Humming noise at 30mph

jman11788

jman11788

Member
I've been trying to diagnose this humming noise that to me definitely sounds like a wheel bearing from up front. Well I replaced both front bearings, noise is still active. The hum starts at 30 and gets worse as speed increases. The hum magnifies and howls when I brake hard. I thought it could be the tires but I put on my friends brand new Michelin tires and the hum was the same. I'm hoping its something with the brakes, my ABS light came on the other day but I doubt that has anything to do with it. Could upload a video if that would help..

Any ideas??
 
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If it is like a hum, I would think rear wheel bearing. Mine was bad and the hum started at about 20 MPH and would continue through highway speeds.
 
jreask said:
If it is like a hum, I would think rear wheel bearing. Mine was bad and the hum started at about 20 MPH and would continue through highway speeds.
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Could be a bad rear bearing. I checked for play and there didnt seem to be much play in them though. Could a bad wheel bearing trigger an ABS light?
 
jman11788 said:
Could be a bad rear bearing. I checked for play and there didnt seem to be much play in them though. Could a bad wheel bearing trigger an ABS light?
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Nope, unless the grease from the bearing made the ABS sensor dirty so it won't read.

Just because there is no bearing play doesn't mean the bearing isn't bad.

First step is to swap tires to see if the noise changes location
 
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stir_fry_boy said:
Nope, unless the grease from the bearing made the ABS sensor dirty so it won't read.

Just because there is no bearing play doesn't mean the bearing isn't bad.

First step is to swap tires to see if the noise changes location
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Already swapped the tires around, no change. My rear seals aren't leaking either. I'm scared it's a differential issue
 
jman11788 said:
Already swapped the tires around, no change. My rear seals aren't leaking either. I'm scared it's a differential issue
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It would be weird to have front diff noise unless you were in 4wd. Try putting it in 4wd and see if the noise gets worse, if it does, then it probably is the diff. Generally a bad front diff wont make any noise unless under load (4wd). Check the fluid level too right away.

I'd also check the rear bearings, its hard to tell where noises are coming from and it could very well be a bearing, just in the rear.
 
Took it to a shop.. Mechanic says it's my tires, I call BS. Like I said earlier input my friends brand new Michellin tires on and the noise is the same. I told the mechanic that and he's like "yea well with your setup being lifted and mounted to a truck frame it's gonna have a hum noise like that" is this guy on drugs? How is he certified
 
jman11788 said:
Took it to a shop.. Mechanic says it's my tires, I call BS. Like I said earlier input my friends brand new Michellin tires on and the noise is the same. I told the mechanic that and he's like "yea well with your setup being lifted and mounted to a truck frame it's gonna have a hum noise like that" is this guy on drugs? How is he certified
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Post a video of it.
 
Does the noise sort of "pulse" or is it constant? I've got a pulsing hum that only happens from 55 to 65 MPH. Can't figure out what it is either. Mine is definitely front end though, I can feel a vibration through the floor.
 
gamefreakgc said:
Does the noise sort of "pulse" or is it constant? I've got a pulsing hum that only happens from 55 to 65 MPH. Can't figure out what it is either. Mine is definitely front end though, I can feel a vibration through the floor.
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It's a constant noise. I have no vibration though I would pin point it to bearing if I did.
 
stir_fry_boy said:
All your diff levels good?

You said it was worse at 30 MPH, but in the video you are going nearly 80. That's a huge difference in speed.
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my diff levels should be fine but now that I think about it as long as I've owned this vehicle (5 years) I've never replaced the fluid..

The noise is the worst at 50 MPH
 
jman11788 said:
my diff levels should be fine but now that I think about it as long as I've owned this vehicle (5 years) I've never replaced the fluid..

The noise is the worst at 50 MPH
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Bad wheel bearings typically make the worst noise at about 45 MPH. Then the noise goes away the faster you go. Typically, a wheel bearing noise originates from one corner of the vehicle. In the video, you were going 80, and usually at 75 MPH+, a bad wheel bearing is almost always silent.

You need to have someone ride in the back of the truck while you drive it and see which side makes the worst noise, and is it front or back.

Make a video going 50 MPH then, if that's when the noise is most prevalent.
 
stir_fry_boy said:
Bad wheel bearings typically make the worst noise at about 45 MPH. Then the noise goes away the faster you go. Typically, a wheel bearing noise originates from one corner of the vehicle. In the video, you were going 80, and usually at 75 MPH+, a bad wheel bearing is almost always silent.

You need to have someone ride in the back of the truck while you drive it and see which side makes the worst noise, and is it front or back.

Make a video going 50 MPH then, if that's when the noise is most prevalent.
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I don't mean to thread jack, but how often do front bearings go bad? The noise isn't getting any better. I've never worked on a front axle before, just supension so that's new territory for me. I'm assuming you need to have the bearing pressed on and off like the rear bearings?
 
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