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View Full Version : High PSI and worn wheel/suspension components


Boston Man
06-09-2009, 09:30 AM
Anybody with high PSI notice any extra wear? My right rear wheel bearing is starting to make noise when turning left. PSI is at 40. The car is a 05 Corolla with ~36,000 miles. Do you guys think it is because of the high pressure? If not, dont you hate how engineers make it fail right when the warranty expires? There is a TSB for it too... but it wont be covered =(

PaleMelanesian
06-09-2009, 09:32 AM
If there's a TSB for it, I doubt tire pressure is a factor.

R.I.D.E.
06-09-2009, 12:42 PM
I bought an 06 Corolla new with 6 miles on the odo. It ate up the front tires before 15 k. Selling dealer told me it was becasue I did not rotate and balance the tires.

They checked the alignment and told me it was in specs. Told them to rotate and balance.
Just before 20 k miles I checked the balance myself. They never balanced the rear tires when they moved tham to the front. Orginal weights were still on the wheels.

I took it to another Toyota dealer whose Service Manager I have known for over 20 years. He put the car on his machine and showed me the readout from the machine when the car was still set up.

All 4 wheels were out of spec. The fronts were out in total toe, although individually they were in specs, but at the individual limits.

The rear axle (beam type) was out and both rear wheels were pointing slightly to the left of correct toe.

He replaced the rear axle and it still could not be aligned properly. It had to go to a frame shop to have the right rear mounting point on the unibody shifted for the 4 wheel alignment to be correct.

Toyota gave me a set of new tires.

I have seen other Toyota Corollas and Matrixs with exactly the same problem. Either they are wrong from the factory, or they are damaged when they are tied down to the trucks to be delivered.

Although it may be totally unrelated to your wheel bearing problem, if you had premature tire wear it could be related. If it was like mine, a factory defect you might still get them to do something. Maybe a long shot but, I have found that them that raises the most stink gets the most recourse, in some cases.

regards
gary

nervousmini
06-09-2009, 11:19 PM
Anybody with high PSI notice any extra wear? My right rear wheel bearing is starting to make noise when turning left. PSI is at 40. The car is a 05 Corolla with ~36,000 miles. Do you guys think it is because of the high pressure? If not, dont you hate how engineers make it fail right when the warranty expires? There is a TSB for it too... but it wont be covered =(

I would think it to be very unlikely that higher tire psi would lead to a failed bearing - if that were the case both (or all) would be failing. Most wheel bearings will fail either from high mileage, loss of lubricant, or getting the snot pounded out of them in an urban driving area (like chicago, boston, ect..) from the poor street conditions.

Also the fact that there is a TSB shows that Toyota is acknowledging the fact that they have an issue with the life expectantcy of the bearing. Try calling Toyotas 1-800 customer service phone number and complain (nicely - remember you get more flys with honey than vinegar) that you feel it should be covered even though you are out of warranty (not by much) and you know about the TSB. You may get lucky, but remember be nice they aren't obligated to do anything, but they can do it as a goodwill gesture.

victorc64
06-10-2009, 06:16 PM
I would think that if a bearing goeas, the bearings needed to be re packed. Not a hard thing to do.

nervousmini
06-10-2009, 11:06 PM
I would think that if a bearing goeas, the bearings needed to be re packed. Not a hard thing to do.

That would be great , if the bearing can be repacked - most now are sealed units that incorporate the wheel hub and if the bearings or race haven't been damaged. Usually by the time you hear a bearing going bad it's too late too save by repacking. repacking is better used as a preventitive maintinence measure.



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