Chirping noise in proportion to wheel speed?

[NJshadow93]

Just tonight, I noticed what sound's like a chirping noise as I'm driving. The noise get's faster the faster I'm rolling. All I can say about it is I only hear it when the window is open (from the outside). It had rained prior while my truck was parked for a few hours. Any ideas?

 

[TechWrench]

Just tonight, I noticed what sound's like a chirping noise as I'm driving. The noise get's faster the faster I'm rolling. All I can say about it is I only hear it when the window is open (from the outside). It had rained prior while my truck was parked for a few hours. Any ideas?

It could be just about any part of the drivetrain that moves when the vehicle does. For starters I would check the driveshafts (u-joints), brake systems on all four wheels, and front half shafts.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I have this too but mine is more of a click. I figured out mine is the center caps on the wheels. They fin loose (From being taken on & off) and would have to replace them, but I'm going to eventually get new rims so it doesn't bother me that much. Plus I'm usually jamming to my music so I don't hear it anyways. Just grab them and see if they are unbalanced. Weather you have aftermarket rims or not, grab them and see if they twist at all. If they do then you're just hearing them tap the rim.

If it isn't those I would look into the breaks or something stuck in the tire tread.

 

[NJshadow93]

It could be just about any part of the drivetrain that moves when the vehicle does. For starters I would check the driveshafts (u-joints), brake systems on all four wheels, and front half shafts.

What am I looking for in checking the driveshafts? I just greased the zerks about a month ago, still getting a clunk here and there so it could probably use more.

 

[hikenbike]

What am I looking for in checking the driveshafts? I just greased the zerks about a month ago, still getting a clunk here and there so it could probably use more.

Not that this will solve your problem, bit you Might want to consider getting the new driveshaft. Got mine at Autoland in Springfield about 3 weeks ago and things are much smoother now and annoying clunk is gone. They paid for part, I paid for 1 hour of labor. Since you may not be covered (they covered me i'm sure only because I once bought tires there) you are a DIY'er and may be able to get the part (about $300) and change it yourself. Took the dealership about 20 min to do mine.

 

[TechWrench]

What am I looking for in checking the driveshafts? I just greased the zerks about a month ago, still getting a clunk here and there so it could probably use more.

The cause for the driveshaft clunk will have nothing to do with the noise you are describing. If you have recently greased the driveshaft u-joints, then they are probably not causing the noise. If you can find one, try driving slowly alongside a long brick/block wall, with the windows open. The wall will amplify the noise and possibily make it easier to determine where it is coming from. The only other option is getting all four wheels off the ground and rotating them to isolate the noise.

 

[NJshadow93]

The cause for the driveshaft clunk will have nothing to do with the noise you are describing. If you have recently greased the driveshaft u-joints, then they are probably not causing the noise. If you can find one, try driving slowly alongside a long brick/block wall, with the windows open. The wall will amplify the noise and possibily make it easier to determine where it is coming from. The only other option is getting all four wheels off the ground and rotating them to isolate the noise.

Yeah, I was hearing it last night when the noise was bouncing off the trees as I was driving. I could put it up on jack stands, but is it possible the noise would only be heard when the truck is on the ground (weight on all the wheels)?

I'm gonna take it for a ride in a little while. Everything should be dry now so I could determine if it was just due to rain/humidity. Rear brakes are new as of a few weeks ago (pads, rotors, calipers), and I am 100% sure everything is installed correctly as I already dealt with the noise that was caused by the pad holders being in backwards rubbing against the rotor.

 

[TechWrench]

Yeah, I was hearing it last night when the noise was bouncing off the trees as I was driving. I could put it up on jack stands, but is it possible the noise would only be heard when the truck is on the ground (weight on all the wheels)?

I'm gonna take it for a ride in a little while. Everything should be dry now so I could determine if it was just due to rain/humidity. Rear brakes are new as of a few weeks ago (pads, rotors, calipers), and I am 100% sure everything is installed correctly as I already dealt with the noise that was caused by the pad holders being in backwards rubbing against the rotor.

It is possible it can only be heard with wheels on ground, but you will never know until you try it with wheels off the ground.

 

[NJshadow93]

Well I listened more closely today and I realized it was coming from the rear drivers side. Sounded like something tapping the road so I checked the tire tread as Allen suggested and sure enough, right smack in the middle of the tread, a good size pebble wedged right on top. I took it out and no more noise. Kinda silly really, glad it was nothing. Out of all the pebbles I've had stuck in the tire treads, this is the first time it was positioned right to make noise hitting the road. Thanks for the replies, maybe this will help others who experience this.

 

[dereky]

Awesome news and good to remember that can happen.