Wheel bearing noise or tire noise?

My question: can a failing wheel bearing sound the same as tire hum/road noise? I ask because I just got new tires that everybody says are very quiet, etc etc but driving on them I hear a distinct hum and can feel a high pitch vibration. I had noticed it before on the old tires but just thought they were getting worn and starting to make noise. From what I can tell it exists in both straight lines and corners and is definitely speed related.

Other than the sound, are there any other signs or symptoms I can look for?

Is it something I could hear or feel if I jacked it up and spun the wheels by hand?

My 09 has about 90,000 miles on it now, no towing or off-roading, no submerging or other severe use.

 

Yes

 

Yes to same sound or yes to something you can hear when jacked?

 

I'm not too incredibly sure, but I've heard on here it can sound like a hum.

Somebody will chime in. @Iamraiderpower

 

Two different sets of tires and it occurs straight AND turning? I'm not putting my money on tires causing the sound in those cases.

 

Ok, thanks. Never had a bearing go bad in 190,000 miles in my old 01 so this is new to me. Does anybody know if you can tell when turning by hand? I'm not sure how to diagnose this?

 

To check your front wheel bearings, put your truck on jack stands and grab a wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock. Rock it to check for play. There shouldn't be any. You can spin the wheel also and listen. It shouldn't be growling and noisy.

You said you feel a vibration. Is that in the steering wheel or your butt?

 

http://www.knowyourparts.com/technical-articles/symptoms-of-a-worn-wheel-hub-bearing/

 

The vibration is very slight but can be felt in the steering wheel and floor.

I actually read that before I posted. Long ago I had a vw gti with a bad wheel bearing and that was very obvious, a loud, clear grinding sound. This I can't seem to pin point, can't tell if it's the front or rear or left or right.

I'll jack it up tomorrow and see what I can see, if I still can't tell I think I'll call the shop I bought the tires from and have them look at it.

 

So, yes that indicates the front end. If you felt it in your butt, then the rear end would be under suspicion.

 

Mine occurred right around 45-55mph and was a moderately loud groan if you want to call it that. Occurred in straight line and turning. If you do the grab the wheel method and move it, it will only move if the bearing is completely gone for the most part. Mine didn't move but when the hub assembly was taken apart the bearings were trash

 

Also mine would vibrate in the steering wheel and right under my left foot in the floor board

 

Yes, its a wheel bearing. My 2005 Tacoma DC LB 4x4 wheel bearing went out at 90,000 miles. I went ahead and replaced both, bc these wheel besrings are known to go bad in the 90k - 100k mile range. You'll need all the new seals as well. A shop press will make the job so much easier. I think there might be a youtube tutorial video on how to replace them. From what I remember dealer was fairly expensive, and non dealer mechanics weren't cheap either. Its really not a tough job, and after you do one side the other side will go much faster. Btw, mine made the same noises as you describe when the wheel bearings were going out. Hope that helps.

 

It's difficult to check with the tires on. Remove them and the brake calipers. Bolt the rotors in place; rotate them by hand and feel for smoothness. There will be some drag from the CV shafts, but you should not feel any binding or grittyness. Grab the rotors at opposite locations and jerk them left to right and up/down. The rotors should not have any play behind them; they will move a little from the tie rod end. Bearings can still be bad if there is no play - play signifies significant damage/wear. When driving, does the vibration and/or hum change pitch (or eliminate altogether) when turning left/right?

 

You can sometimes diagnose if the wheel bearing is bad by driving on a straight smooth road and then turning turning the steering wheel so that the truck weaves from white to yellow line on the road. If one of the bearings is bad the bad bearing should be louder when the trucks weight is loaded to that side of the truck.

 

Try engaging 4wd while driving in a straight line, and see if the hum changes or goes away.

 

Do exactly what he just posted but it does always follow the loaded side. You can have the inside bearing failing and the weight of the truck shifting from side to side cause the noise I'm the opposite side. It will indiicate a bad bearing either way.

As far as doing it yourself you will need a press to remove and install. It's not an easy job but if you have good mechanical skills it's doable. That why it's expensive at a shop. If you don't press the new bearing in the knuckle the correct way you wI'll destroy the new bearing.

 

Yeah these bearings are terrible, or at least not greased sufficiently. I just did both of mine at 70k. Hopefully bama's properly greased bearings last a good while longer.

 

Thanks for the info so far. I jacked it up couldn't really feel anything at all on either side. I'm going to go for a drive and try the other suggestions now.

 

I once chased a bad wheel bearing for months. No play in the wheel and the garage misdiagnosed the problem as the transfer case. The bearing was replaced after a used transfer case did nothing to fix the noise.

When my MINI had a bad wheel bearing I diagnosed it and told the garage to replace it, even bringing them the correct part. The mechanic was skeptical since there was no play in the wheel. But when the bearing was removed it was bad.

Good luck with the diagnosis!