Hi Everyone. I am new to this forum and Toyota. After months of searching due to limited used car inventory and budget, I recently helped my daughter purchased a used 2006 Camry LE with 113K on it. It was a one owner, clean carfax, looked to be owned by an older couple, regular service from the dealer and a small in-town mechanic in their area. With her living a couple of hours away, I wanted a car that would give us both peace of mind and knew that Toyota would give us the most peace of mind.

Not sure if I should post a few initial questions here or on separate threads, let me know, but here goes. I poked around the threads, but didn't seem to see a clear match to this:

1. The car has a consistent roar while being driven. Prob most noticeable in the 40 mph and up range. I have had GM cars where this was the front hub/Wheel assemblies and you could usually tell by steering left or right to identify the culprit. In the Camry, it never seems to change with steering. Could it be rear? The tires are decent, although another GM I had with the same consistent sound did end up being tires.

2. There is a rear passenger thump that happens over some road imperfections. I thought it might be the jack mount or the cover over the spare, but have ruled those out. I have seen other posts about rear struts and also bushings. Any pecking order on checking this out?

I would greatly appreciate any help with these items, especially #1 before I turn the car over to her.

Thank you in advance.
Mike D

 

Suggest finding a section of newly asphalt paved road to check for possible tire noise. Inspect tires for damage.

Any vibration through the steering wheel, steering play, car wondering?

Could the roar be a hum?

At what MPH's does the noise start and stop?

Any noise reduction when braking or foot of gas?

Make sure the emergency brake is not engaging the shoes.

Feel the hubs after driving to determine if one is warmer than the others.

You could jack up the car, remove brake pads, trans in neutral and check for play then spin tire to check for roughness. Compare one side of car to the other. While you are at it check the intermediate drive shaft bearing on the left side of the car for play.

The speed of 35-45 appears common for bearing noise on Camry.

The axles use a single out race double inner row ball bearing that presses into the hub. My guess is the bearing design makes it less responsive to the old move steering wheel L and R steering wheel diagnostic method.

The rear noise could be upper strut mounts or sway bar bushings.

Go over pot holes or speed bumps with someone in the rear of car to listen for noise. Mounts of course are at the top of the strut and bolted under the rear deck. Sway bar bushings are under the chassis. Note it can be impossible to tell a bad bushing by looking at it. Also check for worn out sway bar link joints.