Has anyone ever had a problem with their wheel bearings on a 2007 Camry?
I am in need of replacement and I am not under warranty anymore, any advice without spending $1,000 to replace one wheel bearing?

 

How did you determine it is a wheel bearing, what are the symptoms?

A wheel bearing typically makes a growl that gets louder with MPH then blends into the other road noises. The bearing noise will get louder as the miles rack up and wear occurs.

Find a location where you can drive between 20 and 40 MPH and do some abrupt lanes changes safely. Determine if the noise gets louder when making a left or right lane change. Typically as the cars weight is shifted the now more loaded wheel bearing will make more noise.

Also check to make sure it is not the brake system, axle or something else.

Wheel bearings tend to take a long time to actually fail, the noise will though increase as the bearing wears more.

The bearing itself is about $40 by mail order (name brand non-Toyota part). The issue is the old one needs to be pressed out and the new one pressed into the knuckle. If you can get the knuckle off (not too hard a job) you can have a shop do the actual bearing change. This will save you lots of money. Of find a shop that charges a lower shop rate and uses less expensive parts.

 

Thanks, I will have to get a second opinon. The dealership determined it was a wheel bearing that was off after spending 4 hours with it.
It makes a humming noise the faster I go but it didn't happen until I got a new tire put on by the same place.

 

As with "Gibby," my Camry started making loud noises when I put new tires. I have just had the bearings changed and the noise is even louder than ever. I feel like my vehicle is making whale mating calls. Of course, the Toyota dealership says they cannot duplicate the noise, but an independent mechanic has and is now troubleshooting the issue. On Monday, December 5, 2011, the independent mechanic will take take off the new wheel bearing and put the old one back on since it did not remedy the problem. Is there anyting else I should be checking for?

 

Where is the noise coming from, front, back, left, right?

If the noise started with new tires, inspect the tires. Try swapping front for back, rotate the spare tire in. One new tire could have a problem, it happens.

Some tires are louder then others, what brand, model, etc?

Where was the replacement wheel bearing located? The rears come off as a unit, the front are pressed in (very time consuming to replace).

 

Thank you for your reply.

The noise is coming from the back both left and right.

I mentioned to the mechanics if the problem could be from the tires. they said no. They are Michelin 17" all weather. I have had these before and it was not until I put on the same brand of the second set of tires that the noise started. I will suggest to them tomorrow to swap the front and back tires.

the wheel bearing is in in the rear of the vehicle.

The are going to replace the E break unit, resurface the rotars and replace the break pads.

 

These are the exact same model of tires as you had before?

What model of tire?

 

The tires are Michelin, Primacy MXM4, 215/55R1794V.

I hope that makse sense.

 

Toyomoho,

I really want to thank you for all your input. My vehicle is no longer making the noises.

 

Please be aware this is not an isolated incident. I brought my car in 2010 - 2009 Camry and informed before purchase it was just the wheels and the road and I replaced the front driver side wheel bearing in April 2011 & I am to replace the passenger side bearing now. I reported it and you can to at (800) 331-4331 #4