Hello to you all and nice to connect with you!
Since last year I have a terrible airpline-like noise while driving my 2006 Lexus RX400h. It's really annoying because it's hard to talk with others in the car, listen to music and it gives the feeling that your ears are clogged - i wanted to emphasize this because it's not something quiet. The noise is present while I am driving and the volume increases with speed. From what my ear can hear (I'm not a specialist), it comes from the rear.
I asked several service shops and the first hypothesis was that the wheel bearings on the rear axle are broken. After several other investigations, they found out that the problem is with the bearings inside the rear differential. I don't know exactly how this rear differential looks, nor its bearings, but from what I've been told, it is possible to change only the bearings (the differential is really expensive, I've been told). I am trying to find the bearings on spare parts websites, but I cannot find them and I don't know what to do.
Did anyone of you encounter such problems? Is it possible to find only the bearings or I need to buy the whole differential (maybe find a used cheaper one)?
Thanks a lot!
Andrei
PS: I am from Romania and unfortunately all the good mechanics went to other countries, so most of the repair shops are useless :D
