Transaxle Bearing is noisy, what options do I have, how will this end?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Douglas88, May 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM.

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  1. Douglas88

    Douglas88 Junior Member

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    My 2005 Prius w 230k miles had a slowly ever louder growing growling bearing nose, turns out not wheel bearings or cv joints, now isolated to be clearly in transaxle, sounds just like a transaxle bearing(s) going bad. Is mostly or completely on the drivers side bearing. I found the fluid was 19 ounces low, and probably has been for 25k miles or more. I filled it properly to full, but the sound is none improved. I had heard this sound, gradually getting worse for 5k or so, and previously assumed it was the wheel baring so took no action. My questions are. 1. is it likely the 19 ounce low (2.5 inches low from the full hole, and took 19 to fill it up properly) fluid caused this failure? How many more miles will I likely ...best guess...get out of the transaxle? How will this end at total failure (final symptoms)? To fix this, does the transaxle need to be replaced, or can the bearing be replaced, and any idea how much this would cost using a salvage yard transaxle? Thank you SO much!
     
    #1 Douglas88, May 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Replacement with a used transaxle is probably simplest.

    Rebuilding a transaxle is tedious fiddly work, and with bearing replacement, probably involves preload setting with a variety of select-thickness shims, which is easy in the factory when all the shim sizes are right there in bins at your workstation, but a PITA if you have to work out what sizes you need and wait for them to ship to your dealer. Not a very inviting job unless you just enjoy tinkering and want to be able to say you've done it.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, May 22, 2025 at 11:06 AM
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You can drive it until it gets unbearably noisy just like with the singing rear end which people who don't drive rear-wheel drive vehicles will have no clue but you can drive it's not going to just break down in the middle of the road and go no more it'll get loud enough to where you decide you want to get out and stop turning up the stereo or you don't you can drive it right on out to 500,000 mi I imagine if the car is set to do that and yes I would just change the trans it's not that big of a job
     
    #3 Tombukt2, May 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Will it explode I doubt it as the bearing wears more it may get more rattly and when that happens it's time to start thinking about swapping the transaxle because next the bearing will go and then the drive axle end that's in the transmission will start flopping around and will damage other things
     
    #4 Tombukt2, May 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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