1998 Toyota 4Runner Swish noise (like a bad wheel bearing)

MLINDAMOOD

MEMBER
1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

My 4runner make a swishing noise as you drive down the road. It does not change as weight shifts, I cannot tell if it is coming from the back r the front of the truck. Had truck on a friends lift and noice does not seem to oocur if the weight is off the axles. Noice lessens or goes away as you life the emergency brake. We have had the truck to 3 mechanices and they cannot find a problem. Anyone ever experience this?

Friday, January 9th, 2009 AT 7:56 AM

1 Reply

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

Raise vehicle, put on stands, grasp tire and push/pull both horizontally and vertically. You are looking for ANY movement in wheel. If movement, then could be a ball joint, tie rod, brake issue, bushngs, control arm, bearings.

If no movement, then remove front and rear brakes and look for missing/broke springs, loose bolts etc.

If equipped with rear drums, have them turned, they may be out of round.

Inspect wheel cylinders, calipers for leaks or drum/rotor contamination.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Friday, January 9th, 2009 AT 9:07 AM