high speed howling in a lifted 1st gen

[cerberusaardvark]

hey guys,
just wondering if it i normal for a lifted truck to have a wind induced howling at speeds above 25 mph. it starts as a low howl then works its way up to a high humming noise on the freeway. ive had my lift on for less than a year- about only 3500- 5000 miles.

i always figured it had something to do with more of the undercarriage in the front exposed giving wind resistance. its definitely not bearings, tires, loose components, i just finished with the last of the suspension fine tuning.

it literally sounds like the wind howling the way it does in storms.

 

[Jason94sport]

You sure it's not the tires? I've heard some loud howling from trucks with big tires. Maybe the tires have been worn in enough to make them howl?

 

[DirtJunky]

You don't even need to have big tires for them to howl. I had 31 ground hawgs and you could hear me from a block away. Depends on the tread and size

 

[arco777]

I don't know about a howl, but I've heard of Ford engineers describing wind noise as "hooting" and it can be caused by bad aerodynamics or panel gaps. The lift alone wouldn't cause it, I don't think, but if you have body panels significantly tweaked or modifications like aftermarket bumpers, snorkel, etc, I could see those causing air noise. The stock truck body design wouldn't make noise but any changes to it adding gaps and such could cause noise.

 

[cerberusaardvark]

im totally stumped.

i have the stock wheels with general grabber at2's in 235x75x15, got about 8000 miles on those.

there isnt any body damage or gaps on the truck. i do have a bug reflector though.

i also haven noticed a decrease in mpgs either.

 

[Jason94sport]

Could be the trans or wheel bearings.