Howling help.

Hello all,
Let me start by saying I'm completely new to Tacoma's. I just recently bought a used 4.0L 2013 Base Double cab short bed with 103k . Coming from a jeep wrangler that was a daily driver and a weekend offroader, I've come across plenty of repairs.
I bought the truck a few months ago and it sounded great ran perfect appeared well taken care of. Just came across a howl when driving starting at 35mph loudest at around 40-60.
While I haven't checked the wheel hubs jacked up I've done the turning at speed check and no change in sound. Read about the needle bearing, the it in 4wd no change. Checked the drive shaft bearing no play or anything so I'm a little lost at what else it could be. Yes it could be the hubs, bit for them both to go bad at the same time seems a little odd.
Any ideas?

 

I think I'd check wheel bearing's first both front and rear, tires can cause a howl too especially ones with a more aggressive tread pattern.

 

What happens when you take your foot off the gas pedal ? can you still hear the howl during coast ?

 

Load [turn the wheel] each front wheel and see if it changes pitch or goes away for a second and comes back when you correct the wheel back to straight. The wheel that is loaded [outside wheel] should remain or become noiser, the one that is unloaded should be quieter.

 

Gearcruncher noise is there regardless of gas pedal input. On the gas, off the gas, coasting in neutral the only thing I haven't done was kill the engine while coasting. I don't think its the tires though I've had a lifted jeep with 33s and the tire hum is definitely a different sound. I'll check the wheel bearings on stands this weekend but while it's up, I plan on checking the other bearings. Any input on what I'm looking for as far as the needle bearing play?

 

Wheel bearings can be difficult to diagnose with the wheels off the ground as you are essentially removing the load from the bearing . A faulty bearing may have some back and forth movement but in those cases , the bearing is highly worn out

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...g-differential-in-a-14-its-normal-huh.366687/

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East coast gear supply bushing .....you are checking for axle play at the drivers side front diff .
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...differential-bearing-vibration-thread.152173/

I seem to recall a post regarding vents on the back of the truck cab causing a howling noise .
I will have a look for the post

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-access-cab-excessive-road-noise.242628/page-2

 

Sounds like my son's differential...

Drain some of the rear differential fluid and see if it looks like it has glitter in it.

 

Had the same thing recently with my 2009 4x4 Taco. It kind of sounded like a howl, or road noise or aggressive tire road noise. It was most noticeable between 35mph and about 55mph. It was a wheel bearing. Brought it to my favorite garage and they confirmed it was a wheel bearing, left front wheel bearing. They replaced it parts and labor about $600. Sounds to me like you have a bad wheel bearing.

 

Gearcruncher so there should not be any play?

Jimmyh that was another possibility I was thinking. I really hope its clean, I just bought the damn thing

 

Very seldom do you get much play in a wheel bearing unless it is in very bad shape .
Got any warranty on your truck ?

I dropped a couple links for you to check out in my post above

 

Sorry I meant in the cv axle to the needle bearing. I was going to check play for the wheel bearing, but also listen for noise and feel for vibrations.

I'll check out the links and I do have a powertrain warranty I want to know for certain what it is before I bring it in though. I appreciate all the help

 

Drain some of that differential oil into a clean pan and you will know.

 

Im having same issue as OP. I determined it was my wheel bearing especially the passenger front. I lifted wheel of ground and theres a little play in the tire. And when you spin the tire by hand you can hear the noise. I have a full set coming this Friday from a member on here who assembles them. Just hope the weather holds up this weekend

 

do you have all terrains? I have cheap coopers adventure AT that came on my truck. If I don't rotate them, they get Super noisy. 40-60, they howl like crazy. As soon as I rotate them, the noise goes away about 80%. Then they slowly get louder again.

Before everyone jumps to conclusions, take a look at the tires. Rotate them and see if the noise is different. Do you see any cupping on the front tires?

 

Something else to check are the rubber moldings that run the lenght of the roof on each side. Historically they have had a tendency to come loose just a bit in the front and make a noise just like described. My driver's side one began to come loose and made a horrible howling noise at higher speeds. Most times when the vehicle is stopped, they lay back down so you don't notice them. If you catch it early enought a little all weather adhesive to glue them back down is all that's needed.

 

Have you looked at the serp belt idlers and tensioner pulley bearings???
Power steering pump?
A/C clutch bearings?
Alternator bearings?

Simple test. Remove the serp belt, take a short drive....does the noise remain? Yes, you can drive for a few miles without problems.

Many times the solution isn't the most expensive item.

 

Don't do this. While you can pull the belt, start the engine and run it for a short time, a couple mile drive is apt to overheat the engine as no coolant is moving thru the system. The gauge may or may not pick it up as the coolant isn't circulating past the temp sensor. [that is why, if your coolant is low, you don't get any warning that your engine is overheating, there isn't any coolant to read off of]

 

The key is a short drive.....I didn't indicate to take a long trip.................... say like a drive around the block.

The engine won't overheat instantly.

 

Its definitely not the serp belt as the noise is there coasting with the engine off. I found time to jack the front end up and check the hubs. I didn't feel any play and they sounded smooth. My next step is to rotate the tires and check the diff oil. Thanks again for everyone's help!