Rear bearing growl HELP!!!

I need some serious help here. I have a 2008 SR5 with 180,000 miles. Back in May of this year, I started hearing a growling noise coming from the rear. With the mileage, I assumed wheel bearing. I ordered the complete Toyota kit and replaced both rear wheel bearings at the same time. Much to my surprise, the noise was still there. I ended up ordering a new driveshaft carrier bearing and changing that. The noise was still there. I ordered a bearing kit for my rear differential. I changed all of those bearings. The noise is still there. The only time the noise goes away is when I am going around a right hand curve, just like a bad wheel bearing on the right rear would act. I ended up driving with the noise until today when I changed the right rear wheel bearing a second time. You guessed it. The noise is still there. I see nothing wrong with the tires. Rotating doesn't change anything. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Any chance it's the front ones?? Viktor G on YouTube has a vid on this, super educational IMO, I got growling too, but it's more prominent on the front driver side..

 

Might be a front bearing. Maybe good to change the rear diff fluid as well if you haven't.

 

The rear differential fluid was changed when I did the re-build. I forgot to mention I have changed the front right wheel bearing as well. I wish I had a set of chassis ears to diagnose this properly. It won't make any noise at all on jack stands. It has to have a load. It's louder on a left hand curve and goes away on a right hand curve. Thank you all for your input!

 

Left hand curve would Indictate a left wheel problem as the left wheel has to turn quicker as a tighter radius than the right. Or am I wrong??

 

Sure it's not the fabled needle bearing on the drivers side of the front diff?

 

Does it go away in 4wd?

 

I believe the left tire would actually turn slower on a left hand curve. The distance travelled would be greater on the right wheel. Good thought though.
I have never heard of a needle bearing problem with these trucks. This is news to me.
4 wheel drive makes no difference at all. We have already had our first snowfall of the year, and I drove 25 miles in 4x4.

 

Since your said the sound changes when you turn...It could be the rotors rubbing on the backing plates. Did your new bearing kit come with new backing plates also? If it did...I'm willing to bet that is your issue. It seems there is very tight tolerance between the back of rotor and the backing plates. Pull your rotors off and look very closely at the backing plates and you will see where it may be rubbing. I had same issue after I got new rear bearings and it had new backing plates. The backing plates are very very close to the back of the rotors so they may rub slightly in turns, eventually it will grind itself down and go away. Some people also get a grinding/rubbing noise when they install new rear rotors because it rubs on the backing plates.

 

It isn't the rotors. That is a unique sound I have experienced in the past. That you would hear at all times regardless of load.

 

It isn't the rotors. I have experienced that sound many times over the years. That is a grinding/scraping noise.

 

Yes they are original gears. When I had the carrier assembly out to change bearings, the gears looked like new. I used OEM bearings and put back the original shim thickness. I had .006 backlash which is within specs of .001"-.006".
How would a gear problem go away on a right hand curve?
And YES! I am throwing parts at this. It sounds like a wheel bearing and acts like a wheel bearing. Process of elimination. At least I'm not paying stealership prices.

 

Try putting it in 4wd and see if the noise goes away.

 

No it makes no difference

 

It makes no difference

 

My wife and I laughed our butts off watching that!
What is the easiest way to diagnose bad needle bearings?

 

Like ColoradoTJ said, if the sound goes away when you put it in 4WD that is a good indicator you need the ECGS bushing. That is what mine would do. I should have said that I my first post. I actually saw where it had been asked and answered before.

 

Just grab the inner CV joint, and try to wobble it up and down. Mine was bad enough to see/feel it wobble. The ECGS bushing and tool were worth every penny.

 

If the noise only occurs on turns, then the spider gears are shot. Time for a new unit.

 

Update... I had to take it to the dealership for another issue. They put chassis ears on it and diagnosed it as a front left wheel bearing. That was the only one I hadn't changed. I had that one sitting in the garage. To my surprise, it actually fixed my problem! I would have sworn that noise was coming from the rear! I had several people ride with me and agreed. Oh well! It's nice and quiet now.
Thank you for everyone's advice!

 

Drivetrain noises will make you mad! Glad you resolved it