1996 4Runner SR4 4x4 3.4 automatic

Begining of August I had new front rotors, calipers, and pads put on, and had the rear drums adjusted.

3 days later I left for vacation, lots of highway driving. On the way home, I noticed a rubbing/vibration noice. I assumed it was my kayak strapped to the top of my truck (it had a normal amount of vibration considering it's 12.5' long). Took the Kayak and my entire roof rack down, still making the noise.

A day or so later the noise was much worse, so I took it to my mechanic thinking it was something with the brakes. He said it wasn't the brakes, but thought it sounded like a wheel bearing going bad in the passenger side rear wheel. As soon as he said it wasn't my breaks, I feared it was my diff. I asked him and he said he was pretty sure it was the wheel bearing. He had a buddy who owns another shop in town look at it, and his buddy said that it was a FRONT wheel bearing. Had the bearing(s) replaced, sound is still there.

Now I'm pretty concerned, and I'm tired of having my rig in the shop (been there a lot lately). Besides, summer is winding down and I've got to get on the trail a few times before the snow gets here.

The sound is fairly low in tone, very patterned... I thought initially it sounded like a something wedged between my brake shoe and the drum, it's that kind of sound. The pattern (rythm) speeds up as I speed up, and the sound is only audible over 30mph. My mechanic said the brakes are fine... so any other thoughts about what it could be? My father-in-law said his jeep made a very similar sound when his diff needed work. Could it be gears rubbing in the diff? I had my diff oil changed about 2.5 years ago.

Any thoughts?

 

If the sound started after the brakes i would first look at the brakes . Cheak the drum brakes and see if there over adjusted or if you lose a spring in the drums.

 

Try lightly applying the brakes, and then just the parking brake, while moving at the speed where the noise is audible.

Chances are that if it's the brakes, it will at least change the character of the sound.

Good luck.