New bearings, new pads, and still making a weird sound

[Punjab]

I had been hearing a weird, VERY faint "waaaah waaah waaaah" sound only while braking from 30mph to 15mph and nothing otherwise. Brakes felt fine and I could never feel anything in the pedal.
Unrelated, a mechanic told me I needed new wheel bearings during a "30 point check" so I replaced them myself about 300-400 miles ago. New races pressed into the discs and matching bearings on both sides. It was my first time replacing wheel bearings but I was confident in how they looked after packing them and getting everything buttoned up seemed to go smooth.

...still hearing the same sound. No better, no worse.

So today I popped the calipers off and replaced my brake pads and hardware with some top quality ceramics from the local Autozone. I figured maybe there was something moving and the passenger side didn't have a rattle clip so I don't know.

Anyway, the noise did not change. It still exists while braking from around 30 to 15 miles per hour. I never hear it during acceleration in that range or at higher speeds. I do hear it at the same speed while turning, especially right, somewhat to the left.

Could it be the driveshaft U-joint needing replaced? What does that sound/feel like?
I generally hear the sound out of my right ear and suspected my passenger side front wheel but I can't find anything glaringly obvious to fix.

Any ideas?

 

[Number4]

My first bit of advice, would be to lay off the whammy bar on your Floyd Rose. It's a common source of 'waaaah waaah waaaah'

When you accelerate, weight shifts to the rear, the opposite when you brake. This is probably why you only get it when braking.

I have no specific advice, just wanted to use Floyd Rose in a sentence.

Perhaps lift up the front end and check the ball joints for play.

 

[RangerX]

Slide pins lubed good when you did the pads?

Maybe swap the front tires side to side, and see if the noise follows?

That's all I got...

 

[Punjab]

Thanks for the replies and the Floyd Rose whammy bar reference!

Yeah, I greased the pins for the new pads. I'm also at a loss. Other areas of the front end could use a refresh for sure. I have no idea when the last time the ball joints and tie rod ends were replaced. They are possibly still factory.

It's a repetitive type of sound which is what leads me to think it's a rotating part.
Maybe I can capture it in a video tomorrow.

 

[Rhett]

Do you still have the automatic locking hubs?

 

[Gadget X]

Also, is there a chance your tires could be the culprit? Sometimes when they wear unevenly they can cause the same type of noises.

 

[Punjab]

I switched to manual hubs a while ago. Having 4 wheel drive again has been really nice.

I'll try switching the tires from one side to the other today and see if it changes anything.

 

[malohnes]

Could be your rotors too! Ive warped mine unknowingly, a very slight, weird pulsation in pedal was the only clue

 

[Wolfie_85]

I had tires that sounded odd to me. I replaced those and had no more weird sounds. I would lift up the front of your truck and check for play in the wheels. Side to side, up and down. My Ex was a noisy creature too. I didn't worry much, because the front end was gone over extensively during a head gasket repair.

 

[Explorin'VA]

Even the backing plates for the rotors could get bent and cause a rubbing sound.

 

[FR-425]

ABS pick-up rubbing slightly on the signal ring... .

Do NOT use a hammer to "adjust" the sensor position.

I have had several "new" rotors from the autoparts store not have the tone ring pressed on properly and rubbed the sensor. Had to keep swapping till I finally got pissed and bought the Bosch rotors.

 

[c1skout]

The axle end u-joints could make a sound like you're describing, if you're not certain they're good it's worth a look for sure. Check the center joint too if you have a TTB.