RX300 rear end noise at high speed
07-19-13, 03:51 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
RX300 rear end noise at high speed
My 2003 Lexus RX300 AWD started making a noise coming from the back of the car about a month ago. The noise is louder at higher speeds and especially when I hit about 80 MPH. (Yes, I like to speed.) My car has 130K miles on it and it is AWD. The noise is a wa wa wa wa noise and fairly high pitched. It doesn't change that much when turning but may get just a tiny bit louder. It also doesn't seem related to acceleration/deceleration. Obvious suspicion is wheel bearing but since it doesn't change when turning, that is in question. I went to a shop today and they said they weren't 100% sure and it could cost me lots of money to replace things that might not fix the problem. But I would really like it fixed to return to my quiet Lexus! 
Much appreciated if anyone has any feedback on what it is!
Here's the noise: (Don't pay attention to the picture I added to make the sound file a video.) You can hear it the best about 10 seconds in.
Much appreciated if anyone has any feedback on what it is!
Here's the noise: (Don't pay attention to the picture I added to make the sound file a video.) You can hear it the best about 10 seconds in.
Last edited by garne2t; 07-29-13 at 06:49 PM.
07-30-13, 04:37 AM
#3
Moderator
You need to start by eliminating each of the possible sources
Wheel/tire
Rear Diff
Shaft/bearings
Suspension
Brakes
That is what you pay the mechanic or the shop to diagnose and then parts and labor. I would stay away from a place who wants to measure how deep your pockets are and then start replacing parts till the problem is solved.
You can do some of the detective work yourself and then you may have to go to a shop as a DIYer may not have the setup and or equipment.
Also be careful of the over the net diagnosis. If a member had a bearing problem, it does not mean you have a bearing problem. Get the gauge to measure the play.
Salim
Wheel/tire
Rear Diff
Shaft/bearings
Suspension
Brakes
That is what you pay the mechanic or the shop to diagnose and then parts and labor. I would stay away from a place who wants to measure how deep your pockets are and then start replacing parts till the problem is solved.
You can do some of the detective work yourself and then you may have to go to a shop as a DIYer may not have the setup and or equipment.
Also be careful of the over the net diagnosis. If a member had a bearing problem, it does not mean you have a bearing problem. Get the gauge to measure the play.
Salim
07-30-13, 09:08 PM
#4
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Thanks Salim. Good advice. I have since gone to another shop and based on a test drive, he says it is a bearing in the rear. He says both rear wheel bearings should be replaced together even if just one is bad. Make any sense?
07-30-13, 10:20 PM
#5
Moderator
If you want to keep the vehicle, then yes replace both, but if not .. no point in doing premptive maintenance on a vehicle you will part with soon. If you do plan to do both bearings, I would also suggest replace the seals on the rear diff and then change out the rear diff fluid .... I know the things snowball.
Salim
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tiguy99 (02-17-21)
03-13-14, 11:14 AM
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
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03-15-14, 07:24 PM
#8
03-17-14, 04:36 AM
#10
BTW... The Rockauto pic of Timken 514002B appears to show multiple unsealed bearing sets. Is that how it came? All the others sold by RockAuto (for AWD) look like they are sealed in a sleeve.
(thanks for all the info)
03-17-14, 02:36 PM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
My mechanic is good. 
If I remember correctly, he said you don't need a bearing press to do it. But that's all I know. I've run 6,000 miles on new bearing and everything has been fine.
No, the rockauto bearing I got was sealed in a sleeve. The pic is not correct.
If I remember correctly, he said you don't need a bearing press to do it. But that's all I know. I've run 6,000 miles on new bearing and everything has been fine.No, the rockauto bearing I got was sealed in a sleeve. The pic is not correct.
03-20-14, 10:33 PM
#12
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i brought this for reduce noise , just let you know
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21301228521524
i added it in to diff then i driver for 5000KM, noise gone ,lol
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21301228521524
i added it in to diff then i driver for 5000KM, noise gone ,lol
Yesterday, 12:36 PM
#14
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I know this is a older thread but my 99 RX300 AWD has similar wa wa wa wa wa ringing noise coming from the rear end. At first when I took my car to the mechanic and he had it on a lift and rotated all four wheels there was a noise coming from the rear left wheel and he thought it was the bearings going bad. But when I got new NSK bearing for the rear left and he took the axle out there was no noise coming from the wheel and he said the noise is coming from the differential so he didnt replace the bearing.
My thought is if the CV axle came off the rear left bearing then there would not be any load on the bearing to make any noise and if it is really the rear diff making the noise then both the rear wheels should be making the same noise right? How can I diagnose the issue better and work with a mechanic? I called a local diff/trans shop and they want to charge money for diagnosis and it cost thousands of $$ to rebuild the diff
My thought is if the CV axle came off the rear left bearing then there would not be any load on the bearing to make any noise and if it is really the rear diff making the noise then both the rear wheels should be making the same noise right? How can I diagnose the issue better and work with a mechanic? I called a local diff/trans shop and they want to charge money for diagnosis and it cost thousands of $$ to rebuild the diff
Yesterday, 01:01 PM
#15
Moderator
I know this is a older thread but my 99 RX300 AWD has similar wa wa wa wa wa ringing noise coming from the rear end. At first when I took my car to the mechanic and he had it on a lift and rotated all four wheels there was a noise coming from the rear left wheel and he thought it was the bearings going bad. But when I got new NSK bearing for the rear left and he took the axle out there was no noise coming from the wheel and he said the noise is coming from the differential so he didnt replace the bearing.
My thought is if the CV axle came off the rear left bearing then there would not be any load on the bearing to make any noise and if it is really the rear diff making the noise then both the rear wheels should be making the same noise right? How can I diagnose the issue better and work with a mechanic? I called a local diff/trans shop and they want to charge money for diagnosis and it cost thousands of $$ to rebuild the diff
My thought is if the CV axle came off the rear left bearing then there would not be any load on the bearing to make any noise and if it is really the rear diff making the noise then both the rear wheels should be making the same noise right? How can I diagnose the issue better and work with a mechanic? I called a local diff/trans shop and they want to charge money for diagnosis and it cost thousands of $$ to rebuild the diff
A mechanic needs to be paid for the time. Investigation where ever offered for free is in the hope of performing the job. Personally I would pay the diagnose fee.
Diagnosis should not be based on cost of repair. As an owner I can understand being fearful of the cost of repair but a diagnosis should be purely on what is wrong and the option to fix based on cost is for the owner.
Find a trustworthy good mechanic. The mechanic should tell you how the fault is being determined and you should compensate based on labor rate. I would trust a mechanic who honestly shares the difficulty in deterring the source. Use of mechanics stethoscope or microphone can be very helpful. Also, it would help if the problem is not intermittent.
Salim