Help diagnosing front diff/wheel bearing noise

Guys,

I could use a little help diagnosing a noise that appears to be coming from the right front wheel on my 2010. It's cyclic and sounds like I'm running a MT and gets slightly louder when braking or turning left. I've jacked up that wheel and tried to move it @ top/bottom but can't feel any play and I don't feel any roughness when I rotate the hub by hand either with or without the wheel installed. Any thoughts?

This is an unmodified truck with 62K on the odo.

ETA: Engaging 4hi makes no difference.

TIA

 

Lift the truck and check both sides. Although sometimes the worn bearing won't have enough play to show even though it is making noise. If you are positive it is coming from the right front, then your description of the noise is exactly like that of a bad bearing.

 

Thanks BamaToy. I'm "pretty sure" that's where it's coming from. That's where I think I hear it (I'm deaf in one ear and can't hear outta the other) and that's where bosslady and baby troll tell me it's coming from so that's likely it.

Now, due to your sig, the rest of my day has been shot.

 

Thank you. I love my sig. Sorry about your productivity for the day. lol

 

Now with more confusion added!

I have the hub assembly off and I can now spin it freely by hand. Smooth as a baby's ass. Now what? Any ideas?

 

Bearing! Just had same issue with my front left. Noise changes when turning (puts more or less weight on wheel, changes stress load on bearing). Jacked truck up, couldn't feel anything, no play, same as you. Took to dealer, replaced both front bearings just for the heck of it. Problem solved. Yeah, expensive service, but something you can't really diagnose yourself as the truck has to be under load and at speed to stress the bearing.

 

Fuuuuuuuuuu....

Replaced the bearing. No change.

 

Remember I had mentioned that sometimes the noise may APPEAR to be coming from one side, when it is actually from the other. Did you lift the truck up and check BOTH sides before replacing the bearing?

 

Yep. Neither side had any visible play in it or any roughness when turned by hand. Rotating the tires makes no difference nor does putting it in 4wd.

 

Hmmm. Sounding more like a CV axle issue, but remember we are only able to guess based on input. Perhaps take it in to a good local shop and have them check it out? Sadly enough I HAVE seen bearings that spun perfect by hand, yet failed under load....