New howling sound.

So I have a new howling coming from what I believe to be the rear of the engine/trans area. I suspect a bearing is giving up. But which one I have no idea. Could be in the trans.

Tried to upload a video/audio with no luck. There is also a slight "grinding" sound kind of rough. The sound gets worse with increasing RPM's.

 

Common Issues (condensed)

Possible lower ball joints, but if gets worse with RPM then probably not.

If you switch to 4wd, does it go away? Needle Bearing

If you steer one way the sound worsens and the other way it gets better? Wheel Bearing

I see you are lifted. Driveshaft vibe?

 

Definitely rotational. Sounds similar to a throwout bearing on a manual trans. (This is my first auto trans vehicle) Steering pump is fine, whisper quiet. No wheel bearings for sure. It's all the time when stopped and idling increasing in pitch when RPM's increase. There must be a bearing somewhere thats slowly going. Maybe an input shaft bearing in the trans?

 

If it's making noise while idling, I would suspect an engine component. Tensioner and Idler pulleys commonly go bad on all brands of vehicles. Could also possibly be alternator whining.

Only other thing off the top of my head that would be a suspect is a Torque Converter issue.

Sitting at idle with an Auto trans, the only parts spinning are engine components and the torque converter. Idling, nothing inside an auto trans is moving except the converter.