1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Speed-dependent noise on my 2011?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by koukilights, Jan 22, 2024.

  1. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    62
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have a 2011 that has gotten worse and worse road noise over the last year.

    To me, it sounds like it's coming from the rear of the vehicle. It sounds like very sticky snow tires, a whirring or humming noise that gets louder the faster you go.

    It started a bit after I put on new defenders on the rear, so after about a year of driving with them on and it getting worse, I thought it was the tires wearing oddly.

    I got a loaner set of wheels and tires from a friend with another prius. Put them on, and unfortunately the road noise is still there. Those same wheels on my friend's prius were quiet. So I believe that rules out tire noise.

    Could it be wheel bearings? I'm trying to think of everything that spins back there and it isn't much. Tires, wheels, wheel bearing, rotors and that's really it.
     
    #1 koukilights, Jan 22, 2024
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,313
    3,364
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    How many miles on the Prius? More than about 150,000?

    You can remove the wheels, then the calipers. DO NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR!!!
    And move the key fob 30 feet or so away from the car.
    Then spin the hub with the wheel stud. Does it feel rough
    Maybe put the wheel back on with 2 lug nuts to spin the wheel.
    Listen to the hub. You'll know if it's bad.
     
    #2 ASRDogman, Jan 22, 2024
  3. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

    Joined:
    May 22, 2011
    998
    498
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    How many miles on it? Any history of wheel bearing replacements? Your experiment with swapping out the tires is very telling. Rear wheel bearings would be at the top of my list.
     
    #3 AzWxGuy, Jan 22, 2024
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,233
    4,588
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Any abnormal tire wear on the tread?
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Jan 22, 2024
  5. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    62
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    295k miles on my 2011, no idea the history of any wheel bearing replacements. I know for certain nothing has been changed since I got the car at 220k.

    Tire wear looks normal, no cupping or feathering or shoulder wear.
     
    #5 koukilights, Jan 22, 2024
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,257
    4,900
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Wheel_bearings on these cars don’t get loose or wobble but they do get loud. Typically you can hear them loudest around 45-55mph. After that road noise tends to drown them out.

    You probably have one bad bearing but must change the whole hub and abs speed sensor. On the back it’s relatively easy.

    However there are many low cost hubs that won’t last a year, unlike your oem_parts that made 13 years. Spend the money on Timken or OEM bearings and shop as prices at online Toyota dealers vary widely and some discounts don’t appear until you place a part in the cart. Timkens are more widely available.

    OEM vs Timken look identical
    - Prius v part numbers

    IMG_4017.jpeg
     
    #6 rjparker, Jan 22, 2024
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2024
  7. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    62
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hmm, good to know. I would have gone around shaking all the wheels looking for play. But if they don't really do that, and just get loud, I may just have to replace them both and see what happens.
     
    #7 koukilights, Jan 23, 2024
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,313
    3,364
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Don't get cheap ones! You'll be replacing them every 2-3000 miles.
    Less when the sensors fail.
    I've used Moog from autozone, and have over 100,000 miles on them
    They no longer carry them, but discount auto does.

     
    #8 ASRDogman, Jan 23, 2024
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)