wheel bearings.
The noise seemed to be coming from both front and back when driving the car. The mechanic would quickly steer the car left/right at 50 MPH and could get the noise to stop when steering right - taking weight off right side.
Thanks for your help!
Dan

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by Danandfamily

Hi guys,
I replaced the tires just to make sure that was not the issue and noise continued. The car was taken in and it's confirmed - rear axle wheel bearings.
The noise seemed to be coming from both front and back when driving the car. The mechanic would quickly steer the car left/right at 50 MPH and could get the noise to stop when steering right - taking weight off right side.
Thanks for your help!
Dan

So was it the right rear wheel bearing that was bad or both rear wheel bearings?

[xfeejayx]

I had the same problem. It was clicking, got it replaced a month ago, then that noise started. My mechanic and I agree the new bearing is bad. Bearing to be replaced tomorrow or day after. Guess new parts aren't always good parts.

[dosser]

This just drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!! Anytime you replace wheel bearings-REPLACE BOTH SIDES.

[xfeejayx]

why?

[davemac2]

Originally Posted by xfeejayx

why?

The reasoning is that if one is bad, the other is likely going shortly too. I don't know if that is always true though, and I don't think you really save any money doing both together anyways. If you don't know the history of the car, you also won't know if the other side was already done before anyways. As well, the bearings may not always wear evenly.

dave mc

[xfeejayx]

That's pretty much the only reason I can see, that the other might be going bad. But in the case of wheel bearings, doing one and not the other doesn't affect the ride or handling or anything like shocks, which you should do two at a time. Also, doing one doesn't make doing the other any easier, it will cost exactly twice as much time and effort. I don't think there really is a reason to do both; just fix it when it fails.

[csaxon]

Absolutely no need to replace a functioning wheel bearing; especially a rear bearing in a fwd car that is simply along for the ride.

[dosser]

Well I guess your time is worth nothing. It took time to figure out what the problem was, time to take it in for repair. When the other side goes ( it has a lot more miles on it than the new one ) it will take time again to get it fixed, and could be in a bad location and cost alot more at that point. Guess it is the old racer in me that if one fails, replace both. The rear is not just going along for the ride. People, whatever gets put inthe trunk, etc. all add load on the rear bearings. And when on side fails it will increase the stress on the other side. Bearings do wear, even when lubed properly. Just a different way to look at maintainance.

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by dosser

This just drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!! Anytime you replace wheel bearings-REPLACE BOTH SIDES.

Well, why not replace all 4 wheel bearings (front and back) and be done with it. Just kidding.

I guess it would depend if you planned on keeping the car and/or were putting alot of mileage on the car you might want to get both sides done for piece of mind. sure would suck if a wheel bearing let go on the side of the highway or on a road in the middle of nowhere.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY