Weird oscillating howling noise from front end in colder weather

So I'm having a weird noise coming from my truck most noticeable around 50km/h. It sounds like a whoo-whooo-whooo rubbing kind of noise. It's more common in cold temperatures. It increases with speed and goes away at lower speeds.

The tires spin freeley, and I had the rear drums machined. I pulled the rear driveline and drove with front wheels only, still have the noise. I jacked up the rear wheels and don't really feel any slop. Front wheel bearings were replaced thinking that was the cure and no difference, so wasted a bunch of money there.

Tires are in good condition, and I also have a spare winter set of rims and tires, which didn't make a difference when swapping them. I installed billstein 5100s 2 years ago, so shocks are good. I checked the pinions and all seemed fine.

I've been chasing this for over 5 years now and stopped chasing it several years ago, but now I'd like to sell the truck and don't want the new owner to make a fuss. Also rather not wait for the warm weather to sell it when the noise isn't noticeable.

Could it be the input bearings for the CV's? Maybe a stuck front pad? I'm still running stock pads with lots of meat. I have replaced rotors with no effect, the rotors tend to warp easy I find.

 

Have you checked the gear oil level in the differentials? One might be low.
Have you checked the CV boots ? Any holes or tears?

 

Change the gear oil as per schedule and no difference, always comes out clean. CV boots are fine. My thought is if it were a bearing it should have went by now as this has been going on so long.

 

Sure would help if you could determine where the noise is coming from (front, middle, rear of truck).
Have a passenger stick their head out of the window at 50kph and try to determine that.

Does the noise change when you apply the brakes, or turn the wheel, or turn on the A/C?

 

AC doesnt make a difference, and hanging head out Windows you can't tell due to high speeds. I've been playing with the brakes though but haven't come to a conclusion on that yet, to much traffic in the city so may go out and ride the brakes while driving to see if there is an impact.

 

Well I don't think its the brakes, when I lightly press on them (enough to start slowing) the sound stays. Tested this going down a hill today.

 

I'm running out of ideas.
Have you checked for something rubbing up against the front drive-shaft, fan/fan shroud, etc ?

It still could be a wheel bearing. If there is more friction than usual on one of them, it will get hotter to the touch than the opposite one, after driving a while.

 

I took the front wheels off and inspected the brakes. The rl side pads have worn fairly evenly, where the left is more worn on one side (where I believe the noise is coming from), and it also had a torn rubber piston boot on that side. Think this would have any impact? Both front wheels would spin easily.

 

My old trans am made a made a strange noice, end up being the radiator clutch fan. Just grab it and give it a whirl, should have a drag to it. If it spins really easy or if you can wobbles, the bearing is bad. Have you had the wheels aligned???? Just taking a wild shot.

 

You ever get the noise figured out?

 

Check the carrier bearing/ driveshaft

 

I checked it out and seems solid. My whirling noise seems to start at 25 and goes away around 35. Defiantly seems like passenger front but I know how sounds go. Checked for play and sound in wheel bearings and they seem to be fine. Been going on for last 3k.

 

Drive it on jackstands in 2wd and see if it goes away.

 

I think that’s gonna have to be the next plan of attack. It’s not very loud but defiantly annoying. I’m 2 out of 3 on the noises so defiantly chiseling them away. Damn my ocd.