VSC and Wheel Bearings – Crash Potential
I just got My Toyota FJ Cruiser back from the shop for some warranty work. There were 2 specific issues that I took the FJ in for; the first was idler pulley noise, and the second was an issue with VSC kicking in while driving a straight line.
The idler pulley problem is a common issue. The Toyota pulleys do not use good sealed bearing and when using the FJ for adventure travel moisture can get in the pulley and cause the pulley to fail. I was able to get this fixed as a warranty repair. I also have ordered some quality sealed bearing pulleys for future installation.
The Second issue was much more serious. On Monday I was driving the FJ at about 35 MPH when the skid control indicator came on and the system applied the right front brake aggressively thinking it was correcting a skid. This caused me to veer to the right. Had I been driving a highway speed and this happened I suspect I would have crashed the FJ. According to the dealer this was caused by excessive front wheel bearing wear. There was excessive movement in the front hub which caused the system to think a skid was happening.
I now have the FJ back and all seems to be OK. We have used the FJ for lots of off-road travel but I would not have expected the front wheel bearings to be worn at 48,000 miles.
I highly recommend that you check for wheel bearing play at every tire rotation. If you suspect there is play get it check early to prevent a similar problem.
Good to know…my 2008 just turned over 49,000…thanks for the head’s up!
Just wondering if you have oversized tires, spacers or if you’ve been driving in water, swamps or mud bogs? I’m wondering why the wheel bearing would go bad unless it got water in it or dirt or is under allot of stress from spacers or larger tires.
I run stock tires and stay away from mud. Our FJ is used for adveture travel and has been used for about 30-45 days a year for off-highway travel. I’m thinking that washboard my be the cause.
That makes sense. I just replaced my front passenger side wheel bearings and hub. My truck has mud tires, so I’m wondering how much that plays into premature wear on the bearings. My truck has only 75,000 miles. I thought the problem with my truck was the ABS, because of all the issues people have been having with braking. My truck was having problems stopping at slow speeds because the ABS would engage for no reason, but the mechanic at Toyota said it was the loose hub that was setting of the warning lights and causing the braking problems. In any case, I just bought my truck 6 months ago and I’m disappointed. I owned a 4 Runner for 10 years and never had any reliability issues. I like the ride and the off road performance, but realize this truck is not up to par with the 4 Runner in quality.
The FJ has many of the same parts that are used on the 4 Runner so quality should be about the same. A larger and heavier tire would put more stress on the wheel bearings. It would be interesting to research the incidence of this failure to see how much it is happening.
I have a 2011 with 33″ x 12.5″ MT’s. I bought it brand new, and it now has 16000 miles on it. I suspect my front driver side bearing is actually starting to go bad. I’ve done pretty minimal off roading, in my opinion. I’m about to make an appointment at the dealership, but I’m very disappointed, if that is the case.
Thanks for the “heads-up”!
Thanks.
So (sorry, automotive ignorance here), how do I check for this? I take mine to Discount Tire for rotations every 5,000 at the same time I get the oil changed at Toyota (Boulder).
Also, should I just tell Discount to check, or should I make sure I check my self?
I would check your self.
We have had the same problem with our 2007 FJ. Had to have the front drivers side wheel bearing replaced at 71,000 and now the front passenger side wheel bearing at 90,000. We haven’t used the vehicle off road. I’m very dissappointed with Toyota.
I’m curious how many other FJ Cruisers have had this same problem?
I have a 2007 FJ that was one of the first brought to the state in 2006. I have 66k on it and drive in off road though creeks, mud holes and climbing around Pennsylvania mountain ATV trails. It has a 3″ lift with 285 BFG A/Ts on it. I am replacing my front wheel bearings. It started with a what sounded like tire hum that progressed to a sound like a airplane propeller that would change at 40 mph and 60 mph as well turning left or right around bends in the road or highway ramps. Going to use oem bearings.
Yes, my 08 FJ is doing the same thing. If you turn sharply right the noise goes away until you turn back.
FJ Cruiser 2007 – yep there is a problem in manufacture of right passenger wheel bearing! Me too. Guess I am lucky, it only started at 90,000 miles for me. Is this covered on recall notices?
At 90,000 miles this might be considered maintenance. As far as I know this has never been addressed as a recall issue.
My truck is a 2007 and Im having a bearing issue as well at 72k. Its a very loud rubbing sound that has been growing in intensity until i noticed some type of grease leaking from the problem wheel.
I have just left my 2008 Trails Team FJ in to the Dealers for the Drivers side wheel bearing that has just gone. I have 130,000Kms (Cannda). I have been quoted $810 to replace one bearing which seems a bit steep to me? How much is it in the states?
Don’t fool yourselves with these FJ Cruisers ! THEY ARE NOT BUILT AT ALL LIKE 4RUNNERSS!
I have a VERY about to be PROBLEM plagued 2007 FJ Cruiser with only 78,000 miles. If you do deep research into to these POORLY designed, POORLY pieced CARS (would NEVER take this off-road, unlike my 1990 Land Cruiser-which IS built MUCH better, like a TRUCK should be!) You’ll find they suffer from the following problems:
Poorly designed ABS systems that react badly when attempting to stop on loose gravel, sewer lids, even the painted stripes in crosswalks, causes ALL four calipers to pulse when it should ONLY be the wheel that is effected by the surface it is on. This causes the vehicle to continue to travel well farther than anticipated causing the sensation of brake failure as the ABS system overides what YOU want the vehicle to do which is STOP. NO 4Runner or Toyota I have driven displays this problem AT ALL- due to this fact I don’t believe this vehicle CAN be driven down a gravely slope without the ABS system acting as it does, allowing the vehicle to loose the ability to stop which would be VERY DANGEROUS! Since new, dealer claims: “All trucks behave this way-YOU’LL GET USED TO IT” Hardee HAR HAR! For 3 years I complained and showed them copies off the internet from FJ Cruiser forums that I was NOT the only one with this problem, THEY DID’NT care and blew me off!
Now my CAR displays a rear whining that I’m afraid may be either the rear differential bearings or gear itself (another WELL documented problem with theses CARS). Now after researching this latest problem I’m finding what I have to expect in the future with this thing and it does NOT look to good! I also have the following which IS to be expected -cracked windshield ( due to too thin of glass), very easy to chip paint, front end drift wether windy or not you have to constantly correct the wheel, very tiring on long drives, but a GREAT upper arm workout, and NEVER take your eyes off the road or you’ll be in the other lane! Also showing up is the dreaded ‘Torque Convertor Shudder’ which feels as though you are going over ‘rumble strips’ along the side of a highway, comes and goes with temperature changes! And for you others out there, be prepared for your Mode Control Servo to go bad- it controls the output of HVAC to Defrost, Face or Footwell, it starts with a clicking sound in the dash like a mouse got in it, then progressively gets to the point that it grinds loudly and won’t operate the doors of the HVAC system! very expensive to fix, dealer would NOT repair under extended warranty claiming ” you must have something inside of system blocking the action of the internal doors” $300.00 upfront and we’ll START to look at it. I said no thanks, I’M NOT THAT STUPID! went home found cabin filter dirty with debris but NOTHING past it or in blower housing (Beware the cowling grates below windshield has to big of holes to keep leaves and other debris out!). Of course this servo is in a HORRIBLE hard to get at location inside the dash BUT I’LL FIX IT since my dealer wants to take advantage of the fact that THESE particular vehicles ARE problem plagued and WILL make them (the dealerships) lots of money in repairs. I now have promised myself THIS IS the LAST new Toyota I will EVER BUY, It’s not built ANYWHERE as GOOD as my 1989 cressida (209,000 mi.) 1990 Land Cruiser (109,000mi), 2002 Celica (196,000mi) or my father’s 1996 4Runner(120,000mi.) It’s a shame I really used to believe in them (Toyota) not any more, now I’m free to buy anything from Dodge/Alfa, Ford, GM or ANYBODY else since the quality is now on par with them! If I’m going to have to work on my cars more frequently it might as well have style and performance and not the typical ‘plain vanilla’ that Toyota’s engineers draw up (not to mention the potential problems of their dropping the ball on quality)!
Well said !
Shawn
2007 FJ 45K
Just bought a 2007 ,….. had to replace front drive system.
Back end is grumbling somewhere.
Compared to my explorer…….. I LOVE this car.
Prices..front end Toyota $1500, local Car Quest [incl oil change] $300.
radio reception is bad……..why is that…… great of I keep the door open ;-)
L
I have a 2008 FJ with 83,000 miles. We do not go off roading except for our dirt road up to our house. I have the loud rubbing noise. I had brand new MT tires put on last year and I was taking in to be rotated and guess what…..yep I need passenger side front wheel bearing. I am shocked as I did not expect this from a Toyota vehicle.
Hi all,
Not opening a new tread. Having the same problem with my “2WD FJ cruiser”. Had to replace left front bearing 2 times in 2 weeks. not willing to do the same without proper understanding despite what mechanics says. as per the mechanic, 1st failure was due ti improper pressing of bearing at lathe. I am still waiting for the reason for second failure!
Anything to be looked at? Or anyone has a 2WD FJ having same probs? thanks in advance for your valuable advises.