Playing card in bike spokes sound at 75+ mph

[shadow460]

Title says it all. At 75 plus I start getting a LOUD sound like that of a playing card in bicycle spokes. If I keep speeding up it'll turn to a whine.
I took the truck to my mechanic and he said when he test drove it there wasn't a noise. He'd thought perhaps I was hearing bearing noise in the tranny or transfer case.
Changing gears doesn't change the noise, neither does steering left or right. The only thing that helps us to slow down and even that doesn't always work til I get it back to around 65.
The tires were replaced yesterday. Both the Firestone guys and the mechanic told me there's nothing loose under there.
Where do I start digging around to find this??

 

[Accarguy]

So did this noise start after they replaced the tires?
If so i would check and make sure that all of the lug nuts are tight.
Also make sure the backing plate is away from the back of the rotor, sometimes when taking off the tires one can hit the backing plate and bend it against the rotor.

Normally if one of these are an issue you would hear it at lower speeds.


I would say try and pin point where the noise is coming from whether it is front middle or rear and that should give you a better direction.

 

[shadow460]

It started before the tires were replaced. The old tires were nearly shot so that's where I started.
The noise is coming from under the left front. That makes me think it could be something in or attached to the front differential but my searches and even the mechanic mentioned transfer case, transmission, etc.
The first thing I can think of to try is removing the front driveshaft and CV axles, then drive it for a bit. If the noise goes away then that's a sure indication it's not in the tranny or the hubs.
That will mean changing fluid in the differential since it will lose some on the test drive.

 

[boominXplorer]

Sure the platic core support cover or inner fender liner isn't loose?

 

[shadow460]

I'm not sure what the core support cover is.
It sounded like rubber hitting rubber until something caused a high pitched whine. At that point it sounded like a high pitch warble.
Will check the inner left fender when I get to the truck. It's still at the mechanic.

 

[Flash]

I agree with boomin, it sounds like something is flapping in the breeze.

You don't have a pennant on your radio ariel do you?

 

[shadow460]

No, no pennant but I intend to get under there and check stuff next weekend or tge one after. My wife's 91 F 150 has been retired and she has an 03 Super Crew as if yesterday. I am tinkering with the Super Crew right now... it was missing half the refrigerant and had a couple things broke in the cab. Down to fixing the compass and refilling the ac. It's pulling vac.
Next is the 98 Expedition... my quarter million mile 4x4. Got a couple projects there and then I find out what on Earth us going on with the Explorer.
My friend Paul drove it yesterday and it gave him zero trouble. I drove it a lot too while hunting up thus Super Crew.

 

[Flash]

No, no pennant but I intend to get under there and check stuff next weekend or tge one after.

How about a mudflap?

A mechanic might not notice a missing screw or two on a mudflap if it sits right while stationary.

 

[SoNic67]

Rock wedged in the tire threads?

 

[shadow460]

Found it! I spent a while changing out the front u joint. It was indeed jammed up. After some serious grouching at an Autozone manager over the way it fit, I got it in and working and took off towards Tulsa. Ten minutes into the trip the noise was back so I just hit the gas. I was still within OKC where a tow wouldn't be outrageous so I pressed on.
The wind was just terrible but I noticed the noise seemed to vary with the wind, not speed or RPM. I thought a body panel was about to come off.
Five miles outside OKC I opened the moon roof to check the seal and noticed the wind was coming over it weird. That seal was intact.
It turns out the rubber trim around my windshield had come loose
Once I figured it out it took less than a minute to fix and I didn't even have to step out of the vehicle.
Don't tell the police I was running 90 miles an hour tryingvto figure this out.

 

[shadow460]

By the way, thanks for the help.