front hum that's *NOT* wheel bearings (yes it is)

I had a similar issue with my 08 DCLB, screeching sound when turning left (slightly or full turn) and it turned out to be my driver side brake splash guard that was bent and was rubbing on my brake disk when turning left. Went in there with a flathead screw driver and worked it a little, noise is gone. Hope this helps!

 

Thanks for the response Brian. I did not change the passenger side bearing yet. I had contemplated it when I had the driver side apart yesterday making sure it all looked good. My concern is that as the hum has gotten louder it seems apparent that weight transfer is not the reason for it starting/stopping. now if I put just a few degrees on the steering wheel it hums and if I return to centre it stops. That can be at 35 or at 60mph and definitely doesn't have to lean at all to hum. Maybe just to eliminate it as the issue I'll throw it on tonight. If its not I'll bill you for the hour

 

I just put in stoptech rotors (got sucked into the cryo treatment which Im' sure does nothing for me) and new pads. Was sooooo happy to get rid of the steering wheel shimmy from warped rotors. I know there is clearance there now that I've had it disassembled so many times. A good thing to check for sure and I appreciate you thinking outside the box. I'll double check while I'm in there messing around tonight

 

I have the identical issue. Sub'd for later brain storming

 

OOHH pressures on but i dont see any other ideas in here.... and your symptoms really seem to be a wheel bearing. Only weird thing is you say that theres no noise till 20... is that true? in a bad wheel bearing you should still have noise, and it would get louder and quieter at different speeds. Pretty sure a bad wheel bearing makes noise all the time just is louder at certain times

 

Just chiming in to say mine does this sometimes (sounds like the needle bearing issue). Goes away in 4 Hi immediately and most of the time when I switch back to 2 Hi it stays gone. Doesn't happen often enough to annoy me yet. Thought I was looking at a new front diff down the road (read that's what the dealer does because it's apparently easier than just changing the bearing) so glad to see there's a better option.

 

I really only notice it after going about 20 or faster. It may be there but unless its the passenger side then I've already eliminated the wheel bearing. I'll find that out soon enough as I get the tools out again tonight and switch out the other side.

And this is where my issue differs; My noise does NOT go away after switching to 4 Hi or if I throw it in neutral. It hums along all the same so long as I keep a bit of pressure on the steering wheel to the right. as soon as I straighten the wheel it pretty much disappears

 

I just realized I had not posted correct in OP. noise is when I turn to the right. Noise goes away (that I can tell) when I centre the wheel or turn left

 

the needle bearing replacement is very easy to do and the reason Toyota don't put the bushing fix in is because it is not made by Toyota, it is made and developed in a private shop. so they wont used it to fix the problem they can just put in a new rearend and its good till that needle bearing gets slack.so they make money all the way around.but mine wasn't doing it all the time sometimes it would in 4x4 sometimes not other times in 2x4 it wouldn't it never rreeally set a pattern but it was definitely that bearing in about ten or so iv fixed now. I have yet to do wheel bearings on one though. I know they go bad but I havnt had any yet.

 

yoyurs there does sound more like wheel bearing but its still a very good maintenance idea to replace that needle bearing anyway sometime cause sooner or later you wilkl more than likely get the noise. hope you find it soon

 

I can tell you when my wheel bearing failed my symptom was what sounded like extreme tire noise starting at about 20-25 mph.

 

OH MY GOD
Yup, I'm eatin crow tonight. Switched out a far more seized up bearing with rust in it. Upon removal it was clear there was an issue as there were little metal filings. I"ll try to learn how to upload pics on this tonight to show the difference. For anyone else; apparently it is not always shifting the load that causes it to hum.

Thanks for the help Chad. I'll be grateful for this when the next weird noise starts....

 

THis is the bad seal
The good vs bad bearing. Both have been replaced

 

Thanks again for all the help everyone. Should have tried what seems obvious now before making any assumptions. 20/20 hindsight

 

You mean front diff, right?

I have tried to figure out a pattern to mine too, but haven't managed to yet.

Only time it will do it like clockwork is if I was on a rough road in 4 HI (bad enough to get some suspension articulation) and go back to pavement in 2 HI. It'll vibrate very slightly until I kick it to 4 HI for a few seconds and back to 2 again. Then it usually goes away. Sometimes I have to do that twice.

But other times I'll drive home (all pavement, all 2WD) then leave in the morning and it'll do it on the way back to work. Same 2-to-4-to-2 shift fixes it.

I probably notice it once a week and it's very subtle when it does do it. Maybe I'll preemptively swap in this bushing just before winter.

 

ya sorry I call em all rearends sorry I mean front diff bearing drivers side sorry

 

awesome matt! im glad you got it fixed. have you drove it yet?

 

So it was indeed the wheel bearing... glad to hear shes back to quiet!

 

To the OP. I have the exact same thing. At first it's hard to describe noises, but you explained it to a T.

Did you swap out both sides or just the drivers side. I am assuming that the needle bearing is the same as the wheel bearing? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

 

Hey guys,

I've been having a similar problem and am looking for some insight. I purchased an 06 TRD off road 6 speed with 100K on it about a month ago. I've been noticing a loud humming noise at about 40mph+ while driving straight and turing left, as soon as I start turing the steering wheel right, the noise goes away completely. I've been reading a lot of forums on here and all over the place and am pretty set on bad wheel bearings. I jacked the truck up today and spun the tires and definitely hear a slight grinding sound from both front and left, I also tried wiggling the tires to see if there was movement and the front driver side tired has some wiggle to it. I found a wheel bearing/hub complete assembly from Blue Pit Bearing for $279 per side. Considering doing this myself, but I am no mechanic.

Any insight will be much appreciated!