Anyone ever had to replace a front wheel bearing?

Hi Martin, the transmission does make a slight whining noise. If it is a wheel bearing the noise will get louder when you load that wheel by turning (if it is the drivers side bearing it will get louder when you go round a left hand bend).
The bearing comes complete in a bolt in hub (4 bolts) and is not to difficult to change, but expensive considering a press in bearing would be about £20.
Hope this helps.

John (Britprius)

 

Hi
I did mine a few weeks ago on a 2009 at 85k miles. It's not an easy job, not too hard. You do need to be an experienced DIY type person with some experience in this sort of thing. Follow the instructions if you find them on the web. It involves removing the steerring knuckle etc..

I bought the bolt on hub assembly for about $125.

My symptoms - a hum that began at about 25mph and went away or got drowned out around 45 mph. It did not increase or decrease in volume when I turned left or right but it did end up being the right front wheel bearing.

Good luck.

 

Just took my vehicle to the shop today, I thought maybe it was tire noise, but it kept getting louder over time, and the type of pavement didn't really seem to matter. They say both front hub bearings are bad, and for them to do it is about $900 (Toyota dealer...my favorite mechanic closed shop awhile back). I'm at 71K miles for my 2006 (7.5 years old). I drive in salt and snow, and am not afraid to plow thru a snow drift... which might have caused the problem.