Tire Singing Sound From Right Rear

[Loggerhead52]

Howdy all, I've been a member before but just haven't had the opportunity or the need to visit in a few years not to mention that I have no idea what my old username was back then...my old '92 4X4 is still proudly kickin' along and gracefully displaying her 252,500 miles. She's been like an old friend for almost 18 years and not once has she quit on me like a lot of human friends would do. She's had a few minor setbacks over the years but still gets around with her original engine and tranny and except for a few drips here and rattle or two there, she's still a looker. Anyway, about that singing sound. I became aware of it about a month ago when it was barely noticeable but it has increased significantly ever since. It is most noticeable when slowing down, not braking but just coasting to a stop say from around 65 MPH and as the speed decreases, the sound seems to amplifyy from the right rear and sounds exactly like an aggressive off road tire sound however, I have Cooper Discoverer highway type tires and they've been on the truck for over 2 years now. I've inspected the tires and they are wearing normal with no cupping, feathering or weird wear patterns developing. The sound can be heard at cruising speeds up to around 65 MPH but anything beyond that and it seems to get swallowed up by the road or I'm simply outrunning the sound. It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing or at least the typical growling rougness that I'm accustomed to nor does it sound like the rear universal joint which by now should be giving off a vibration of some kind. I'll get around to jacking it up this weekend and will ultimately try to isolate the sound but I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar sound based on the description and location that it seems to be coming from.

 

[dansnyder22]

Howdy all, I've been a member before but just haven't had the opportunity or the need to visit in a few years not to mention that I have no idea what my old username was back then...my old '92 4X4 is still proudly kickin' along and gracefully displaying her 252,500 miles. She's been like an old friend for almost 18 years and not once has she quit on me like a lot of human friends would do. She's had a few minor setbacks over the years but still gets around with her original engine and tranny and except for a few drips here and rattle or two there, she's still a looker. Anyway, about that singing sound. I became aware of it about a month ago when it was barely noticeable but it has increased significantly ever since. It is most noticeable when slowing down, not braking but just coasting to a stop say from around 65 MPH and as the speed decreases, the sound seems to amplifyy from the right rear and sounds exactly like an aggressive off road tire sound however, I have Cooper Discoverer highway type tires and they've been on the truck for over 2 years now. I've inspected the tires and they are wearing normal with no cupping, feathering or weird wear patterns developing. The sound can be heard at cruising speeds up to around 65 MPH but anything beyond that and it seems to get swallowed up by the road or I'm simply outrunning the sound. It doesn't sound like a wheel bearing or at least the typical growling rougness that I'm accustomed to nor does it sound like the rear universal joint which by now should be giving off a vibration of some kind. I'll get around to jacking it up this weekend and will ultimately try to isolate the sound but I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar sound based on the description and location that it seems to be coming from.

pull the drum off and check your pads and all the hardware, that's the only other thing i can think of that would make sound from back there other than a bearing.

 

[Heavymentill]

Start simple. Jack it up, check for any play.(balljoints,tie rods,etc.) If none, pull the wheel off inspect for anything abnormal.(Anything bent/broken, brakes, etc.) If nothing, swap the location of the tire and see if the noise follows.

 

[Loggerhead52]

I Got around to checking the rearend for the location of that noise this past weekend and nailed it down. First, I jacked up the backend of the X, placed jack stands under the axle housing and then parked my wife in the driver's seat. Then I crawled up under the vehicle with about a 3' length of 1/2" hose and as my wife placed the tranny in "DRIVE" and gave the truck a little gas, I held one end of the hose up to my ear and placed the other end at various points along the housing. Starting at the far right side, all was well and quiet throughout the entire length of the housing until I reached the far left (driver's side) and voila!!! The noise was coming from the area of the left rear wheel bearing. Well I didn't have time to pull the axle so I dropped the truck off with my mechanic friend and told him what I had found. He called me late yesterday and informed me that the left rear wheel bearing had spun on the axle and as we all know, the only fix is to replace the axle so it's off to the boneyard today to get a replacement...it's an unusual problem but at least the mystery is solved.