Buzzing sound from steering wheel DRIVING ME NUTS!

Okay so I've got a buzzing sound that is coming from my steering wheel. The moment I go over a textured road it makes a loud buzzing noise which I have isolated to be coming from somewhere in the steering column itself. The moment I apply upward pressure to my steering wheel the buzzing stops.

It only happens at highway speeds so it is unsafe to check while driving like that and I cannot replicate it while the truck is stationary.

Any ideas? I'm currently sitting in the truck with the steering covers removed. THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!

 

Probably won't help but I have something similar but it's only there under the conditions about 10% of the time. Can't understand it.

 

I just tightened a few things here and there and I'll let you know if it changes anything. I checked everything from the steering wheel tightness (19mm) to the nuts holding the column in proper position on the dash (2 12mm bolts), the nut at the rear of the column (1 12mm bolt with two white plastic washers in between it) this one was loose-ish and the nut which tightens the steering column after adjustments, this one was loose-ish as well. I guess we'll see how this turns out when I drive it later. If it helps I'll tag you so you know what to tighten. These stupid late gen 2nd gens were built like crap. Lol.

 

I was plagued by this for awhile until I realized it was just my keys barely touching the column on and off

Once had another vehicle with something similar, it ended up being a wiring harness moving around underneath the dash... I just added some zip ties to places that looked like it could be loose and the noise went away.

 

Hmm.. yeah I'm pretty sure it is not the keys. It is a really annoying buzz and all harnesses appear to be in place. I did notice one of the turn signal relay bolts was a little loose. So I tightened that, but it is steering wheel specific for sure. Like it is not playing nice with the road when textured for some reason. When it does it, I just have to push up on the wheel and the buzzing sound will go away until I let go.

 

Hey @Athlaos it turns out BOTH of my front wheel bearings were the problem children in this head scratcher. It is the oddest sensation I have ever seen or felt. Usually it's a loud hum but this one was inducing crazy vibration in the steering wheel.

Replaced both yesterday and today with some Timken module assemblies. Problem solved. The truck now rides on the highway smooth as butter quiet as a whisper.

 

Care to say where you got those Timken Assemblies?
I’m getting ready to do mine again......

 

My local parts store. They carry only quality stuff. (For the most part). They had "Koyo" stamped right on them. Just how I like it.

If you need part numbers I still got them, be aware though that I retained the hub assemblies, so I did press work on the new modules (as they refer to them as)

 

Thanks man.
I don’t have a press, so I can’t do the bearings myself,
Guess I’ll just take another chance on a set of hubs.

 

Yeah it requires a lot. It's not hard work you just have to know what you need. A hub and bearing assembly would be much easier to work with. Plug and play basically. You should be able to find some genuine Koyo or NSK assembled units on eBay. Marionbumper2bumper also sells them but I think his shipping times are slow.

The truck is whisper quiet now. Just how I like it.

 

Happy you figured it out, if it’s a bit of an annoying job. But, new wheel bearings would give one peace of mind anyway.

How many miles did it take for them to go bad?

 

I sit at 106K as of current. Not too bad but they were going bad for a while I just thought it was tire noise because of the ATs I run. It turns out Cooper AT3s are dead silent on the highway.

 

My OEM original went just over 100k.

 

Bees definitely bees.

 

Mine makes a really annoying buzzing sound too, I'm hesitant to replace wheel bearings though because if I pull up on the steering wheel the noise goes away??? Was yours the same?

 

Yeah it was actually. I would hold the steering wheel hard or push up on it and it would go away. I would jack up the front and check the wheels for up and down play. They're probably bad.

 

Hey OP, consider adding this to the thread title:
“FIXED - It was the Wheel Bearings”

This’ll help folks searching in the future.

Congrats on finding the fix