I just bought a 98 4 runner limited with 130k miles on it. The rear passenger wheel is making a ton of noise with an occasional high pitched noise from under the center of the truck.

Is there a way for me to tell if this is a rear wheel bearing on the passenger rear wheel going bad or something coming from the rear diff? I plan to jack up the rear tomorrow and see if I can turn the wheels in neutral and try to pinpoint the noise.

Does the driveshaft carrior bearing make loud noise when they go out?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Wiggle the wheel in the up down and around motion. It will be abel to side (a very small amount) OUT the axle tube, but shouldn't move up and down or left and right.

 

Lift the truck pay close attention to the Differential also. They usually need servicing at about the ~100k mark.

Use a hose or mechanics stethescope to listen to the different areas.

 

If there is oil on the inside of the wheel, its more then likely a wheel bearing. They can make noise when the wheel bearings go bad.

 

most likely the wheel bearing. that will go eventually if it has ever
been dipped under water a few times w/o proper follow up maintenance

oil doesn't always leak when these die. mine didn't leak, it just rumbled like hell

 

Thanks guys for the replys. I pulled the axel out today and the bearing sleeve came out in chunks with the center balls of the bearing exposed. Needless to say the wheel bearing broke apart, hence the loud howling i was getting all the time. it is getting pressed off tomorrow.

The brake shoes in the drum were coated with oil and brake dust. The shoes will be getting replaced and i will change the diff fluid as well.