Can you tell us about the mystery behind the squeaky disturbing sound coming out of your Toyota Camry?
If such a situation arises, the problem might be wheel bearings gone bad. Wheel bearings are the essential part of the car that controls the radial and axial forces while you drive.
Therefore, complete maintenance of these bearings is necessary for Toyota Camry drivers. What are the possible symptoms, causes, and diagnosis processes for Toyota Camry wheel bearing noise? We would like you to figure this out while reading this article thoroughly.
Enjoy!
Possible Symptoms of Toyota Camry Wheel Bearing Noise
Before concluding that you have a bad bearing in your Toyota Camry and not uneven tire wear, there are sure warning signs a driver has to observe. With that being said, check out the following symptoms of Toyota Camry’s bad wheel bearing:
Squeaky Noise Level
Every car’s wheels have dedicated wheel bearings. Once the wheel bearings wear off, they start to make a squeaky sound. It is also known as grinding noise or bearing noise, and it is the first stage of the symptoms that a driver should observe.
Though the noise is not noticeable initially, it is directly proportional to the car’s speed. Once you drive with faulty Camry wheel bearings for more than 100 miles, the noise gets louder.
Vibration in the Steering Wheel
The location of the vibration is dependent upon the location of the bad bearings. If the wheels’ front bearings are damaged, the vibration is most likely to occur in the steering wheel.
On the other hand, if the rear bearing wheels are damaged, then the vibration will come underneath the driving seat of the Toyota Camry.
According to our research, steering wheel vibration can also occur if the wheels have an uneven axle nut lock.
Therefore, if you see that grinding or squeaky noises accompany the vibrations, the problem might be the bearings going bad.
Knocking Noises
It is one of the most internal damages that might occur due to bad wheel bearings. This symptom is noticeable when you are taking turns or driving your Camry around the corner.
But a knocking sound might also occur due to the engine’s low fuel efficiency, suspension problem, or any other problem regarding the steering system of the Camry.
Therefore, our suggestion will be to thoroughly check all the inside compartments to find out the real reason behind the knocking sound.
But there is a possibility it might signal bad bearings as well!
Misalignment
Apart from all the grinding noises, vibrations, or knocking sounds, a driver will feel that the alignment of the Camry is affected. For example, they will suddenly feel that the car is constantly being pulled at one side of the road while driving.
This symptom is highly dangerous while driving as it can lead to a sudden accident. But additionally, the driver needs to be careful if they are aware of such lousy bearing conditions.
ABS Malfunctioning
What are ABS inside the car? It is generally known as Antilock Braking System, and it generates additional traction to the car’s wheels to prevent skidding in the case of hard brakes.
Such an ABS system also has an effect due to bad bearings. There are sensors mounted at the end of each wheel bearing, and if one malfunctions, the ABS will also malfunction, thus illuminating the warning light in the ABS display panel inside the Camry.
Most recent Toyota Camrys are mounted with ABS, which makes it easy to figure out the lousy bearing problems. Hence, once you get the warning, fix or replace the bearings with new ones as soon as possible.
Now that you know all the possible symptoms behind the faulty wheel bearings, it will also be wise to check out why the bearings go bad. Follow the later section for more details.
Reasons behind Toyota Camry Wheel Bearing Noise
Some most probable reasons might cause wheel bearing noise in your Toyota Camry. Let’s get to know them in detail.
Gradual Impacts from the Road
A wheel bearing has an average lifespan of about 136000 to 160000 km. This range of lifespan mainly depends upon the amount of impacts the bearings have to withstand daily.
Such impacts include driving on a rugged terrain road, going over speed bumps, or applying hard brakes when a sudden obstacle is in front of the driving path.
Driving in Bad Weather Conditions
Wheel bearings will also deteriorate faster if the weather condition is insufficient, such as during the rainy season. When you drive on muddy water, the mud splashes and reaches the bearings and thus making them rust gradually.
You can also take precautions such as cleaning the wheel bearings regularly or even pouring grease to lubricate the surface to make it last longer.
Perform Modifications on The Car
Sudden drivers perform various modifications over their Camry to make it look cooler, also a part of their showoff. Some changes include fitting wider rims, tires with standard threads, adding stiff shock absorbers, and many more.
In the worst-case scenario, these modifications produce a higher loading effect on the bearings, thus decreasing their lifespan to a certain amount.
We suggest sticking to the adjustments or changes recommended by the manufacturers to provide longevity to your bearings.
On the other hand, if you are up to spending more money on your Camry, go for a strong bearing replacement immediately!
Defect in the Installation
The hub assembly or bearing noise will also occur frequently if the installation process of the bearing is not handled with skill or care.
If you or your Camry driver is experienced enough to carry out this task on their own, we will suggest going for it.
Otherwise, call someone in the tire shop and seek a mechanic to install it for you. Though it will be considered an additional expense, safety should always be the topmost priority.
Diagnosis of Toyota Camry Bad Wheel Bearings
There are mainly three ways in which you can run the diagnosis of whether the wheel bearings have gone bad or not:
Driving
As we have mentioned before, the bad wheel bearing sound will get louder once you drive it at a higher speed. Therefore, get inside the driver’s seat and take it for a spin.
During the ride, gradually increase the speed and keep your ears sharp for any grinding or squeaky noises.
If you are still confused, you can video the whole diagnosis ride and compare it with the standard driving period with the new model of wheel bearings.
Shaking the Tires
If unsure about the above diagnosis, you can lift your car at a specific angle using a car jack. Then hold the tire horizontally (at 3’o clock and 9’o clock positions) and shake it back and forth.
Tires with bad bearings will produce squeaky noises, and that will verify your confusion. Also, you turn the tire at a reasonable speed, and you will also observe the same grinding or squeaky noises that you heard while driving your Camry.
Check the ABS Display
As mentioned earlier, recent models of Camry come with bearing sensors attached to the ABS. With the help of the OBD-II scanner, it sends electrical information to the display that the ABS has malfunctioned due to bad wheel bearings.
Once you see the warning light on the APS display, you can ensure yourself. If your Camry model does not have an ABS display, perform the diagnoses mentioned above to verify the problem of the bad bearings.
Toyota Camry Wheel Bearings Replacement Cost
Now, let’s come to the most crucial and wise part, replacing the lousy wheel hub, also known as bearings. The replacement cost of these rolling elements falls into two categories, purchase of bearings and labour cost.
As we mentioned earlier, if anyone is skilled enough to install on their own, the replacement cost will only refer to purchasing a new set of bearings, which is about 80 dollars.
But, if you call a mechanic, the additional labour cost will be around 95 dollars. Hence the total replacement cost sums up to 173 dollars.
Note that this cost will also depend on your Camry’s location. If you wish to save more money by driving the car to their shop withstanding the bearing noise, be my guest!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Sound of Faulty Wheel Bearings in a Toyota Camry?
Most faulty wheel bearings come with a grinding or squeaky sound when driving at high speed.
Additionally, this sound intensity will increase if the speed increases. There is also a knocking sound when you take turns or move around a corner in your Camry.
- Is It Safe to Drive with Faulty Wheel Bearings?
According to our research, one symptom of faulty wheel bearings is that the car will start to haul at one side while you drive. It might lead to accidents on the road. Therefore, we will say it is unsafe going with faulty wheel bearings.
- How Far Can a Camry Travel with Faulty Wheel Bearings?
A Camry can travel a maximum of 1000 miles with faulty wheel bearings. Therefore, we suggest replacing the bearings as soon as possible to avoid any driving trouble.
Conclusion
Therefore, what more do you need to know about Toyota Camry wheel bearing noise? Though some unintentional causes, such as weather conditions, might accelerate the deterioration of wheel bearings, these hardened steel ball bearings will serve you for a long time if you are handling them gently or greasing them properly.
But observe them and do not hesitate to replace them immediately after discovering they have gone bad. Driving with bad wheel bearings might question safety issues also.
We hope this article came in handy for you! Mention them to your friends and help them learn as well!
About the author
Marcus Brown is editor-in-chief of The FatMech and is a mechanic with ten years' experience based in London, UK. Having worked for major dealerships for many years, Marcus now works for a local independent garage and has experience working on nearly every make and model of car. Marcus also has a passion for writing and teaching, which is where the idea for The FatMech came from. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys playing golf, doing home renovations and gardening. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.