Avensis Growling Noise

[deerhunter]

I have a year 2000 Avensis with 157k miles on board and am after some ideas what this growling/humming noise could be.It has got progressivly worse and I think its from the rear.It sounds like a wheel bearing type of noise.Any ideas and what the cost could be would be appreciated.

[Konrad C]

Hi John,

There are a couple of things to try, to determine if it actually is the wheel bearing. The first question is have you had the same tyres on the rear for a long time.

The reason why I ask, is because I thought I had a rear wheel bearing fault until I changed the rear tyre. Rear tyres never wear but degrade over time. The sound of the rear tyre is the same as a worn wheel bearing.

If it is the wheel bearing, changing it is not the problem. The price of a genuine Toyota bearing at £250 plus is! Places like Eurocarparts sell the bearing from £66 but, you have to find a way to dismantle your hub-bearing to transfer the ABS wheel to the new bearing!

The other option is to get a hub-bearing from the breakers yard.

The hub-bearing is the same part for the pre (drum) and post (disc) 2000 Avensis. The difference is the extra work to remove disc brake caliper and pads. Once the drum is removed, four bolt are removed and the hub-bearing comes away.

I swapped hub-bearing in 20 minutes.

[deerhunter]

Hi Konrad,

Thanks for the reply,I have tried swopping the wheels round and the noise stays the same,it is also noisier when cornering which leads me to believe its a bearing.I have also had the hub carriers(if thats what there called)out to check the bearings and one felt a little notchy.I am hoping this is the problem as I cant see any other bearings.

I just hope I can find a good one from a breakers

[Konrad C]

Hi John again,

You have covered all bases. The notchy bearing has to be the failed one. When I was fixing a front bearing and had removed the hub, it too had the notchy feel.

Good luck on finding a good bearing.

[picto27]

have you fixed this problem? if not then see my reply within one of the other forums on this site. dunno which one. search for noisy bearing