Bearing Noise

I purchased a 2020 SR5 in January and in June I thought it was a rear wheel bearing or bad tire. Very low thrumming at 36 to 45 mph. Only 6500 miles and I took to the dealer this morning and they diagnosed it as bad needle bearings in the front differential. Anybody had this problem before?

 

Just a follow up to this problem. If you look at the TSB for this , it states they replace the front differential to repair it. Now they replace the hub with the needle bearing in it, not as drastic as replacing the entire differential.

 

I'm not following the wording they are telling you..."hub with the needle bearing in it" does not make sense to me. The needle bearing is pressed into the driver's side of the front differential. I'm not sure what hub they would be referring to.

Also, to answer your original question...I had a bad/noisy needle bearing.

I replaced mine about 7000 miles ago with the ECGS bushing. Been trouble free since. No more groan/rumble/vibration.

 

That is what they told me, probably easier than trying to explain the actual procedure. Anyway it is under warranty for 6 years or 60000 miles and I will worry about it then, if I still have the vehicle.

 

OEM solution is to replaced poorly engineered Needle Bearing (tolerances too lax) with exactly same new poorly engineered needle bearing. You will be replacing it again at or before 6500 miles. I'd recommend more permanent solution from Eastwood unless you like the dealer to take things apart every year.

 

Wonder if Toyota has "fixed" this for the 2021 4Runners, etc. ?

Rick

 

Toyota can fix it as any times as needed while it is still under warranty. After that I will either trade it or worry about it then.

 

It is about value of time not money to me. Your ride your time - Suit yourself. G.L.

 

I think my 2021 is having this issue but I'm not sure. It almost feels like there is engine breaking or a little resistance/vibration as I'm deceleration say off of an on ramp. Doesn't happen all the time but its almost like its not coasting smoothly. I get a feeling almost like drag. Very weird and hard to explain. I took a road trip last week and noticed it a bunch when we had the 4runner all loaded up but I haven't noticed it again since then. I pulled over to see if one of the calipers was sticking or something but they were not. Felt like engine braking or dragging when going down a hill. Very weird

 

Are you in overdrive or S mode when this happens? The 4runner will engine brake in S mode. I'm not positive if it does in overdrive.

The needle bearing can be diagnosed on a smooth, straight road. While driving around 30-35 MPH, you will hear the bearing noise. Shifting into 4HI will make the noise go away. Shifting back into 2WD will make the noise come back.

If shifting into 4WD doesn't make it stop, it's a different issue.

 

You beat me to the punch, that is almost exactly what I was going to reply.

 

ok makes sense. I'm not in S mode just regular drive. Is this something that can be intermittent or would it always happened at those speeds?

 

In my case, it was more noticeable in colder weather. I actually noticed it pretty shortly after buying my 4runner in January 2019. Then I forgot all about it during the summer. Then, it became more noticeable again last winter.

I got the differential swapped just before lifting it this past March. It seems good since then. If it craps out again, I'm going ECGS bushing.

 

Maybe it is the cold! Its been in the 20s here. I just bought a brand new 2021 3 weeks ago so i think im just super anal about everything right now. Hopefully its nothing but it defiantly felt different when it was that cold.

 

If it seems to be the needle bearing, take it to the dealer. They will recognize it and replace it. I only left mine for one day. It was no big deal.

You will appreciate the quiet ride.

 

As mentioned previously, if you switch to 4HI and the noise/vibration goes away, its most likely the front differential needle bearing. Many taco owners have been able to buy the ecgs bushing at get the dealership to install it in conjunction with whatever warranty work they would do to correct it. Wouldnt hurt to ask the dealership if they'd be willing to.

 

I just posted another thread asking about this but should have searched and found this one first. I am experiencing this same issue and it only started happening recently after the big snow storm hit Denver last week. I’m now getting the deceleration resistance at highway speeds and under no load. It’s very hard to explain but like someone mentioned above, it feels like extra drag and exhibits a low hum. This is a needle bearing issue?

 

Try shifting into 4 wheel drive and see if it goes away.

 

Just tested it earlier this morning. Indeed it does it go away in 4H and then comes back in 2H. And now noticing it’s even at lower speeds not just highway, it’s just less pronounced at lower speeds.

 

Bad needle bearing will also make your axle rattle and clank at low speeds over little bumps.