Who the heck is Whistling!

[Prairie Dog]

It's been a long time since I've been on here and I hope everyone is well.
So naturally I'm back when I have a problem..
I get this strange sound that is just like someone is whistling. I figured it was the brakes but it still does it after changing them.


Here's more of the symptoms:
The sound does not seem as high pitched as a brake dragging.
It seems to come from the front.
It does it between about 5~15 MPH.
Applying light brake pressure does not effect it but harder pressure does stop the noise.
I can stab the clutch and the sound doesn't change with eng speed.
The wheels turn smoothly by hand and I don't feel any significant bearing play but there is a little. Heck, maybe there's more than there should be - I dunno. (Dr side bearing has about 10K on it, pass side is orig - trk has 100,500 miles)
It seems like it's louder inside the truck than outside.
The drivers side wheel does spin considerably easier and the brakes are not dragging on either side..

I tried running next to the truck while my wife drove slowly (boy was that silly looking) and I couldn't pin point it to either wheel. Sounded like it was coming from under the front of the truck.
I should also mention that my hearing sucks, especially the upper freqs.

I welcome any and all comments/suggestions.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Hoefler]

Possibly power steering hose, inner liner has failed.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Possibly power steering hose, inner liner has failed.

That's an interesting idea. I'll have to cut power and see if it still does it.

Thanks,
Scott

EDIT: Still makes the noise with the eng shut off.
Thanks for the suggestion though!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Any other idea's?

 

[FOXY005]

Can't say if it is or is not the same noise mine was making but I would describe it as a whistling or singing noise. Mine was coming from the right front of the engine compartment, and sounded to me as if it was a metal against metal rotational sound. So with a borrowed stethoscope with a long probe I listened to the alternator, AC compressor (both with clutch engaged and not), belt tensioner and water pump and had to go back and forth to each several times. The only thing that had a roughness noise to it was the water pump and it was not the usual wobble noise a bearing makes. Changed the water pump and noise is gone and I hope it stays gone. Coincidentally this was just last week that I had this problem and there was no coolant weeping from the pump. Mine made noise as soon as I started it and was audible at idle, did not need any speed to make it occur. OOOOOP's never mine I just saw that it makes the noise when not running.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Can't say if it is or is not the same noise mine was making but I would describe it as a whistling or singing noise. Mine was coming from the right front of the engine compartment, and sounded to me as if it was a metal against metal rotational sound. So with a borrowed stethoscope with a long probe I listened to the alternator, AC compressor (both with clutch engaged and not), belt tensioner and water pump and had to go back and forth to each several times. The only thing that had a roughness noise to it was the water pump and it was not the usual wobble noise a bearing makes. Changed the water pump and noise is gone and I hope it stays gone. Coincidentally this was just last week that I had this problem and there was no coolant weeping from the pump. Mine made noise as soon as I started it and was audible at idle, did not need any speed to make it occur. OOOOOP's never mine I just saw that it makes the noise when not running.

Thanks anyway Jim.
I did the water pump last year.
I found that the ball joints are junk and the bearing have more play than I like so I'll be replacing all of those as soon as I get parts.

 

[Motorhead]

Check and see if you have a bent backing plate rubbing against the rotor or perhaps a small rock stuck between the rotor and back plate.

 

[Prairie Dog]

.

Check and see if you have a bent backing plate rubbing against the rotor or perhaps a small rock stuck between the rotor and back plate.

Thanks Motorhead, that's really a good one and it's exactly what it sounds like and I did find the pas. side bent at the top, which is really easy to do when mounting tires....
But that wasn't it either.

Today I put new Timkens in the front end and now the sound is much more faint and disappears as soon as I touch the brakes. Oh and it gets worse if I heat the brakes up.
I'm beginning to think it's just these Hawk (Green) brake pads. Even though two sets have done it I just can't think of anything else and now it really acts like it's the pads.
It's a shame because the pads really do work great.
Might have to try a set of EBC's or Wagners or something.

Thanks everybody,
Scotty

 

[Motorhead]

To me, when you say it disappears when you touch the brake sounds like the brake pads. Try washing out the wheels and calipers with the wheels on and go drive it immediately trying not to brake right away. See if the noise goes away for a while.

 

[Prairie Dog]

To me, when you say it disappears when you touch the brake sounds like the brake pads. Try washing out the wheels and calipers with the wheels on and go drive it immediately trying not to brake right away. See if the noise goes away for a while.

A while back I tried dousing it with brake cleaner with no change.
I'll try just rinsing everything off good and then coasting down our hill.

S