[Brendon L.]

Hey everyone! I’m a long time reader to this forum, but this is the first time I’m writing a post for advice. Did an extensive blanket search to diagnose my issue, but nothing seems to pinpoint my particular problem. So I appreciate all your input in advance!

I have a 2005 Toyota RAV4 4WD and never had any major issues with it. Just got home from a cross-country roadtrip from NY to Arizona and back. (All highway driving, nothing off-road). Engine is still running beautifully, but I got a nasty sound when I turn the wheel a millimeter to the right from 12 o’clock toward 1 o’clock between the speeds of 30-80mph. Once I bring the wheel back to 12 o’clock (straight), the sound completely disappears. The best way to describe the sound is an “urrrrrrrrrrn” sound. It does NOT pop, click, clunk, vibrate, like I’ve read in other posts. Just a very loud “URN” sound. It doesn’t affect the performance of the car in any way either. The sound started around mile 5,000 of the 7,000-mile trip.

After reading MANY related posts, the common suggestion is that there could be a problem w one of my wheel bearings, whether it is failing or a lubrication/friction problem. Are there any other suggestions out there other than a faulty wheel bearing? I can’t pinpoint what side the sound is coming from. I’ve been under the car and found nothing rubbing, but is there something specific I should be on the look out for? (Also FYI, I replaced my sway bar end links and bushings two months ago, but I don’t think that has anything to do w it.)

I’m hoping it’s not an expensive problem and maybe a simple DIY fix. Thank you guys for reading my post and any advice you may have!

 

[AndrewPaul]

yep, a wheel bearing seems pretty likely.

is the noise louder or quieter at faster travel speeds?
can you or a passenger identify what area of the car the noise is coming from?

 

[Brendon L.]

AndrewPaul — thanks for your input so quickly man! I really do appreciate it. I literally just got back home from taking a spin on the highway w your follow-up questions in mind.

The “urrrrn” sound starts at exactly 35mph and softens at 80mph. And again, it begins making the sound if I turn the wheel a smidgen to the right of 12 o’clock and doesn’t stop until I return it back to 12. The loudest it gets happens between 50-70mph and it’s the same loudness between those speeds.

So recap: No bad sound from 0-35mph. At 35, it gradually gets louder to 50mph, stays the same loudness from 50-70mph, then begins to decline in sound from 70-80mph, and at 80mph the sound is still there but very faint.

Also, I could def say that it’s coming from the front driver’s side. It was hard to tell at first because it gets so loud that the sound fills the whole cabin lol.

Does that still sound like the wheel bearing is the culprit??? And if so, will I be able to tell if it needs to be completely replaced or just needs lubrication? (If that makes any sense…?)

Thanks again dude. Very helpful!

 

[AndrewPaul]

Yes, that definitely sounds like a wheel bearing. It also sounds like it's really bad! With the car just sitting on the pavement, use your hands to grab the top of the front-driver's wheel and pull and push on it. You should get some small wobble that is really only the tire flexing, but see if you can feel or hear any additional movement. Clunk, click, grinding, anything that points at the wheel moving in relation to the car, in a way that it shouldn't. Check all four corners, you might be able to notice a difference between them.

Note: When wiggling the tire, specifically grab the top of the tire, pulling away from the car, pushing toward the car. If you instead grab the front and back, and try to wiggle it that way, you will get a lot of movement with the front tires that is largely just from the steering system, and it will not be a good measure of good/bad movement.

End of the day, you should diagnose that as quickly as possible. Replacing a wheel bearing is not exactly a simple DIY, but it is manageable. Alternatively, watching a car lose a wheel on the freeway is awesome and terrifying.

 

[Brendon L.]

AndrewPaul - Not a lot of people would go out of their way to take the time to help someone they don’t know, so thanks a lot man, you’re doing a great service for a fellow Toyota owner!

So I did what you suggested and tried the push/pull test on the top of both of my front wheels and didn’t have any luck seeing any play. I also looked at multiple YouTube clips on how to replace a bearing on a RAV4 and let’s just say I’ll leave it to the pros for this one haha.

The thought of losing a wheel on the road terrifies the hell out of me so best bet is to just bring it in and have it fixed by someone who knows what they’re doing. I’ve already driven about 1,000 miles w this sound coming home from my roadtrip, so I’m lucky that it didn’t fail on me.

Once I bring it in to have it fixed these next few days, I’ll make sure to post back to you with what issue it ended up being (in case you’re curious). I have a feeling you are probably spot on though.

Thanks again dude.

-Brendon

 

[AndrewPaul]

I hope I'm pointing you in the right direction.

If you have the opportunity and inclination, try to catch the sound on video (safely!). You can post it to youtube and share it here

 

[Brendon L.]

AndrewPaul - So the mystery of the “URRRRN” noise has finally been solved. Just got back from the mechanic today and my car sounds brand new again.

Not surprisingly, it turned out to be a worn out wheel bearing on the front driver’s side. They ended up replacing the whole wheel hub, not just the bearing itself.

Parts: $222
Labor: $187 ($75/hr, 2.5 hrs)
NY Tax: $33
Total Cost: $442

(Kelley Blue Book’s fair price range for the repair on a 2005 RAV4 is in the $600-$700 range, so although expensive, I feel like I got a good deal.)

Also, FYI: Mechanic said that since the “URRRRN” sound didn’t start until 35mph, it would have been safe to drive on it for a little while longer w the noise. However, if the sound had started at 10mph, he said that’s when you start to enter into the danger zone and need to have it serviced immediately.

Therefore, it could have been trouble if I drove it home from Georgia to upstate New York like I did if the noise had started at 10mph. So I was lucky and dodged a bullet on that one. 😅

I really hope this post eventually helps someone diagnose their problem sometime in the future! Thanks for all the feedback and input again!

—Brendon (Albany, NY)

 

[AndrewPaul]

Nice! And thank you for the follow-up