Front end hum after needle bearing replacement

Hello all,

Another front end hum post.

2020 5th gen 4Runner with KDSS. 2 inch lift with bigger UCA’s. 285’s. KDSS drop from dr KDSS.

Last winter I experienced the usual front end hum at about 35-40 MPH. Went away when 4wd engaged. Dealership diagnosed as needle bearing. They.. allegedly replaced with the clamshell bearing.

Well. The hum is back. Exact same symptoms. My understanding is that this is simply not supposed to happen or be really possible with the needle bearing replaced with the clamshell.

Anything I can check before taking it back to the dealership?

Thanks in advance!

 

Toyota Dealer should not installed non OEM part. Did they warranty the work? Seems unlikely. Those sleeves don't just lay around at NAPA. Did Toyota order ECGS part online and then installed it? So many red flags. Some one is Full of it...

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they installed another needle bearing instead of the ECGS part.

 

Toyota ordered the ECGS part online and installed it. At least per their invoice. But my understanding is that with the Clamshell bearing this physically can’t happen because there are no teeth on that to make the hum sound.

 

Interesting they installed the ECGS part. That are not swapping needle bearings anymore, changing out entire diffs instead.

 

Side note (sorry for pedantry). ECGS part is a bushing (or "plain bearing"). A shell bearing is a two piece thin bearing such as used in connecting rod big ends.

Really surprised a dealer would install an aftermarket fix such as the ECGS kit. Could be a red flag. Could be a cool/practical dealership. Given the noise has returned, going more towards the former.

BTW, I did the bushing retrofit on mine and am a fan of the kit ECGS offers.

Jason

 

I would have a hard time believing a Toyota dealer would install a non-Toyota part also. If they documented that on the repair order you have to believe them because if something else goes wrong it raises warranty liability questions? Unless their position is since the vehicle is lifted and other non-factory parts, it is NOT warranty work anyway? Did the OP ever say it was warranty work? This is very interesting. I would really like to know if Toyota has approved aftermarket parts for warranty work. If so, it’s an admission of a design flaw.

 

FWIW, When I was a dealership tech for over 15 years, We never installed any type of non factory parts on any of our vehicles.

Unless a tech was doing some side work after hours, I too do not see a Toyota dealership doing this and at the same time offering the factory warranty to cover future issues.

 

Toyota dealers install aftermarket lifts all the time on new 4Runners, tacomas and tundras then offer them for sale.

For the OP, was this a warranty repair or did you pay to have the ECGS bushing installed? I don’t believe Toyota would approve the dealer to do this for a warranty repair. However dealers would install anything if customers pay them.

 

When the dealers install aftermarket lifts and then sell the new vehicles, do they still have the factory warranty? Will it be honored by Toyota and any dealer?

 

Regional mileage may vary, Was simply offering actual regional offerings available at the time.

 

Sorry for the delay.

The humming that disappears when 4wd is engaged seemed to smooth itself out when driving 65+ (in 2wd)
for a long period of time on the highway. Its still there at lower 40mph speeds, but its not as pronounced/loud as before.

I pulled the invoice from the repair that Toyota did. At the time the Rep said that they knew about the needle bearing issue and they replaced it with a... Their words not mine... Clamshell Bushing. The rep said that when vehicles come in with these specific symptoms they are just replacing the needle bearing with a bushing. The rep claimed that if the vehicle was still under warranty they would have repaired it under warranty with a bushing. They did not specify if it was from ECGS or not. On the repair invoice it simply says "bushing" with no associated part number which is a little maddening.

This specifically was NOT a warranty repair as it was out of the warranty period for that vehicle. So the repair came out of pocket.

In my limited experience I've seen dealerships install non OEM parts all the time on vehicles, but yeah, maybe not for warranty work. The only real remaining question is if the bushing installed is an OEM part made by toyota or not.

Regardless when I have a moment this week i'll have Toyota look at it since they did the work on it. Figured I would update with what in formation I had.

 

I think it is the tires now. I would try to rebalance at Discount Tire with their Road Force machine and try to get to see what numbers they get. I had similar experience and had to try a couple of different tire places until got the right spot and the right techs. Just my two cents. Don't give up.

 

I'm pretty sure its not the tires as the noise totally disappears when 4wd is engaged when coasting in neutral at 40mph. This is just a puzzle i've been obsessing over. Discount tires installed the tires, but they have only been rotated, not rebalanced since they were installed.

To be clear. Loud humm from front end roughly driver side when in 2wd. 4wd hum goes away. When shifting back to 2wd it immediately comes back. A few months back Toyota replaced Needle Bearing with a "bushing." Noise continues with the same symptoms as before, except only after driving long distances on the highway the hum in 2wd seems to dissipate to a tolerable level. After 4wd is re-engaged for dirt road shenanigan's or what not it returns when shifting back to 2wd.

 

My dealership will install non OEM parts to include the bushing. Had this conversation with my service advisor regarding the bearing hum.

 

They won't guarantee pars or work.

 

Op how is the humming symptom now?