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Can anyone tell me what the problem is with my Camry? There is a noise (like a roaring or low exhaust type of noise) when I drive above 30-35 mph. It doesn't appear to be the transmission as the noise remains constant even when the transmission shifts gears. I do not believe that it is an exhaust noise as it only happens when the car is in motion. If I remain in park and rev the engine the noise is not present. It sounds like an exhaust noise coming from underneath the car. Could it be the differential? If the fluid was low in the differential would it make this type of noise? Thanks for the advice in advance.
Since the noise doesn't differ with a change of engine rpm or shifts I would suspect maybe something like a wheel or hub bearing or even cupped tires. You would be amazed at the noise a cupped tire tread can make.
You can pretty much eliminate it coming from the engine. It is coming from something in the rolling chassis.
I strongly suggest you have someone take a good look at your tires from what you describe. A worn bearing somewhere would probably be noticable at even low speeds. Your noise sounds exactly what cupped tires sounded like on my car above 35, 40 mph.
Just a thought.
Thanks for the advice. I will take a look at the tires althought they are only 1 year old Michelins so I hope it is not that.
Given that the tires are newer and a good brand, I would probably lean towards the wheel bearings. Given the age of the car and where you are located, it wouldn't surprise me that the bearings are going bad.
Given that the tires are newer and a good brand, I would probably lean towards the wheel bearings. Given the age of the car and where you are located, it wouldn't surprise me that the bearings are going bad.
Wouldn't the sound be heard even at low speeds if it were bearings?
Wouldn't the sound be heard even at low speeds if it were bearings?
Yes and no. The sound may or may not be audible or might be infrequent at low speeds, but becomes noticeable as speeds increase. Without hearing the sound or driving the car, it's all just guess work.
Quick and easy test, preferably with a passenger to help you:
Find a straight road with little traffic and get up to the speed where you hear the noise. Turn the steering wheel just slightly, first left a few times, then to the right a few times. This will load and unload the front hub bearings. If it changes pitch then you're onto the source of your noise. If it does change, have your passenger help determine which side it's coming from.
If it gets louder turning left, you're loading the right front and that's the bad bearing. Turning right loads the left side and it will get louder if it's bad.
An empty mall parking lot is another good place to try this if it starts getting noisier at lower speeds.
All this sounds a little confusing but if in fact you do have a bad front hub bearing, it will be obvious.
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