The 1999 Toyota Camry came equipped with an independent rear suspension that featured a sealed wheel bearing and hub assembly attached to the rear axle carrier. The wheel bearings in this assembly are non-serviceable and over time will require replacement in the form of a new hub and bearing assembly. The most common symptom of a failed rear wheel bearing in this vehicle is a roaring noise that rises in pitch and volume as vehicle speed increases. The average home mechanic will need about two hours to complete this repair using basic hand tools.
Block the front wheels with wheel chocks. Loosen the lug nuts one-half turn on the wheel that has the faulty bearing using a lug wrench. Position a floor jack under the reinforced jacking location located along the bottom edge of the car about three inches in front of the rear wheel opening. Lift the car until the wheel is off the ground. Secure the vehicle with jack stands to prevent injuries.
Remove the lug nuts and wheel completely. Slide the brake drum, on a drum-brake-equipped Camry, off the rear hub and bearing assembly. If the drum is stuck, a few blows with a hammer on the face of the drum near the hub will loosen it.
Remove the caliper on vehicles equipped with rear disc brakes by removing the two 14-mm bolts that attach it to the back of the axle carrier assembly using a socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper off the rotor and slide the rotor off the hub.
Insert a 14-mm socket and extension through the large hole in the face of the hub to engage the bolts that attach the hub assembly to the carrier assembly. Remove the four 14-mm hub assembly bolts.
Slide the hub assembly out of the axle carrier assembly and past the brake shoes. Remove the rubber O-ring seal from the brake backing plate if it sticks to the plate.
Slide the new hub assembly into position in the axle carrier assembly and line up the bolt holes. Install the four hub assembly bolts and torque them to 59 foot pounds using a torque wrench. Reinstall the brake rotor and caliper or the brake drum. Torque the brake caliper bolts to 34 foot pounds.
Reinstall the wheel and lug nuts. Remove the jack stand and lower the Camry until the wheel touches the ground. Torque the lug nuts to 76 foot pounds. Lower the Camry completely and remove the floor jack and wheel chocks. Test drive the car to verify the noise is gone.
